„When the deeds are good, when the qualities are pure, the nation drea…”
„When the deeds are good, when the qualities are pure, the nation dreams dreams of supreme holiness, and its intellect shines with the light of God. When the deeds decline and the qualities become sullied, then the national aspirations too become lowly and ugly, and consequently also weak, for there is no true might except the might from above, the might of God.”From Shemonah Kevatzim 1:69
The aspiration of a nation depends on its day-to-day, just as this is true of the individual person.
A nation that does good, that demands good, that seeks good, is a nation that aspires and dreams to advance and to be sanctified.
A nation whose deeds are evil and ugly, whose qualities are evil, whose general feeling is evil, is a nation whose aspirations go toward evil.
Just as this is true of a nation, so it is true of the individual person.
We must know that if we charge ourselves with evil charges, with evil thoughts, with an evil culture, this will influence for the worse our way of life and our aspiration. And the reverse: if we charge ourselves with good charges, with good thoughts, with a good culture, this will influence for the good our way of life and our aspiration.
The matters are simple and clear, but we must internalize them every time we want to fall — both from a personal standpoint and from a national standpoint (and we must not forget that nationhood is built from the private deeds of each and every one of us).
The Rav adds and says that the lofty and great aspirations must be connected to the Holy One, blessed be He; when they are not connected to the Holy One, blessed be He, they are not connected to eternity, and consequently the fall comes, since these aspirations have no place to take hold.
Have a pleasant rest of the day, everyone!
For the recovery of Vardit bat Malka.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.