e-TiM: Online Program
e-TiM: Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook

Innovative but clearly based upon classic sources, Rav Kook revamps our view of Teshuva to be positive and motivating, not depressing. The common misconception is based upon the mistranslation "Repentance from sin", instead of "Return from mistakes". Rav Kook sees the world as built upon constant "Evolution", and the most natural thing in the world is to improve & return to God and His ideals. With the help of this philosophic yet movingly pragmatic series, your High Holidays this year will be more effective than ever!

Part 1: Can Teshuva Not Be Depressing?!- Thursday, August 12

Part 2: If It's So Natural to Improve, Why is it So Difficult?- Thursday, August 19

Part 3: The Strive for Perfection is Perfection- Thursday, August 26

Part 4: Sin is Divisive Chaos While Teshuva is a Life of Uniting Harmony Thursday, September 2

Part 5: Elevating the Mundane Routine to be Exciting & Idealistic-Thursday, September 9

Listen to his previous series: "Various Approaches to Religious Zionism" here.

Class Audio

Class Video

Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook (Part 1)

August 12, 2021

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook (Part 2)

August 19, 2021

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook (Part 3)

August 26, 2021

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook (Part 4)

September 2, 2021

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Orot HaTeshuva-The Lights of Improvement in the Thought of Rav Kook (Part 5)

September 9, 2021

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Source Material

Meet the speaker

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat

Rav Ari (Chwat) Shvat is director of Rav Kook’s archives in Beit HaRav, and is considered a world authority on his writings and philosophy. He served for several decades among the heads of the Israeli and overseas one-year seminary programs for young women at the Michlelet Orot Israel College and other programs for higher education. Raised in Riverdale, New York, he did the Hesder Program at the Ohr Etzion and Kiryat Arba yeshivot, where he received smicha and served as

Rabbi Ari Chwat-Shvat bio & resources