October 05th, 2018

​Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook was the first Chief Rabbi of British Mandatory Palestine. When World War I erupted he found himself stuck in London where he remained for the duration of the war until he could return to the land of Israel. Rabbi Kook spoke about how during his time in London he would often visit the National Gallery to admire the art there. His favourite artist was Rembrandt, who he described as a tzadik, a righteous person. When he examined Rembrandt’s paintings it reminded him of the rabbinic statement about the light created on the first day of creation – “When God created the light [on the first day], it was so strong and luminous that it was possible to see from one end of the world to the other. And God feared that the wicked would make use of it [for destructive purposes]. What did He do? He hid it for the righteous in world to come. But from time to time there are great men whom God blesses with a vision of that hidden light.” Rabbi Kook believed that Rembrandt was one of those great men who could perceive the Or Ganuz (hidden light), and he presented that light in his paintings. What is equally puzzling and wonderful about Rembrandt’s paintings, is that he makes no attempt to beautify or idealise his subjects. Yet the light radiating from the ordinary people in his paintings. Rembrandt’s brilliance is his ability to convey the beauty of ordinary people. The light that shines from them is, simply, their humanity. Their Tzelem Elokim (image of God). QUESTIONS TO PONDER: 1. What do you think Rembrandt was trying to say in his paintings when he chose to have ordinary people radiating with a spiritual light? 2. If all people are created in the image of God, do you think we can say there is beauty in all people? How do we find that beauty?