Rochi Ebner: Rav Kook's Return to Our Soul [Teshuva 1/6]

This series is sponsored by Mira and Daniel Stokar.

In this episode of the 18Forty Podcast, we speak with Rachel Tova Ebner, translator of a new volume of the teachings of Rav Kook, about what the spirituality of Rav Kook adds to our Jewish practice and to our understanding of ourselves.

As we approach Rav Kook’s yahrzeit (3 Elul), we’re directing our attention to the spiritual dimension of Yiddishkeit outlined in his works. In this episode we discuss:

• What does Rav Kook teach us about our yearning for God?
• What is the role of feelings in our inner work?
• What does it mean for us to change as the Torah stays the same?

Tune in to hear a conversation about the paradox inherent in trying to “change the past” via teshuva.

Interview begins at 14:57.

Rachel Tova Ebner grew up in Manhattan and made Aliyah to Jerusalem with her family in 1982. She is linguist and lyricist, a teacher and translator, with a Master’s degree in Hebrew from the Bernhard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University. Her most recent professional endeavor was to participate in the translation of the new Koren Tanach. She has three children and eleven grandchildren.

Chapters (Produced by Sofer.AI):

Teshuvah 0:14

Re‑examining Our Bullseye: The Conceptzia Idea 3:38

Lakewood Yeshiva’s Future and Community Burnout 6:50

Generational Mission Shifts and Klal Yisrael 8:37

Introducing Rav Kook’s Torah of Tomorrow 11:52

Translator Rachel Tova Ebner on Her Father’s Influence 15:00

Early Memories of Learning with Rabbi Bernstein 16:15

Limits on Naming and Speaking About God 21:32

The Classic Child’s Question: Is God in the Toilet? 22:46

Ikveta d'Mishicha: The Era of Messianic Footsteps 25:18

Rav Kook’s Call for New Spiritual Consciousness 26:18

Direct Encounter with God—Beyond Rabbis and Texts 28:01

Rav Kook’s Historical Context and Practical Inner Work 43:28

Compassion and Inner Work with the Soul 45:36

Rav Kook on Teshuva and Cosmic Will 47:30

Personal Metaforms: Smoking as Spiritual Symbol 50:32

Rav Kook’s Vision for Secular Israelis 52:32

Calling Artists of the Sacred in Modern Times 55:00

The Summons to Holy Consciousness Excerpt 57:01

Choosing a Rav Kook Translation for Study 62:23

Evolution as Cosmic Optimism in Rav Kook 64:13

Finding a Spiritual Path Beyond Halacha 67:08

Critique of Galut and Return to Eretz Yisrael 68:17

Personal Sleep Habits: A Goyish Schedule 70:06

Rav Kook’s Vision: Renewing the Old, Sanctifying the New 73:27

Intuition and Faith in Personal Spiritual Direction 75:09

Despair as Catalyst for Renewal in Orot Hateshuva 76:56

Closing Remarks and Sponsor Acknowledgments 80:49

Traditional Closing Prayer and Song 81:50

References:

18Forty Podcast: “Rav Judah Mischel: A Change in Progress”

The Torah of Tomorrow: OneSong by Rachel Tova Ebner

Renewing the Old, Sanctifying the New: The Unique Vision of Rav Kook by Marc B. Shapiro

18Forty Podcast: “Marc B. Shapiro: Where Does Orthodox Judaism Come From?”

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