Day of Hilula
Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook
ג׳ באלול
Jerusalem, Land of Israel
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
Rabbi Abraham Isaac HaCohen Kook (HaRa'ayah) was the first Chief Rabbi of the Land of Israel, a profound thinker, and a kabbalist. He viewed the revival of Jewish settlement in the Land of Israel as the beginning of redemption. He authored many works on halakhah, Jewish thought, and Kabbalah.
"There is no Jewish nation without the Land of Israel."