עיוני אומנות
Exploring the Role of Art and Creativity
Through the Teachings of Rav Kook

As part of ATID's Art Initiative, we are pleased to bring you this archive of discussion and learning sessions exploring the world of Rav Avraham Yitzhak HaKohen Kook zt"l and how his teachings shed light about the place of art and creativity in religious life and Jewish education. Listen online, or download the audio sessions and accompanying texts.

Expanses, Expanses Analyzing a poem by Rav Kook Click to download text of poem. Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (January 3, 2007) Listen online Download Audio (22.6MB)

Singing the Song of Eternity Why did Rav Kook write poetry? What can poetry convey that prose cannot? What can poetry offer the religious life? Click to download text: Hadrav, pp. 61-67 Beit HaRav Kook R. David Ebner's poetry, The Library of Everything Gold From the Land of Israel by R. Chanan Morrison Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (November 15, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (27MB)

Aesthetics and Religious Values Is the aesthetic a religious value? Why? What do the "tzadikim" know or see that enables them to bring beauty into the world? Click to download text: Orot HaKodesh III, p. 306 Jeffrey Saks Spiritualizing Halakhic Education Rav Kook on Rembrandt: (Jewish Chronicle of London, Sept. 13, 1935, p. 21) Walter Benjamin, The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction Steven Nadler Rembrandt's Jews Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (October 25, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (27MB)

Art and Public Policy Rav Kook's letter to the Bezalel School Click to download text: Igrot HaReiyah I:158, pp. 203-06 Israel Museum exhibit on Boris Schatz Likro Panim, Rut Kestenbaum Ben-Dov (1998) Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (July 26, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (28MB)

Art and Eros Exposure to art, and its limits Click to download text: Olat Reiyah II, pp. 3-4 Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (July 19, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (26MB)

The History of Jewish Imagination Click to download text: Orot, pp. 35-36 Click to download sources mentioned in Rav Kook's text. Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (July 13, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (26MB) R. Chanan Morrison's Rav Kook website. R. Bezalel Naor's translation of Orot. R. Bezalel Naor's Lights of Prophecy.

Artistic Thinking: Betzalel and Bruegel On hokhma, bina, and da'at: Grasping the physical and the spiritual Click to download text: Ayn Ayah to Brakhot 55a, pp. 263-64 Pieter Bruegel, "The Tower of Babel" (1563) Pieter Bruegel, "The Little Tower of Babel" (earlier study, c. 1563) Other renderings of the Tower of Babel in art Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (June 21, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (20MB)

Moshe and Betzalel, Halakhic Man and Mark Rothko On seeing the ideal, the real and the abstract. Click to download text: Ayn Ayah to Brakhot 55a Click here for an online Rothko exhibit. Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (June 21, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (22MB)

Hakham HaRazim: Creativity and the Individual Click to download text: Ayn Ayah to Brakhot 58a Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (June 14, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (27MB)

Creativity and the Religious Lifestyle Click to download text: Orot HaKodesh I (pp. 165-66) Rav Kook on Rembrandt: (Jewish Chronicle of London, Sept. 13, 1935, p. 21) Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (May 31, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (26MB)

Creativity and the Authentic Self Click to download text: Orot HaKodesh III (pp. 140-41) Discussion with Rabbis Chaim Brovender, Yedidya Sinclair and Jeffrey Saks (May 17, 2006) Listen online Download Audio (28MB)