First Day Of The 2009 International Kabbalah Congress

israel-congress

Lesson In Preparation To The International Kabbalah Congress

israel-congressOn 01.30.2009 at 7:00pm Israel time, about 300 of our friends from around the world, who had already arrived for the Congress, gathered at our Bnei Baruch center. We had a lesson in preparation to the Congress, on the theme, “Uniting for Good”

The Financial Crisis Makes Us Wiser

wiserIn the News (from The American Prospect): Families went on a spending binge over the last 30 years because:

– women went into paid work,
– everyone started working longer hours,
– then, when these tactics gave out, everyone went deeper and deeper into debt.

But now families cannot work more hours than they did before and won’t be able to borrow as much, either. Americans are now discovering they can exist surprisingly well buying fewer of the things they never really needed to begin with. What we most lack, or are in danger of losing, are the things we use in common – clean air, clean water, public parks, good schools, and public transportation, as well as social safety nets to catch those of us who fall.

My Comment: This is an example of how a little bit of suffering makes people wiser. However, in addition to being satisfied with the bare necessities, we will still have to develop the inner qualities of love and bestowal to others. But these are subsequent stages, which will come after subsequent suffering.

Related Material:
Laitman.com: As a Result of the Crisis, Only the Necessities Will Remain
Laitman.com Post: We Are Standing at the Threshold of an Extraordinary Discovery
Article: “One Law”

Can One Justify The Holocaust?

holoA question I received: What should my attitude be towards the Holocaust? Also, being that the “Introduction to the Book of Zohar” says that all of the nations could become Nazi regimes if Israel doesn’t fulfill its duty, and also given that everything in this world is pre-determined, how am I to feel anything but fear and hatred towards the Creator?

My Answer: See Baal HaSulam’s article “Matan Torah (The Revelation of Godliness)”: Kabbalah (the authentic Torah, Torah Emet,) was given to us in order to correct the egoistic desire “to fulfill only yourself” into the altruistic desire “to fulfill others.” Since the entire system of souls is built as a pyramid, similar to our physical body, the correction isn’t done by all the souls at the same time, but happens in a specific order. This order depends on the souls’ desire to break free from “pursuing things in order to receive.”

This concealed desire to reveal the Creator is called “the point in the heart.” The heart is all of a person’s desires, and the point in the heart is the desire for the Creator. This is how parts of the souls unite together and – within their unity – reveal the Creator. This is referred to as the “Reception of the Torah” (revelation of the Light, the Creator).

Also, see Baal HaSulam’s article “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)”: Receiving the method of correction (Torah or Kabbalah) is only the initial stage in the general correction of all the souls. Hence, the corrected part must fall into the common egoism, intermix with the uncorrected part – the rest of humanity, so together they can become corrected.

In addition, see Baal HaSulam’s article “Introduction to the Book of Zohar (item70)“: When egoism becomes revealed as evil in the world as a whole, this is the beginning of the period of the revelation of Kabbalah, the method of the entire world’s correction. But because this method is still in the possession of the group of people who have used it – the people of Israel, they must master it and pass it on to all the nations of the world. The destiny of the people of Israel and of the entire world depends only on this. When the method is not passed on in time, then all kinds of problems appear in the world – aggression, wars, extermination, and so on, including the Holocaust.

You cannot justify the Creator because the degree of the righteous (one who justifies the Creator) is still far above you. Therefore, I can understand what you are feeling, though I do not feel the same way.

Related News Story (from Associated Press): Israel’s chief rabbinate severed ties yesterday with the Vatican to protest a papal decision to reinstate a bishop who publicly denied that six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust.

Related Material:
Laitman.com: What Is the Spiritual Root of the Holocaust?
Laitman.com: On Good and Evil
Laitman.com: Why Does Everyone Hate Israel?
Shamati #66 “The Giving of the Torah”
The Introduction to the Book “From the Mouth of a Wise Man” – Lesson of June 16, 2004

Congress Schedule

Here you can view the detailed schedule of the International Kabbalah Congress (for children and adults), held on February 2 – 4, 2009. (The schedule is subject to change, so please check it periodically.)

Scientists Are Now Able To Read Our Mind

nowIn the News (from The Irish Times): “Scientists learn how to read our mind” The fanciful notion of mind-reading has moved from science fiction to science fact. A research group in London led by an Irish scientist has used brain scans and a computer to decipher a person’s thoughts.

My Comment: Science is closer than ever to the borderline between our world and the Upper World. Science reveals this world, which is perceived within the desire “to receive for oneself.” However, the Upper World is perceived within the desire “to give to others” and is revealed through Kabbalah. There will be no place left for mysticism and religion!

Related Material:
Laitman.com Post: Who Needs a Manual Playpad When You Can Play Games With Thoughts?