Rav Kook’s answer to this classic quote (often attributed to Emerson): only G-d ever reaches ‘destination.’
Q. “Life is a journey, not a destination”- is that a Jewish thought?
Judaism has been around for 3,700 years and is not obligated to any quote attributed to Emerson, although we definitely “accept the truth from whoever will say it”. In fact, a relatively comparable idea is worded nicely by Rav Kook: that nobody except G-d ever achieves perfection (what may be called: destination), but the “strive for perfection” (or: the journey), being intent on constant improvement, is as perfect as man can get. That doesn’t mean not to set goals here and now, but to the contrary, to continuously set and attempt to achieve and fulfill one’s goal, and then set another one… There’s importance in each tree (journey), which together comprise the forest (one’s destiny). Living an idealistic and G-dly life of Torah and mitzvot (=clearly defined individual G-dly actions and goals) is meant to bring happiness and fulfillment, and even to approach the “destination” of G-dliness in this (!) world. That’s why the Torah doesn’t talk a lot about the world-to-come, because we are meant to focus on improving ourselves and this world, in our lifetime. The challenges in life are meant to fortify us, and help us realize our potential. Choosing good, not bad, is that free will and idealistic discipline that differentiates man from animal. This is what Rav Soloveichik calls: to destine one’s fate. Accordingly, challenges (or “journeys”) are life itself! On the other hand, there is also a clear and defined destination: “G-dliness”, and the closer we are to it, the better.
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