„Out of the material and spiritual freshness of secular life, we must…”

In order to develop in holiness, one needs the secular, and in order to give meaning to the secular, one needs holiness. In order to create a spiritual world, one needs a material basis.

So it is in our general life as a nation, and so it is in our lives as individuals.

As a nation—we need a state in which to realize material ideas and spiritual ideas. Only a state that has powers of economy, might of army, and solid land is a state in which the spirit can develop. Without the material, the spirit has no standing—as we were in exile: preserving powers but unable to develop them.

And also as individuals—we must have material life-forces in order to grow spiritually; without these forces we will not be able to reach spiritual summits.

It is true that in exile the natures changed, and because of the Jewish need to preserve the spirit we distanced ourselves from the body; but in the Land of Israel healthy nature must return to itself, and we must be full of bodily powers in order to grow in spirit.

We must not fear the Divine nature; we must not fear the intensities of life that are found in nature, in the earth, and in the body. We must develop these powers, and when we harness them to the spirit we will be people of truth, full of powers from God.

And the conclusion of Rav Kook's words: 'Let us not fear the strengthening of the life-force, in whatever manner it comes—it is a gift of God, and for a blessing it comes to the world.'

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Continue to have a good evening

In memory of Reuven ben Bova