Entries in the 'Holidays' Category

How To Repeat the Miracle of Hanukkah Today

630.2The Hanukkah holiday is dedicated to a miracle that happened to the people of Israel about 2,000 years ago that helped them defeat the enemies who attacked them. But now we do not see a miracle happening, and our people have to fight a constant war. What miracle can we hope for today to defeat the enemies that threaten us?

There is one miracle with which we can change everything; it is our connection. It turns all the minuses into pluses and leads to victory, but only on the condition that the entire people of Israel unite as one man with one heart. Only the lack of connection between the people leads to endless wars.

Therefore, the only advice is to try to connect and understand that our inner strength and victory depend on the power of our connection.

There is already a certain feeling of connection among the people. But it is caused by negative reasons, by a sense of threat and danger, so out of hopelessness we come closer, huddling together like brothers in trouble.

However, we need a completely different connection in which we understand and are confident that with the help of our connection, we will be able to stand against all enemies. This is a connection between people that unites many different currents together, and everyone is ready to connect as one man with one heart because it is only in this form that will we be able to build a vessel for the revelation of the Creator. When the Creator appears between us, no enemy will rise against us.

This war must take place not only from the outside, with an external enemy, but also inside us. We will be able to fully control our destiny by getting closer to each other and connecting.

The upper force allows us to feel this state today, during the Hanukkah holiday. We must recognize the truth that we are not at war with external enemies, but with ourselves, and we must defeat our inner enemy, our egoism. The real problem is in it, and external enemies are just its projection. The salvation of the people depends on how much we are trying to reach our spiritual root. But we have not had such a yearning for thousands of years.

Therefore, we must explain tirelessly that we can win and we will definitely win, but first of all, we must connect. Everyone should step on their egoism and be ready to embrace everyone, any one of the people of Israel.

All this is possible because, in the end, everything depends only on our intention and our efforts. Only this path leads to a successful resolution of the situation in which our people find themselves now. We do not yet understand the danger we are in. The whole world can turn away from us leaving us alone to deal with this threat.

In order to win the war with our enemies, we need first of all to win the war with ourselves, that is, with our egoism. If we stand up against our egoism, against our separation, we will succeed in everything.
External enemies are just puppets with no real power against us. The main thing is to correct the relations among the people of Israel, and in accordance with this, we will see how Israel’s mortal enemies will turn into our best friends.

The seventh of October made a significant change in the people of Israel, but it is still not enough to bring us victory and to win not by defeating external enemies, but by defeating the haters inside us, our egoism. This will be a real victory that will ensure our peace and security.

If we overcome our egoism, stop pushing each other away, and begin to come closer to each other so that the entire people of Israel become friends, then there will be no force in the world that would rise against us.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/14/23, “Unification of the People (Nation)”

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Hanukkah and Shabbath: Lighting Candles

963.4Question: We know that we are not allowed to use Hanukkah candles. What is this potential that we are forming during Hanukkah?

Answer: This is a spiritual work symbolized by light. Therefore, these candles cannot be used. They are not for lighting but for reminding us of the symbol of this holiday.

Question: What is the difference between Hanukkah candles and Sabbath candles that we light on Saturday?

Answer: We can also use Sabbath candles for lighting, but Hanukkah candles are intended only for the holiday because it is a holiday of light. That is, the difference is in the reason why we use candles: either because it is for holiday or because we need light.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/23, Writings of Rabash Letter No. 68

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Miracle in Spiritual Work

238.01Question: What is a miracle in spiritual work, and how do we recognize this miracle in us?

Answer: A miracle in spiritual work is when a person wants to be guided by spiritual laws, the laws of the upper world. After all, we usually agree only with the laws of our world.

Question: How do we ask and pray correctly on Hanukkah? What should I pray for?

Answer: For coming closer to your friends. Just about that.

When you unite with them, then pray to adhere to the Creator.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/23, Writings of Rabash Letter No. 68

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A Miracle of the Creator

947When a person has that boundary, he has a wall his enemies cannot penetrate. This is a keeping from foreign thoughts. This is why faith is called a “wall.” The Greeks broke that wall, and a miracle occurred and the Creator helped them, as it was mentioned, “Were it not for the help of the Creator, he would not have prevailed over it.” (Rabash Letter No. 68)

Question: In the swarm of thoughts that always come from the Creator, how does a person develop sensitivity in himself in order to understand that this thought, this desire, comes as a miracle from Him?

Answer: If the desire is aimed at connecting with friends, connecting with humanity, and together coming closer to the Creator, then these are the right thoughts and actions. We must welcome them and bring them closer to us.

Question: But the article says that the Greeks have already broken through the walls, i.e., foreign thoughts have broken through. What does it mean in this state of descent that the Creator has performed a miracle? Does He give any other thoughts?

Answer: Yes, it is in this state, when a person is in a descent, that the Creator brings him closer to Himself, and he expels the Greeks. But here he needs the help of the friends because he is one of the members of the group.

We must support him, hug him, lift him, and pull him out of connection with bad desires and intentions, and thus give him a place between us. After all, as soon as we begin to lift him up, the Creator gives him new thoughts.

We lift him up the ladder of the Creator by approaching him, engaging with him in common spiritual work, pushing him forward, and helping him. Thus he begins to receive the same thoughts and feelings that we have.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/10/23, Writings of Rabash Letter No. 68

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Two Stages: Hanukkah and Purim

294.3Question: Why did the Creator reveal the miracle of Hanukkah, that the oil sufficient for only one day of candle burning lasted for eight days?

Answer: The oil symbolizes the light of Bina, which is the quality of bestowal. Therefore, on Hanukkah, we celebrate receiving spiritual correction.

When our egoistic desire turns into an altruistic desire to bestow for the sake of bestowal to others, this is Hanukkah.

The next stage is already receiving for the sake of others, symbolized by Purim, which represents the final correction (Gmar Tikkun).

Therefore, in Hanukkah, we ask for connection between us, i.e., to receive bestowing Kelim, and in Purim, we already connect with the Creator.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/7/23, Writings of Rabash Letter No. 53 12/7/23

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Let Us Come Closer to the State of Hanukkah!

243.04Question: During Hanukkah should we connect all our desires aimed at bestowal to each other?

Answer: Yes, everything that is in us is given to us by the Creator. We want to turn this into bestowal to Him through our qualities, hearts, and desires.

Question: How are we, the Bnei Baruch group, ready to accept the light of Hanukkah into our common Kli?

Answer: We are ready. It all depends on us. We have sources that we study and discuss. In general, we can say that we are ready.

We have a whole week ahead of us. Let us load this week with the topic of Hanukkah to understand it as best as possible and to be close to this state. We will succeed. At least we can go through the first stage of correcting egoism.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/7/23, Writings of Rabash Letter No. 53

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Why Did the Good Creator Create an Evil Person?

294.4And so, Lord our God, instill fear of You upon all that You have made, and dread of You upon all that You have created; and [then] all works will be in awe of You, all the created beings will prostrate themselves before You, and they all will form a single band to carry out Your will with a perfect heart. For we know, Lord our God, that rulership is Yours, strength is in Your [left] hand, might is in Your right hand, and Your Name is awesome over all that You have created (Machzor for Yom Kippur).

Question: Why does this day of atonement prayer state that it is necessary to fear the Creator?

Answer: The fact is that it is very difficult for us to understand the imbalance between an absolutely good Creator and an absolutely evil person that was created by the same good Creator. Why? It is precisely to make a person realize the reason he was created like that and to start feeling a desire to be like the Creator.

Question: What is the reason?

Answer: It is just so that we start wanting to be like the Creator.

Question: Does it mean that I am very far from Him and want to be like Him?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is it deliberate that I am far from Him?

Answer: Initially.

Question: What does it mean that they will have fear of the Creator?

Answer: This is already an appeal to the Creator. It is when people will feel that all this comes from Him, so that they are afraid and ask Him for correction.

Question: What does it mean when it is said, and they will prostrate themselves before You?

Answer: They will wish to subjugate to the good inclination of the Creator.

Question: What does, and they all will form a single band to carry out Your will with a perfect heart,  mean?

Answer: This is when everyone will help others so that everyone together will be in goodness and in love for the Creator and for everyone.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/18/23

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Do You Need to Repent or Rejoice on the Day of Atonement?

522.01Comment: The Day Of Atonement is coming, Yom Kippur. I would like to talk about it precisely this year when we see what is happening in the world.

My Response: I think the world should already at least feel the need for this.

Question: So is the Day of Atonement in some way special this year? It is considered one of the most important holidays in Judaism when people read prayers of repentance, ask for forgiveness, and generally prepare for the fact that the inscription will be made in the Book of Life. As I understand, you are now going to say that this is so for the world too, right?

Answer: For everyone.

Comment: This holiday is always perceived with some awe. At least here in Israel everything stops.

There is silence, and both believers and non–believers, everyone is somehow afraid, and even trembling before this day. Tell us a little about this holiday.

My Response: Actually, it is hard to call it a holiday, because a holiday is something fun, light, and bright. I think this is actually Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when we can really rejoice that we are able to redeem ourselves.

Question: So, is there still joy?

Answer: Yes, this is a day of joy. But then, I do not know how people actually celebrate this day. It seems to me that they should, of course, be aware. It is said that a person should think about the way he lived this year, the way he tried to be kind, to do good, to be a conduit of the good Creator in the world.

Question: Is this what a person should think about on this holiday?

Answer: He should, yes. I think that ordinary people, in principle, are not so immersed in evil and therefore there is nothing to fear for the Day of Atonement. What can they be judged for? Evil was born before a person, evil, envy, and other negative properties. So a person is just human. What else can be said about him?

Question: What is this holiday for?

Answer: I think that this holiday is most likely for a person to think about why he was created this way. How he would like to correct himself a little. Although creation is the creation of the Creator, let us assume that a person has the opportunity to correct himself a little. How would he do it, in which way?

Question: Is his intention one way or another for good, for warmth, and for love?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Then why does he ask for forgiveness? There are many prayers, called Slichot. He says, “I am sorry! I am sorry!” All the time “I am sorry!” What is there to forgive if he was created this way?

Answer: I am sorry that You made me so nasty, mean, insignificant, harmful, bringing only evil and misfortune to everyone. I ask You very much, to help me straighten up, improve, and be at least a little better.

Question: Are the aspirations of a person not to ruin another, but on the contrary, to become better?

Answer: I think that if a person seriously thought about everything that happens to him, how he was created, and what he could be at all, then he would ask for correction of what the Creator created in him.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/18/23

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You Cannot Slander a Person

294.1Question: What is special about today’s Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, for you? What do you feel?

Answer: We see that the world is not getting better, that is for sure. People are not getting better; they are just tired. They are tired of this world, of this life, of what is happening to them, and of the fact that there is nothing good in the future for the children. Therefore, you cannot slander a person. This is the way he is, this is how he was created—an evil, indifferent man.

Comment: And you do not slander a person.

My Response: I do not slander either a person or the Creator. It is just a given that we must clearly understand and after that begin to ask—ask for correction of man and the whole world.

We need to recognize that this evil is a consequence of our relationships with each other. We cannot rise above ourselves so that we wish good for everyone. We just cannot. This is the reason for our impatience with each other and everything that happens to us.

I hope that these latest events and the fact that we are now in a discussion of what is happening with the world, with people, and with each of us, I hope that they will ultimately lead to the understanding that we need to correct this world. It depends only on our desires.

I think that the Creator specifically plays all this out in front of us in this way so that we realize the need for changes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/18/23

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The Prayer that Is Accepted on the Day of Atonement

571.02Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself (George Bernard Shaw).

My Response: This is not an easy task.

Question: Let’s say “finding yourself” is more or less clear: finding myself in a profession, for example. What do you mean by the term “creating yourself”?

Answer: Creating ourselves is what we are facing. In fact, this is not such a sky-high thing. This is the requirement imposed on us by our life—to make ourselves similar to the Creator.

Comment: I do not know what the Creator is, I do not know who He is.

My Response: This will be explained to you in detail. Write it down: the first condition is to love everyone.

Question: So, the first point is: I should learn to love everyone? Does this mean to be similar to the Creator by and large?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Is it a prayer if I write it down and look at it all the time?

Answer: Yes, it is a prayer. Imagine that you are like a parent, maybe strict, maybe kind, no matter which, but loving. As such a parent treats his children, so you should treat people.

Question: But at the moment when I read this daily and realize that I cannot, is that a prayer: “I cannot!”?

Answer: This is not a prayer, but a state when you check yourself and see how much you need to be corrected. Then you have already prepared some complaints or requests for correction. Therefore, you wait for this day of atonement and present them.

Question: Is this really the prayer of the day of atonement?

Answer: Yes. You judge yourself, you come and demand that the Creator corrects you because you cannot correct yourself. The only one who can is Him. But only according to your demands, requests, and prayers. So, hurry up!

Question: You started by loving everyone. Is this, in principle, the basis of Yom Kippur?

Answer: Yes, it is called “Ahavat Olam“—love of the world.

Question: So this is what I want to come to, but I cannot, and I ask?

Answer: Absolutely! So, get ready.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/3/22

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