In this first shiur of the *My Generation* series, we begin exploring Rav Kook’s *Meimor HaDor*, found in *Ikvei HaTzon*. We discuss the historical context in which Rav Kook was writing and how he saw light emerging from darkness — even in the spiritual confusion of his generation. Together we learn the prologue to *Ikvei HaTzon*, uncovering why Rav Kook chose this name, and begin the essay with its opening theme: **the great, subconscious pain of the generation.** Rav Kook teaches that this deep, unspoken pain is not only psychological but cosmic — a pain that transcends language, reaching toward redemption. He speaks to the struggle of our times and even hints to the inner turmoil that will surface near the end of days. --- **Topics:** * The meaning of *Ikvei HaTzon* * The hidden light within darkness * The subconscious pain of the generation * Why we can’t yet articulate our deepest suffering * Rav Kook’s vision for the end of days --- #RavKook #MyGeneration #MeimorHaDor #IkveiHaTzon #Orot #SpiritualGrowth #JewishThought #Emunah #Chassidus #ShayaSussman #PnimiusHaTorah

For Those Struggling | Rav Kook on Teshuva and the Yamim Noraim by Rabbi Shaya Sussman, LCSW

YouTube Description In this shiur on Orot HaTeshuva, Rav Kook teaches that the healthiest state of the soul is teshuva. Teshuva is not about becoming someone new—it’s about peeling back the extra, external layers and returning to who we already are at our core. We’ll explore: How teshuva is the most natural expression of the soul Why the parts of ourselves that feel broken aren’t our true essence The teaching that teshuva precedes the world How there is a tikkun for every sin Join us to rediscover teshuva as the simple, natural return to a healthy soul.

In this shiur, we explore Rav Kook’s profound teaching that true teshuva begins with self-knowledge. 🌱 We need to have a sense of self in order to draw close to Hashem. When we bypass our personalities and souls, we fall into false teshuva. Remember: at our core, we are truly a neshama. Every person has a Nekudah Tova — a unique point of goodness that cannot be lost. By discovering our true self, we uncover our soul’s light — and this is the foundation of real teshuva. Rav Kook teaches that when individuals return to themselves, the world is uplifted, paving the way toward geulah and Mashiach. ✨ Join us as we journey into Orot HaTeshuva and discover how finding yourself is the first step in finding God.

What does Rav Kook really think about nationalism? Is secular Zionism just an empty vessel—or part of the Divine plan? In this shiur, we explore Rav Kook’s bold and nuanced vision: how nationalism without Hashem becomes distorted and dangerous, but religion without a national container becomes self-absorbed and disconnected from reality. Rav Kook challenges both camps and offers a powerful third path—where body and soul, land and light, vessels and spirit come together. We also dive into how distorted expressions of nationalism still serve a holy purpose in the unfolding story of redemption. And I share a personal story about attending a settler festival with my wife—witnessing a type of Jew that hasn’t existed in 2,000 years. This is not your typical take on Zionism or religion. It’s Rav Kook’s deep spiritual map for national revival, techiya, and Geulah in our homeland.

At the Nach Daily book launch, Shaya Sussman shared a personal and powerful message about failure, redemption, and the deep relevance of Navi in our lives. From failing through school—and even getting a 32 in Navi—to launching a sefer that brings Navi to life, Shaya reminded us that second chances aren’t the exception; they’re the rule. This is the story of Am Yisrael: We were in our land. We lost it. And now—against all odds—we’re back. Living in Eretz Yisrael today is living inside a promise fulfilled, a living testament to Divine mercy and faithfulness. Shaya spoke about how every Sefer in Navi is not just a historical document, but a spiritual stencil overlaying our current moment. Nevuah wasn’t just a past experience—it was the awareness that Hashem is with us. And one day, we’ll meet the Neviim again and recognize how each of us was part of the story of second chances—for ourselves, our people, and the world.

Hashem created the world with light and vessels—a delicate balance between spiritual ideals and the structures that hold them. But what happens when that balance is lost? In this shiur, we explore how Hashem’s pristine light descends into the mire and muck of this world—enclothed in form, even in darkness—not by accident, but by design. The vessel may look broken, the light may seem hidden, but the descent is purposeful. We unpack Rav Kook’s powerful warning: when nationalism is severed from its holy source, it becomes a destructive force. But when the nation becomes a vessel for Hashem’s light, nothing is more sacred. The ultimate vision is Am Yisrael as a "goy kadosh", a priestly nation that channels Divine presence into the world. This class dives deep into the Kabbalistic and spiritual framework of light and form, ideal and reality, showing how nationalism can either reflect the highest holiness—or collapse into darkness, depending on whether the light is present within the vessel.

What do we do when life feels upside down—when nothing is k’seder, and the world within and around us feels like it's unraveling? In this experiential shiur, we explore Rebbe Nachman’s teaching in Likutei Moharan Tinyana 82 on the battle between k’seder (order) and shelo k’seder (disorder), and how that inner war mirrors the emotional and spiritual chaos so many of us feel today. We then turn to Likutei Halachos, Hilchos Tefillin, for a deep perspective on chizuk, patience, and the hidden redemptive power of suffering. Rav Kook’s Orot HaTeshuvah 15:10 reminds us that the soul is always whole. When we forget our deeper nature—individually or nationally—we descend into chaos. But remembering who we truly are realigns us with Hashem’s will and opens the gates of redemption. The class concludes with a short, guided mindfulness practice to help us return to a state of inner k’seder, reconnect with the soul’s quiet strength, and walk forward with more clarity, calm, and Emunah.

In this shiur, we explore Daniel Chapter 2—the vision of the great statue representing the empires of history, shattered by a humble stone—and ask: What does this prophecy teach us about today’s war, the role of Am Yisrael, and the unfolding of redemption in our time? Drawing on Rav Kook’s Orot HaMilchama, we dive into the spiritual psychology of war—not as chaos alone, but as a deep awakening of the soul. War shakes the world, but it also shakes us inwardly, revealing the cracks in false structures and the hidden light within. We also explore how Hashem guides history through both miracle (nes) and nature (teva)—what Rav Kook calls or haganuz, the concealed light—and how the long arc of Jewish history is filled with Divine orchestration, even when it’s hard to see. This class weaves together prophecy, psychology, Rav Kook, and current events to offer a deeper understanding of where we are, what’s breaking, and what’s being born.

From the series: The Road Less Traveled – A Healing Journey Toward Eretz Yisrael and Ourselves In the wake of October 7th, something ancient stirred in the collective soul of Am Yisrael—fear, grief, longing, awakening. Galut and Geulah are no longer abstract ideas. They are personal. They are embodied. They live inside our nervous systems and conversations. In this first class, we explore how the physical exile of the Jewish people reflects a deeper spiritual and psychological exile—within ourselves. Drawing on Rav Kook, the Vilna Gaon, Yechezkel’s vision of the dry bones, Viktor Frankl, and Internal Family Systems (IFS), we uncover a powerful framework for healing: 🕊 Exile as disconnection from soul, meaning, and purpose 🌱 Return as the act of restoring light to our vessels—nationally and personally 🌍 Eretz Yisrael not just as a place, but as a living soul-bond that reconnects us to who we truly are We ask: What happens to a people—and a person—when cut off from their source? What does healing look like when Torah, identity, and land are reunited? Join us on this journey of spiritual return—back to self, back to soul, back to the land.

What happens when our highest spiritual ideals descend into the messiness of real life? In this shiur, we explore Rav Kook’s profound teaching on the tension between the soul of nationalism—its pure, redemptive vision—and the body that carries it: flawed systems, politics, and human limitation. Drawing from the opening of Zeronim: Nishmas HaLe'umiyut v’Gufah, we unpack the mystical process of light descending into vessels, the shattering of form, and the sacred work of re-integrating spirit into structure. This is not only about national life—it’s about each of us. This class touches on Kabbalah, psychology, and Rav Kook’s visionary Torah to guide us in how to hold brokenness without losing the dream, and how to begin healing the gap between what is and what could be.

In this week’s Rav Kook shiur, we journeyed into a radically trusting approach to chinuch—one that sees the child not as a problem to be fixed, but as a soul already whole. Drawing from Zeronim, Orot HaKodesh (Chochmas HaKodesh II), and the War of Worldviews, we explored how manipulative parenting—even when masked as guidance—can distort the deeper mission of education: to honor the divine spark within each child. Rav Kook teaches that all of life, even secular wisdom, is rooted in kedusha, awaiting its return to Source. This expansive vision reframes how we relate not only to our children, but to the world itself—as a vessel of Torah waiting to be revealed. In anticipation of Shavuos, when "hakol modim ba’inan lachem"—all agree the Torah must be made personal—we reflected on how the Torah is not limited to the Beis Midrash, but embedded in the very fabric of creation. Education, then, becomes an act of uncovering that Torah—within the world, and within the soul of the child.

In this inspiring shiur, we explore Rav Kook’s fearless vision of chinuch—an education that uplifts, expands, and trusts the soul of every Jewish child. Rather than shrinking from the world in fear, Rav Kook teaches that we must raise broad souls who can face complexity with emunah, curiosity, and rooted strength. 🔹 Rav Kook (Shmoneh Kevatzim 2:126) writes that a truly expansive soul should study other religions and philosophies—not to assimilate, but to redeem the nitzotzos, the holy sparks within them. 🔹 The Rambam (Hilchos Melachim 11) explains that Christianity and Islam are part of Hashem’s plan to spread monotheism. 🔹 Rebbe Nachman (Likutey Moharan 36:2) shows that one can even find Hashem in the languages of the nations—kol lashon yesh bo nitzotz Eloki. This class is an invitation to teach from trust, not fear, and to raise children who feel deeply connected to Yiddishkeit—not suffocated by it. ✨ A must-listen for educators, parents, and seekers who believe in the light within every soul—and every corner of the world.

In this shiur, we journey into Rav Kook’s powerful critique of a common religious impulse — the attempt to package Judaism into neat, rigid systems. Rav Kook challenges us to stop reducing Torah into something small and manageable, and instead open ourselves to the vast, living truth it holds. We spoke about the need for deep spiritual principles — like gravity — that are both specific and expansive, real enough to explain large swaths of reality while exposing what’s false. Unlike idol worship, which often grasps only partial truths, Rav Kook invites us into a broader, truer world of Emunah — one that can contain it all. This is not just a new idea, but a paradigm shift in how we understand Judaism, faith, and light.

In this class, we explore Milchemet HaDe’ot v’HaEmunot—the war of worldviews and faith—through the lens of Rav Kook’s bold critique. Rav Kook warns against reducing Yiddishkeit into narrow definitions or neat ideological boxes. He challenges leaders and educators who rely on negativity—tearing down opposing views—rather than offering a compelling, inner vision of faith. We discuss his call for a deeper, more inclusive emunah—one that holds the complexity, struggles, and questions of modern Jewish identity without fear. Rav Kook invites us to embrace the soul of Am Yisrael as something too vast to be confined by words or simplistic definitions. Judaism, he teaches, isn’t just about defending truth—it’s about revealing it.

In this shiur, we explore Rav Kook’s profound vision of Geulah—not as a moment in history, but as an unending light that began in Mitzrayim and continues to illuminate the path toward the final redemption. We’ll dive into how the story of Yetziat Mitzrayim is not just about personal or national liberation, but about the elevation of all creation. Pesach reveals the deep truth that light is always present, even in darkness. Through the paradoxes of the Seder night—slavery and freedom, tears and joy, bitter and sweet—we uncover the divine oneness that underlies our fractured world. Only Am Yisrael can hold this tension, seeing the sparks of light in the darkness and guiding the world toward healing and wholeness.

In this week's shiur, we explore the soul’s deep yearning for a faith that truly satisfies — a faith vast enough to hold the complexity of our modern world. Drawing from the teachings of Rav Kook, we discuss how Emunah isn’t about retreating from modernity, but about engaging with it from a place of depth and clarity. We also unpack Rav Kook’s powerful idea that even kefira (heresy) can be a necessary part of the spiritual process — a force that clears away outdated structures to make space for new, expansive light. If you're craving a vision of Emunah that speaks to the heart, the mind, and the modern soul — this shiur is for you.

Emunah isn’t just a concept—it’s a way of seeing reality from the highest place. In this shiur, we explore how darkness, pain, and even foreign ideologies are part of Hashem’s divine plan to reveal greater light. True emunah isn’t about blind faith, but about learning to perceive Hashem’s presence even in the most hidden places. Join us as we uncover how suffering and challenges are not obstacles to faith, but pathways to a deeper, more expansive connection with Hashem. If you found this shiur meaningful, don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more Torah insights! #Emunah #Faith #JewishWisdom #Torah #Spirituality #Hashem #BeyondBelief

What does Rav Kook’s *cherem* letter have to do with Purim? In this shiur, we explore how Rav Kook transformed personal attacks and opposition into spiritual elevation, embodying the deep Purim theme of revealing hidden light within darkness. Just as the tzaddik descends to elevate the sparks trapped in *klippos*, Rav Kook engaged even with *kefira* to extract holiness, mirroring his own life’s journey. Purim teaches us that history’s greatest denials of Hashem ultimately led to a renewed strength in *emunah*. Similarly, Rav Kook’s response to criticism—seeing good even in what appeared traumatic—offers a profound lesson in resilience, transformation, and the power of redemption hidden within life’s struggles. Join us as we uncover the deeper meaning of Purim, trauma, and the tzaddik’s role in revealing the divine in the most unexpected places.

What happens when religion becomes detached from its source? Instead of being a path to connection, it can become a source of shame, distortion, and emptiness—mere ritual without soul. But Rav Kook teaches us that even this process has a divine purpose. Hashem allows for kefirah (spiritual crisis) so that we can ultimately discover a deeper, truer understanding of the Divine. In this shiur, we explore the paradox of faith—how religious struggle, doubt, and even trauma can lead to profound healing. The darkness creates the light. The breaking brings the repair. By confronting religious distortions, we can reclaim a more authentic relationship with Hashem—one not built on blind certainty, but on deep, lived truth. 🎧 Subscribe for more shiurim on Rav Kook’s thought! 👍 Like, share, and leave a comment with your insights! #RavKook #SpiritualHealing #ReligiousTrauma #Faith #JewishWisdom #Healing #Emunah