HaRav Avraham Yitzchak Hakohen Kook had a monumental impact on the Jewish world—or more precisely, on its spiritual landscape. During his lifetime, Rav Kook was deeply controversial because his ideas were so profound and difficult for the world to grasp.
One of Rav Kook's core concepts that I want to focus on today deals with the concept of greatness and how it manifests differently throughout our history.
If we think about the past, we had towering figures like David Hamelech (King David), who possessed a level of holiness and bravery that we can only hope to catch a glimpse of in our lifetimes. For generations, people have studied his personality and learned from his legacy. As time moves forward, these “giant” individuals seem to have disappeared from our world. Figures like Moshe Rabbeinu, Rashi, and the Rambam no longer walk among us. In those earlier generations, there were a few massive spiritual giants surrounded by mostly “simple” people.
Rav Kook argues that today, the dynamic has shifted: greatness now resides within each and every individual. Today's "simple" people are not simple at all - they possess immense spiritual and intellectual potential - far greater collective potential than in generations past.
In the past, I might have had some doubts about this idea. But after the 7th of October, I couldn’t agree more. I am not the same person I was before that day; the way I look at the world has completely changed. People often say that when tragedy strikes we suddenly see what people are actually capable of, and how much inner strength we possess without even realizing it.
After the 7th of October, all four of my older brothers—like so many others—were called up. And what did they do? They went. Time after time. Again and again. Not only did they go, they were eager to serve. They wanted to be there more than anything. A simple question can be asked: Why? Why would they react that way?
The answer is because they had a reason, a purpose—they had a "why." The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote, "He who has a why to live can bear almost any how." Viktor Frankl built an entire psychological philosophy around this concept. In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, he explains that having a purpose gives a human being the unimaginable strength to endure almost anything. Even in the darkest times, meaning gives us the power to stay resilient. Frankl knew this from personal experience, having survived the horrors of Auschwitz. He argued that the search for meaning is a fundamental hunger within us. We need a reason for things; our lives need a purpose.
My brothers understood this deeply. They had a "why." They cared so intensely about their country, and they recognized the ultimate value of Eretz Yisrael. They knew that for generations, our ancestors could only dream of simply stepping foot on this holy soil. Those earlier generations wouldn't have even dared to dream of a Jewish army. Because of this, they viewed their service as a profound privilege.
But this privilege came with a heavy price. My brothers sacrificed a lot. Yisrael, one of my older twin brothers, had just gotten married. He was building a new home, starting a new life, and studying hard for a demanding degree in biomedical science. He loved his life, but he was willing to put it all on hold. He chose something bigger than himself.
When we do something for the sake of others rather than ourselves, we don't let exhaustion stop us. We can be terrified, but we have the strength to do it anyway—because it was never about us. It is about something greater.
Over the last three years, we have witnessed unbelievable, superhuman bravery all over Israel that defies logical explanation. My four brothers are examples of that. And we are not unique—there are so many families just like ours. If this isn't the greatness that Harav Kook described, I don't know what is. This is a generation of heroes.
HaRav Kook explains that today's generation is searching for great material success combined with high spiritual values. And that should be our highest aim today: to be smart, to be strong, to achieve high grades, and to be as successful as we can possibly be—but to use all of that greatness to serve a higher purpose.
Beyond all of our personal success, we should maintain our kindness. We should try to be sensitive, brave, and always willing to help. Whenever we walk into a room, we should try and notice the people sitting on the sidelines—the ones who feel lonely or friendless—and support them. We must always look out for the vulnerable parts of our community and lift them up to keep our society whole and strong. That is what Judaism is truly about: living not just for ourselves, but for a grander, more sacred purpose.
Shabbat shalom.
Written by Ora Gottesman, Shlicha