Entries in the 'Israel' Category

American Universities Promote Freedom of Antisemitism

448.9Comment: These days, only an indifferent person avoids talking about American antisemitism, about what is happening at universities there, and so on. I would like to talk about it.

My Response: This was already happening 15 to 20 years ago when I was still visiting universities.

Comment: I know the foundation was laid and money was invested there. Significant sums of Arab money were invested in order to promote it. It amazes me that the script was written then for many years to come.

My Response: They understood what they were doing.

Question: They quietly invested money in universities and promoted this hatred. And now it has manifested itself very clearly.

We know Congress called for a meeting with the Presidents of three top universities: Harvard, Univeristy of Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

They were asked the same question over and over. Their video went viral on the Internet. They were asked: “Do calls for the genocide of Jews violate the code of conduct at your university?” It was the exact question: “Do calls for the genocide of Jews violate your university’s code of conduct? Yes or no?”

And they would not answer yes or no. They tried to avoid answering. Do you think they are afraid? Or is this antisemitism already deeply ingrained in them?

Answer: I think they are not just afraid, although there is also something to be afraid of, even physically.

Question: If they were defending the Jews, then they or their relatives would be threatened physically?

Answer: Yes, but there is nothing you can do about it anyway. This is the natural development of the world.

Question: So do you think it is already a part of them? And nothing can change it?

Answer: It will only change if the Jews change! So it is said in the Torah, so it is said everywhere, and so say the antisemites.

Comment: We see heroes always find an indirect path. And you say we need to sort things out within ourselves.

My Response: Why should we hate them? It all comes from above.

Comment: Well, they want us to disappear.

My Response: Then disappear in a spiritual sense in your attitude toward the world, toward yourself, and others. Rise to the level of giving, bestowing, and loving. And you will see how the world will change.

Question: Is this your call to the Jews now?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Specifically to the Jews? Will it continue until there is a revolution within the Jews themselves?

Answer: Yes.

Question: It seems we are now approaching this revolution after all?

Answer: I hope our people will be able to realize it, come to their senses, and turn around.
This is our task.

Question: At the same time, all three presidents of the three universities stated the need to protect free speech. Here is the phrase they used to hide behind—”freedom of speech.” What do you personally understand by this phrase? Is there a place for it?

Answer: We need to educate generations to the point where free speech in itself intentionally remains only in calls for rapprochement.

Question: Are these calls free speech? To be free to call for rapprochement?

Answer: Yes and everything else will just disappear.

Question: Well of course, for now it means something else—saying what you want, whatever comes into your head, and calling it free speech. You do not call this free speech?

Answer: No.

Question: What do you think it is? Saying whatever they think?

Answer: Considering the nature of man, this is just propaganda of hatred, mutual rejection, and calls for mutual destruction.

Question: Is that because we are in such a state today? Is this what comes out of us? What then is freedom of speech?

Answer: Free speech can only be called as such when it promotes mutual dependence and rapprochement.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/11/23

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The Miracle of Translating the Torah

963.1Question: In the Talmud, an ancient source of Jewish wisdom, it is written:

There was an incident involving King Ptolemy of Egypt, who assembled seventy-two Elders from the Sages of Israel, and put them into seventy-two separate rooms, and did not reveal to them for what purpose he assembled them, so that they would not coordinate their responses. He entered and approached each and every one, and said to each of them: Write for me a translation of the Torah of Moses your teacher. The Holy One, Blessed be He, placed wisdom in the heart of each and every one, and they all agreed to one common understanding. Not only did they all translate the text correctly, they all introduced the same changes into the translated text.”

This is how the Torah was translated into Greek.

My question is, can this source be trusted? Can we say that this happened exactly how it is written?

Answer: Where is it written?

Comment: In the Talmud.

My Response: So, why are you asking?

Question: What is considered a miracle: the fact that the 72 elders translated the Torah as if done by one translator, or that God placed in them a single wisdom, one intention? What is the miracle here?

Answer: The miracle is most likely that they all translated it as one person. The root of this was, as it is written, that God placed in them a single wisdom and one thought.

Question: How does this happen? 72 different people write the exact same text without the slightest error. How does it happen that God places this in each of them?

Answer: Because it is God. And because these are 72 special sages at the highest level of knowledge (therefore 72). The number itself is the level of the highest knowledge. That is why they were able to do it.

Question: Can we say that if God instills one intention and a single wisdom, then God wants this source, the Torah, to be spread in the world?

Answer: This has been said many times and also directly stated that these laws should be for the entire world.

Comment: It is said here that they were able to reach one common understanding.

My Response: Yes, that is the miracle.

Question: Reaching one common understanding is a miracle. If in the past, 72, 120 people, the Sanhedrin, made one decision, today two people cannot make one decision. Two! They must clash, each asserting their own opinion.

How can ordinary people, politicians, leaders, or just individuals and families come to one decision, to one opinion?

Answer: There is a lack of understanding that we are under the authority of the Almighty, and everything comes from Him. Therefore, by agreeing with others, you, in principle, come closer to the Creator.

Question: Do you mean to say that I am somehow agreeing with the Creator who is expressing Himself through another?

Answer: Yes.

Question: If I can go this far, suppress and nullify myself, can I also hear what is being said to me from above?

Answer: You will hear the Creator.

Question: Does this apply to both disputing parties, and families, and generally to any states?

Answer: It is not about hearing what the other person is saying. Through them, you will hear the Creator. This is important.

Question: Specifically through my nullification?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: You attribute such great importance to nullification.

My Response: A person nullifies their egoism, the most important thing within them, and desires only to work with receiving from outside. And “from outside” comes to them from the Creator.

Question: Are you saying that the miracle here is precisely this nullification?

Answer: Yes, that is the miracle. If we could nullify ourselves before each other, we would hear the Creator. But He is concealed behind what we say to each other without listening to others.

Question: Is he waiting for us to be able to do this, to nullify ourselves?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/28/23

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Don’t Get Into Trouble

919 Shulya asks:

Hello, dear Michael Laitman. I live in Israel. And like all Israelis, my life was filled with the news. I listened to the news in the car, the news at home, the news at work, and discussed them. And suddenly on October 7, this horror that happened, this shock that we all received! And I can’t listen to the news anymore! I listen to them and I’m stressed. Commentators, different opinions, tragic stories, criticism…

I started to settle for short news clips, just to keep up to date. And it turned out that most of the time that was occupied by the news was freed up. My question is: what kind of content should I fill myself with?

Question: This is really a question on all Israelis’ minds. They live on news.

Answer: Read fairy tales. Yes, fairy tales, not some kind of scientific literature. It can be a little bit fantastic. And even better, if you are able to read fairy tales.

Comment: Fairy tales are suitable for any age.

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why fairy tales?

Answer: Because we are living a lie anyway. We live in the unknown. So it is better to read what creates a good state of mind in you. You don’t work as some kind of minister or leader that you need to be clearly in a state of responsibility and objectivity. So keep yourself occupied with something more pleasant.

Comment: So this is advice for a person who is not directly engaged in carrying out the work necessary to govern the country, but an average citizen.

My Response: From what you will experience, you will not cause harm to anyone. And you won’t manipulate anything.

Comment: But a person simply cannot do without these short news clips; after all, our children are there, and there is a war.

Answer: It is necessary. We need to be aware and supportive.

Question: This is our prayer, that we only listen for a short bit?

Answer: Yes, but don’t cook in it all the time.

Question: So with the additional free time, is this how to live, as in a fairy tale?

Answer: Maybe not to do that. There are people who are doing something else. But the fact is that your experiences do not give anything, and on the contrary, maybe they give more negative results than good ones.

Question: Like if it leads to fear, anxiety?

Answer: Yes, there is no need for that!
[324258]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/11/23

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Why Didn’t Alexander the Great Destroy Jerusalem?

200.01Question: Alexander the Great, the great commander, marched on Jerusalem. He was already great then, he had conquered half the world. And it is written in the Talmud that the high priest Shimon HaTzadik came out to meet him, and with him the elders.

It is written as follows: “They moved all night by torchlight, and at dawn they met with the advance detachments of the Macedonian. We stood in their way. The squad stopped. Alexander the Great descended from the chariot and knelt before the high priest. The assault on Jerusalem has been canceled.”

From that moment on, the name Alexander was included in the list of Jewish names.

The question is very important for today, what does force gives in to? You are equipped, you have got half the world behind you, you have conquered half the world, and you give up!

Answer: There is a higher power, and Alexander felt it. After he conquered the whole world, he was not blinded by it. He felt the power in this elder and therefore got off the chariot and bowed before the great wisdom that he felt in this man.

Question: Still, how to emanate it? I understand, this is a great High Priest, this is a connection with a upper force. But still, now, today, when all this is happening, is it possible to stand up against weapons like this and win? Is it possible or not?

Answer: It depends on who you are going to talk to.

Comment: After all, you see nobility behind Alexander the Great.

My Response: Not only that. He is a smart man, he is a great man who did not just go out to conquer the world. He came out to fill this world with science and enlightenment. And first of all, he wanted to leave it in those cities through which his troops passed.

He wanted to make this world, of course, Hellenic, but it was enlightened. That is, to raise this pagan world to the level of enlightenment.

Question: What is the spirit that a person radiates that conquers everything? I am asking about the high priest now.

Answer: The high priest is obligated to stay in Jerusalem; he has nowhere to go. He has a completely different mission. He must fill the earth with spirit.

Question: And if he came out now and met the Macedonian, what does that mean?

Answer: It means that two great men, strength and intelligence, came together, each understanding the other, respecting each other, and decided to save Jerusalem based on this.

Question: Was the high priest’s idea to save Jerusalem?

Answer: Yes.

Question: When you say “spirit,” do you necessarily mean an upper force in this concept? Is there no spirit without a higher power?

Answer: No, it does not exist. The spirit is the upper force, which, by the way, exists generally in any person. It only depends on how much a person wants to elevate this spirit above him. Let’s say Hitler could not do it, but Alexander the Great could. Therefore, to this day, Jews often call their children Alexander in honor of Alexander the Great.

Comment: There is no other case like this in history.

Answer: There is no such thing, in any way.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/25/23

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For the Light to Shine on Everyone

938.02Question: It is written “precisely when the righteous of the generation extends illumination of Hochma, his mind shines in the whole of Israel.” Who is Israel?

Answer: Israel is all those who yearn for spirituality, absolutely everyone. At the same time, neither nationality, gender, nor anything else matters. The main thing is to have a desire.

Then, as is written in the sources, a general light shines on society and reflects on everyone without exception. The whole society can perform actions in the quality of faith. Therefore, we must be more responsible for our deeds, actions, and thoughts.

Question: What kind of faith and actions are we talking about?

Answer: We are talking about faith above reason and about actions of complete bestowal.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/16/24, Writing of Baal HaSulam “Why We Need to Extend Hochma

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We Can’t Be Left Alone

963.4The eagle was sitting on a tree, resting, doing nothing. The little rabbit saw the eagle and asked: “Can I sit like you and do nothing?” “Of course, why not?” he answered. The rabbit sat down under a tree and began to rest. Suddenly a fox appeared, grabbed him and ate him. Moral: To sit and do nothing, you have to sit very, very high (Fable, source unknown).

My Response: Yes, but I don’t think this is the solution to the issue. And the eagle has problems; it has enemies, and it also must defend itself and imagine other conditions.

Question: So it still needs to keep an eye out?

Answer: Definitely. No living being can exist like this, without caring about anything.

Question: When can I allow myself to be at peace?

Answer: Only if, heaven forbid, you are dead.

Question: Is this peace?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: But you always say that the Creator is at rest. And we must move toward peace one way or another.

My Response: For us, this state is death, because we must kill ourselves, our egoism.

Question: Is this state what you mean?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So I have to kill my egoism? And my whole path is to kill it?

Answer: Yes.

Question: But we are all “rabbits”? We can’t be at rest. There is danger everywhere: on the right, on the left, everywhere?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So, you say that danger exists precisely because we are, as it were, attached to this egoism. How can we not be a rabbit?

Answer: To do this, we need to know exactly what awaits us, what we must sacrifice, and how to be free. That is, we must study the nature of our world, the nature of the higher world, and the paths of transition from one state to another.

Question: This, in principle, is education?

Answer: Yes. It is not simple. I must remake myself, become a person of the upper world.

Question: How does this peace begin?

Answer: With love your neighbor as yourself. And this is already the height of an eagle.

Question: That is, we can allow ourselves some initial, minimal repose if we come to this rule: love our neighbor as ourselves?

Answer: If we accept it at least theoretically.

Question: Do you think we do not even accept it theoretically?

Answer: No, of course not!

Comment: We talk about it all the time.

My Response: We are talking.

Question: Then what does it mean to accept it, at least theoretically?

Answer: Accept it, that is, begin to look for ways to master this law, this condition, look for how to get out of your egoism, and how to rise above your nature.

Question: To love and not to hate? Peace instead of war, good relationships instead of evil. Although you always say that human nature is different.

Answer: You can’t do anything. Especially in our time, we are already approaching this. We still have to somehow prepare ourselves to move to the next level.

Question: In your opinion, is humanity already at this stage and has lingered on the previous one, or not yet?

Answer: No! We are not at any stage yet!

Question: Have we not realized it, but maybe we are there?

Answer: No, on the contrary, we are beginning to realize what stage we are at and that it is far from ideal.

Question: So since our nature is different do we need to take a step into the abyss?

Answer: This is not a step into the abyss. These are rash actions; they are not welcomed by anyone. On the contrary, we must clearly understand what is in front of us and take an absolutely rational step forward.

Comment: So I know that in front of me is “love your neighbor as yourself,” and that is the only way I am going.

My Response: Yes.

Comment: There will be a lot of interference from all sides, naturally.

My Response: We can overcome them all if it is we.

Question: If it is not me, but we?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Could humanity make this decision at some point from great suffering or from what?

Answer: I have no idea.

Question: Then a small group can?

Answer: A small group can. And I cannot imagine that humanity can.

Question: Is it contagious if a small group comes to this?

Answer: This is the mission of the Jewish people: to become such a group and show all humanity that this is possible.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 11/30/23

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The Incident that Shocked all of Israel

963.5Comment: Recently an incident occurred in Israel that shocked the whole country. As you know, we have a sacred attitude toward hostages. We want to free them with all our might; the whole nation is behind it. When three hostages managed to escape from captivity, reached our positions and were almost free, they were mistaken for terrorists and killed. Huge shock was felt all over Israel.

The press started digging, discussing, and looking for who to blame. And the mother of one of those murdered boys sent an audio message to the soldiers.

“I am Yotam’s mom. I love you, I want to hug you even from afar. My son’s death is not your fault. Please take care of yourselves! You are doing the right thing in the world. Do not blame yourselves for my son’s death. You must protect yourselves in order to protect all of us. Come visit us at the first opportunity, whenever you want. We want to look you in the eye, hug you, and tell to your face, no matter how hard it is, that at that moment you made the right decision, you did the right thing. No one in our family condemns you or holds a grudge against you.”

My Response: Yes, it is hard!

Question: I cannot imagine where a mother can get such strength. The most precious thing has been taken away, and she is rising above it. Tell me, where does such strength come from?

Answer: From above! There is no other way… It is revealed from above.

Comment: And this happens right when the search for those to blame is underway, when everything is being discussed. Suddenly, this voice sounds. What is going on here? A mother is the only one who unites the people. Can you imagine? Suddenly everyone feels what they are and what she is!

My Response: Yes, it is a great breakthrough.

Question: When you talk about the role of the Jewish people, that we should come to show an example of good connections by rising above hatred, can we say this mother is an example?

Answer: Yes, what she did was great.

Question: Can we call this a call for the unity of the people?

Answer: Sure.

Question: Can it influence us?

Answer: I do not know. We have already been through so much! And you see that after all this, there are demonstrations again, there is a search for whom to blame again.

What has been killing us for thousands of years continues to kill. It is our inability to unite above all our accusations and problems. I do not know how to achieve it.

Question: Still, can we say this is a call for it?

Answer: It is the call. It has to simply be on everyone’s lips all the time. Even if people do not feel it, to just say it. Then they will hear themselves.

Question: What should be said? That we should rise above everything, above all differences…?

Answer: Rise above all the differences and unite, embrace, connect, just stick together.

Comment: No matter what happens between us.

My Response: Yes! Above all!

Comment: This woman, this mother, Iris, could have shut down and blamed everyone.

My Response: You see, in this state there are people who rise above themselves. There are no words to describe her condition and her actions. It is just beyond human strength.

Question: What would you say to her if you met her?

Answer: I do not know. I would bow to her and that is all.
[323663]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/25/23

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“What Has Changed in the People of Israel since October 7?” (Times of Israel)

Michael Laitman on the Times of Israel: “What Has Changed in the People of Israel since October 7?

Following the tragic events of October 7 and the ongoing war ever since, the people of Israel have become much more united. I sincerely hope that we will continue increasing our unity to its fullest possible extent, i.e., a state of “love your neighbor as yourself” through which the tendency to unite will spread throughout humanity.

Despite the anguish that has led us to unite, it is nonetheless beautiful to discover a sudden upshot of mutual concern and appreciation.

Such states bring upon us certain corrections. Many people from all walks of life suddenly feel that the best position to be in is a unified one. Soldiers feel it on the battlefield, that it is their place, voluntarily wishing to remain, and feeling better than if they were in the center of the country. There have been several instances of soldiers returning home for a few days, saying that they feel much more alive when they are with their friends on duty.

Who would have thought that in our generation, people would willingly leave thriving urban centers and pleasant suburban neighborhoods for dangerous combat zones, putting their lives at risk? We are learning a major lesson and I hope it will remain with us. I thus pray for this newfound togetherness to strengthen, that we will not return to divisiveness, and that the power of unity will spread throughout humanity.

More important than the external conflicts that erupt out of necessity are the inner conflicts against the true enemy: the egoistic inclination dwelling within. At any given moment, a sabotaging thought can take us by surprise, making us reject and distance ourselves from each other. It is precisely at this juncture that we need to fight for the success of our unity over division.

I trust, though, that as we become more aware of the harm we cause ourselves by letting our divisive drives materialize, we will become readier to better manage them. We will then voluntarily push in the opposite direction—to support, encourage, respect and care about each other—and infuse a fresh new positive unifying spirit among us and into the world.
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The Enemies Will Retreat before Our Unity

961.2The war reveals to our people [Israel] that everything depends on our connection. Everyone says that the enemies will retreat in the face our unity and that our separation gives them strength. Let us hope that the unity of the nation will only increase until complete correction without wars.

It is encouraging to see how the people of Israel have suddenly united, how people have begun to appreciate each other. No one needs to explain anything anymore. Every soldier on the front feels that he is in his place and wants to stay there. He feels better among his friends there than among ordinary people in the center of the country.

It is such a difficult path, but we are going through huge corrections, the whole nation is, and are honored with unity. When soldiers come home on leave, they say that real life is there, at the front, and they want to return quickly despite all the danger.

This is a huge lesson for all of us, and let us hope that it will leave an indelible mark in our hearts that will never be forgotten. The main thing is to be with all your heart and soul with those soldiers on the front line and pray for them.

At a time when unity and brotherhood are growing on the front, the discord that existed before the war is beginning again in the rear. But this contrast will help us realize how undesirable disunity is and will help us make the right decision.

To anyone who is fighting against a real, obvious enemy that wants to destroy us and throw us out of our land everything is clear. But there is also an inner enemy, and each of us will have to feel that he is standing against his egoism and must grab it and strangle it.

How can we recognize this inner enemy? It is very easy. Everything in me that helps me get closer to others is my friend, and everything that alienates me and awakens hatred for others is my enemy.

This war has softened the hearts of the people. But the nation of Israel has experienced such terrible catastrophes in its history and still has returned to separation. Let us hope that this time there will be no return to the old habits.
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From the 3rd part of  the Daily Kabbalah lesson 1/11/24, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Writings of the Last Generation”

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What We Need in 2024

294.2Question: What are your wishes for people in 2024?

Answer: To strive for peace. That is all. It is most important.

Question: What is needed for this?

Answer: To do this, you just need to strive for peace.

Question: Does everyone need to do it?

Answer: Everyone and in all its manifestations. That is, try to consider where some anti-peaceful actions are visible and look for how we can extinguish them. Today we do not yet have a single methodology, theory, or desire to do that.

Comment: There is not even a single call for peace.

My Response: Yes. So the world is in a confused state.

Question: So is this your wish for each person?

Answer: Yes, for each individually.

Question: And if you see that there is no peace, how should you live?

Answer: We must still strive for unification. There is nothing else. And I hope that our internal movement toward this, toward uniting everyone, will win and change the world.

In general, of course, the state of the world is very, very shaky.

Question: Between what and what?

Answer: Between the possibility of a huge, huge, everyday, all-around war of everyone against everyone.

Question: And will this grief really be for everyone?

Answer: Yes, of course.

Comment: Someone is thinking of sitting out.

My Response: No, I think that in general it will not be possible to sit out. Here we need to make some categorical decisions.

Question: But is this your main and only wish?

Answer: Yes. Only the desire for peace in the world.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 1/1/24

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