JEWISH LITERATURE
Jewish Literature
All holy thoughts and elevated knowledges sprout on the breadth of the field that God has blessed. And behold there rise constantly at every time and every hour, at every minute and at all intervals of a minute: new and wondrous plants, shoots and blossoms, as there rises constantly the influence of life to our eyes, and the influence of existence in general-all from the flow of the supernal intelligence
It is impossible for Jewish literature to succeed without the sanctification of the souls of the authors. You must toil to purify your character, your acts and ideas-until your inner world is filled with light and you feel within a intimate completion, while still concerned to perfect all that is wanting, so that you may be filled with humility blended with power, with a tranquil spirit blended with a strong arousal (both emotional and rational)for imparting goodness and wisdom to yourself, and to be filled with an exalted desire to stand at the heights of purity and supernal holiness.
As long as you do not stand at that height, you cannot truly be called an author. "The early authorities were called authors-they counted the letters of the Torah" (Hagigah 15). Counting the letters of the Torah raised them to an exalted level of a pure spirit and a strengthened soul, until they could be called: author.
If we desire Jewish literature to live, we must go on that holy path, proceeding from holiness to literature. "There shall be a level path, and it will be called the path of holiness...and they will proceed, redeemed" (Isaiah 35).
Orot Hatechiyah, 36
The Weapon Of The Age
I come to rouse you and all the young people who seek encouragement in [leading a] spiritual life-a life that is truly made honorable and perfected (with the help of God)-regarding the topic of literary expertise.
We have the obligation to acquire literary ability, a style that is alive in all its hues: prosaic and poetic. If there is a person among us who feels in his spirit a talent for song and poetry, he should not ignore that talent. There should be training, training that will teach the children of Judah to use this bow (cf. Samuel II 1:18).
Ultimately, my teaching (to myself and to others) is that the measure of peace and kindness must take precedence within our souls and abilities. Nevertheless, we must arm ourselves in the divine war against Amalek, who is both within us and outside of us. And we have the obligation to prepare the weapon of the age: the pen. We must translate into a modern style the entirety of our holy treasure, the treasure of the opinions and feelings of almost the entire Torah, in order to bring them close to the people of our generation.
