(Chief Rabbi of the Holy Land. 1865-1935). Letter of Chief Rabbi Kook to Rabbi Dr. Joseph Hertz, Chief Rabbi of Great Britain

KOOK, ABRAHAM ISAAC HAKOHEN

Jerusalem

4th Ellul, 5681 [1921]

Typed Letter Signed. On official stationery of the Chief Rabbinate of Eretz Israel, signed by Rabbi Kook and his secretary R. Samuel Aaron Weber. Clipped to the letter is a press cutting from The Times of London dated 20th September 1921, reporting a meeting of the Palestine Arab Delegation with the Archbishop of Westminster

Alarmed by a report that the Palestinian delegation met with the Archbishop oif Canterbury, Rabbi Kook asked that Chief Rabbi Hertz meet with the Archbishop to present the Jewish point of view. He lists three points to be addressed in discussion with the Archbishop: 1) The Jews have no intention of dislodging or disenfranchising the Arab residents of the Land; 2) The ambition of the Jews is to build the Land in such a way that will bring “blessing to all the inhabitants;” 3) The blessing that will come to Eretz Israel will be beneficial to all mankind, as foreseen by the prophets of yore. ACCOMPAIED BY: Reply: - Rabbi Dr. Hertz replied that Rabbi Kook was misinformed. The Palestinian delegation met with the Catholic bishop, not with the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury (who was highly influential in government circles), so there was no need to intercede