The old shall be renewed and the new sanctified. (Letters, 164)
***
Three forces are wrestling within our camp … the sacred, the national, and the human—these are the three fundamental demands from which all life … is composed. The struggle is most visible in the Land of Israel, but their influence extends throughout the life of the nation… We must strive to reach that state of wholeness, where these three forces … fully express themselves in harmony … Only in this way can we hope for a state of life worthy of one nation in its land. (Shmonah Kvatzim, 3:1-2)
***
It behooves us to take to heart and to try to unify the “tree of Joseph” and the “tree of Judah,” to rejoice in the national reawakening, and to know that this is not Israel’s end goal but only a preparation. (The Lamentation in Jerusalem)
Rav A.I. Kook

With Special Recognition

This book bears the unmistakable imprint of Alex Shlyankevich, whose editing, research, content development, literary refinement, and English translation were essential throughout its creation—helping bring the ideas of Universal Religious Zionism into focus and into the world.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I extend my profound appreciation to Rav Oury Cherki, one of the spiritual leaders of Religious Zionism in our time, whose guidance has been instrumental in shaping the ideas of this book since its inception in 2000.

My heartfelt gratitude to Rav Yitzchak Sheilat, rosh yeshiva of Yeshivat Birkat Moshe and a recognized authority on Rav Kook, for carefully reading the manuscript and offering deeply valuable insights.

I am indebted to my close collaborator, Alex Shlyankevich, for the editing, research, content development, literary shaping, and English translation that brought the book to a wider audience. I cherish his dedication and expertise.

My heartfelt thanks go to Ariel Margulis for our enriching discussions and his significant contributions.

I sincerely thank Dr. Zvi Leshem for his critical help, insight, and support.

I also wish to acknowledge with gratitude all those who aided in the preparation of this book: Itzhak Streshinsky, Nechama Simanovich, Baruch Youssin, Svetlana Rousakovski, Vassili Schedrin, Elena Chopko, Chaya Umbarov, Gershon Levitsky, Uri Degen, Yulia Patrakov, Yair Sagi, Marat Ressin, Michael Sherman, Eugene Itkis, Ilya Ravkin, Oded Levi, Alexander Zinigrad, and Olga Umansky.

And finally, thank you to all of you who have supported my work over the years. Without your generosity, this project would not have been possible.

Pinchas Polonsky
Jerusalem
5785/2025