Nachum welcomed Rabbi Bezalel Naor to this morning’s JM in the AM to explore the new Koren Rav Kook Siddur. Rabbi Bezalel Naor is the author of several works in both English and Hebrew that span the spectrum of Judaic studies: Biblical exegesis, Talmudic analysis, Kabbalah, Sabbatianism, Hasidism, and his trademark—Kookian thought. From the Koren website: ”
The Koren Rav Kook Siddur is an exciting new prayer-book that offers a dimension of spirituality sorely lacking in our world today. Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook (1865-1935), first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Eretz Israel, was renowned for his harmonious blending of both the body and the soul of the Torah, as represented in the Halakhah and Aggadah.

The Koren Rav Kook Siddur retains Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks’ immensely popular English translation, and for the first time also includes a digest of Rav Kook’s commentary, never before seen in English. The commentary is written by Rabbi Bezalel Naor, acknowledged interpreter of Rav Kook’s thought.

Culling from Rav Kook’s own commentary to the Siddur, ‘Olat Re’iyah, and other writings of the master, as well as rich anecdotes transmitted by Rav Kook’s son and major disciples, Rabbi Naor speaks to the soul while planting our feet on the sacred soil of the Holy Land. The work is introduced by Rav Kook’s overall philosophy of prayer.”