“A Great Soul Reincarnated among Gentiles:” The Attitude of Rabbi Avraham Yitzhak Hakohen Kook and Rav Tsvi Yehudah Hakohen Kook to Nietzsche

Abstract This essay describes the attitude of Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook (1865–1935) as well that his son, Zvi Yehudah (1891–1982), to Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844–1900) and philosophy. It shows father read differently from son. The criticizes profusely, while son often mentions him appreciatively even said he was a great soul reincarnated among gentiles. essays suggests their dissimilar approaches resulted different intellectual challenges each faced due cultural periods in which they lived.