Writings of Rabash, “What is the Feast of the Groom”: The “bride” signifies work during the time of exile, when the Creator’s face is concealed. It is when the forces of disunity rule over a person.

Kabbalists try to explain a simple principle to us in different ways. Creation as a whole is called “bride.” This is the “matter” of the desire, which we must raise to the height of the Creator in order to unite with Him, revealing the Good who Does Good.

When we discover problems in our murky matter, we have to understand that we shouldn’t nullify it, but “sanctify” it, meaning correct it. That is how we continuously ascend higher with its help. Precisely the additions of Aviut from the matter that become revealed in us build the levels of the spiritual ladder for us, one after the other.

This is a cyclical process which requires a simple action. Just like in a computer, everything is determined by the choice of two positions: “yes” and “no,” “0” and “1.” By consolidating many actions like this, we can reach any analysis, express any quality and any form of interaction between the Creator and creation, between the force of bestowal and the force of reception.

Thus, the only thing remaining for a person to do is to accelerate the time. On one hand he sees that the bride is ugly, but on the other hand he understands that the egoistic desire distorts the true picture. This desire is horrible, casting a person away from the goal and throwing him into a descent.

However, by studying the “bride” through the prism of the desire for bestowal, a person sees that if he “sanctifies” his egoism, then he will be able to “decorate” and “beautify” it, the way it is customary to adorn the bride before the wedding. Then the corrected desire will lead a person out to the level of the “groom.”

Various situations arise in this process. Sometimes we do not agree to accept our egoistic desire, seeing how ugly it is. Sometimes on the contrary, we understand that we have to accept and correct it, to decorate it by making efforts.

In the end, as we advance by faith above reason, placing bestowal above reception, we reach the “feast of the groom.”

As a whole there are three states on this path:

1. The forces of disunity, the Shechina in exile, the beginning of the analysis.
2. During the period of spiritual exile we work on the bride, “dressing her up” and “decorating” her.
3. The “feast of the groom.”

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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/10/11, Writings of Rabash

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The Zohar, Chapter “BeShalach (When Pharaoh Sent),” Item 332: It is a Mitzva [commandment] to build the Temple below like the Temple above, as it is written, “The place that You have made for Your dwelling, O Lord.” This is so because the Temple must be built below, and to pray a prayer within it everyday, to serve the Creator, since prayer is called “Work” [service].

The Temple below means Malchut where we have to create a corrected desire (Kli – vessel). A prayer means to raise an appeal (MAN) for correction.

The connection of the lower one with the upper one was due to Malchut’s ascent to Bina, and then Bina’s descent into Malchut. As a result, there are two Temples: Malchut and Bina below are the Temple below, while Malchut and Bina above are the Temple Above.

“The Temple must be built below, and to pray a prayer within it everyday” means to connect Bina and Malchut together when we try to create such a state in the group, in our desires. After all, where else can I express my attitude toward bestowal? It is possible only in connection between us.

Then, when I realize that I am totally unable to do anything, I raise my prayer, and for that reason, the Temple Above is being built. We need to do this “everyday,” that is, in the states of ascent when we have some strength, we have to try to perform this work with all our energy.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/3/2010, The Zohar

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Writings of Rabash, Shlavei HaSulam, “What Is it That it is Written and You Should Return to Your Hearts”
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The Book of Zohar — Introduction: “The Donkey Driver,” Item 90, Lesson 4
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Talmud Eser Sefirot 3, Part 8, Item 59, Lesson 32
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Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Quality of the Hidden Wisdom – in General,” Lesson 1
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A person who desires to ascend up the spiritual degrees, to go from our reality that is felt in the five senses to the upper reality, has to change himself and his qualities. And for that he needs an external, additional force which he lacks.

He has just a tiny point of desire for spirituality and must receive everything else from outside. The entire sum total of these forces, which raises him from the current state to a more advanced state, is called “the donkey driver.” In Hebrew “donkey” is Hamor, originating from the word Homer, matter. The donkey is our matter, the will to enjoy, and it continuously goes through changes, causing us to ascend and advance along the spiritual path.

The force from Above influences our desire, changing it, and thus our “donkey” becomes constantly improved because the “donkey driver” is always working on him. When we reach the end of the path, our “donkey” really does become “white,” just like in the stories about the Messiah who arrives on a “white donkey.”
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/11/11, The Zohar

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Our entire work comes down to a very thin line. We must advance only along this line since otherwise the smallest deviation will eventually lead us very far away from the goal.

This line is described by the formula, “Israel, the Torah, and the Creator are one.” The goal, meaning the Creator, must be our aim initially, from the first step. But what is the Creator as a goal?

This is pleasure from bestowing to Him. The more energy and efforts we have to make in order to please our beloved, the more we enjoy it. Pleasure from bestowal is evaluated by the efforts that you made in order to acquire the necessary pleasure and pass it on to your beloved.

This goal is called “bread of mercy” or “perfect faith.” In relation to it, we can asses the “Egyptians” in us and “Israel” in us. We discern our desire to reveal the Creator more and more accurately in order to give Him pleasure and to enjoy from that. That means we must acquire love for Him because without love it is impossible to enjoy giving to someone.

Therefore, I must discern the goal from the beginning, as well as its reason and the means to realize it according to the vessels and the Lights. How can I make it come true already now without making a mistake? What device can help me to aim?

What weapon should I use to shoot my bullet so it will precisely hit the goal, which I do not see? What kind of barrel does this cannon have? And what is the bullet like? Who am I, and what desire do I use to actualize this?

Thus, in the current state we necessarily end up with a certain device that can serve us as an exercise machine, an experimental stand, a set-up we can use to conduct full blown experiments. We won’t just be practicing to aim, but will know for sure that our efforts do reach the goal, even though it is inaccessible to our eyes.

This device is the group. A person places the final goal into the initial plan and relates to the friends, the group, and work in it as to the Creator. Placing the group in the Creator’s place, he calibrates himself on it, puts efforts into it, and has it before his eyes.

Then he can be sure that behind this set-up, behind this “firearm,” there is the goal, the Creator. This tendency, the intention, the attitude to the goal is what brings a person’s work to the Creator.

Therefore, we have all the opportunities for building a small or great human society so that by uniting through love for the neighbor as for ourselves, we will acquire love for the Creator.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/11/11, Writings of Rabash

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Question: We learn that the process of correction is internal and must be separated from the external world. But on the other hand, we live in a unified reality and I feel how Kabbalah influences my day to day life. I am a lawyer by profession, and as such I often have to be sly with people, yet I feel that I can no longer keep lying to them! So what should I do?

Answer: Well, what can you do?…If I am a member of a mafia that continues to steal, then how can I remain in it if I’m no longer able to lie?

There are many professions like this. If you are in the system of the egoistic society, then it operates by these laws. That is why Kabbalists usually chose simple professions and did not even think of rising to higher offices.

I understand the difficulties that arise if a person already has this profession and it is difficult for him to alter his living standards. Yet you should try to arrange your life so you will operate within the bounds of justice, more or less, even if it isn’t spiritual justice, but the simple human kind. Be in a position where you won’t have to lie, steal, and harm people because, indeed, you will feel that you are no longer able to do this.

Spiritual progress changes a person so he can no longer tolerate lies on such a grand scale as is customary in business among regular egoists. This is a problem in many professions that are related to human relationships.

On one hand, the method of Kabbalah is aimed only at a person’s inner correction, his attitude to the friends in the group. Yet, he can no longer act unfairly in the external world either. He changes entirely because he is an integral individual. He cannot lie to people with a selfish goal in mind and bring harm upon them. This is a consequence of correction.

Otherwise, why should the world correct itself if everything will remain the same on the outside? In the end we have to attain corrected life on this earth. By attracting the Light that Reforms upon us, we will all begin to feel this way, and in fact, will feel much more so. We will not be able to lie or cause harm to each other.

It’s true that loving your neighbor means loving his aspiration to the Creator. But when you start to change, you will also change in relation to the whole world. That is how the Light influences us.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/11/11, “The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Philosophy”

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Question: Who has to overcome evil: me or the Creator?

Answer: No matter what others tell me about the Creator, I have to work on my own from beginning until end. Then, according to the things that become revealed, I will be able to tell how exactly this takes place: by itself, by virtue of my efforts, or with the help of a certain Upper Force.

We shouldn’t wait for anything to come from Above. Nothing will come. With my forces and efforts I have to reveal a picture that already exists.

Everything depends on how much I yearn for it. I am like a child who grows only to the degree he wants to grow. And I have to add this desire myself. Now just imagine what life would be like for that child.

In our world children develop naturally and we can barely keep up with them. A child runs around all over the place and always wants something. That is how we should do our spiritual work as well. Otherwise we won’t develop and grow. However, what we do instead is take “breaks” all the time and time-outs to stop and think it over.

Does a child ever take a time-out? No, he does not experience a moment of rest. He has to attain the world at every moment.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/11/11, Writings of Rabash

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Question: What is goal-oriented pleasure?

Answer: Goal-oriented pleasure is pleasure from bestowal, and the only way it is possible to enjoy bestowal is when you love the person you are giving to.

So how can I achieve love? By virtue of correction, by replacing hatred with love. Who or what makes this correction happen? The Upper Light.

When does it happen? When I ask for it. So when will I ask for it? When the group obligates me to do so.

When will it obligate me to do so? When I lower myself before the group and in it find the force that obligates me.

So when will I finally lower myself before the group? It will happen when we work on this together with the friends.

And that is where we stumble….
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/11/11, The Zohar

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"Introduction of The Book of Zohar," Article "You Will Behold the Secret of the Lines in the Palms," Item 161: When three small lines enter those on the length, he has one black inscription in his body. Also, three hairs hang down that inscription, and that inscription is as a circle, with one breakage at the top of the inscription. Wise-hearted who know these secrets called this inscription “An eagle’s head.” Sometimes, this inscription is seen between his shoulders, sometimes in the right arm, and sometimes on the right arm, on his fingers.

We read about parts of the soul which connect with other souls and by that virtue reveal these images in the connection between them. "The secret of the face," "the secret of the lines on the palm," the secret of all body parts, all of that refers to the parts of the collective soul, Adam HaRishon, the system of connection between the souls.

By and of themselves, the souls contain nothing that we can study because it’s the desire to receive. We attain the connection between them, meaning the forces of their mutual bestowal, which connect them like blood vessels.

The Zohar describes all these forms of connection as the study of "the secret of the faces," "the secret of the palm lines," "the secret of Man’s body" referring to all kinds of internal and external signs, until we gain knowledge of the whole Man ("man" or "Adam" in Hebrew is a derivative of the word "Edome" or "similar to Upper One"), that is, until we reveal the perfect system called "the Creator."

Therefore, we should bear in mind that The Zohar speaks about the connection between us, describing it in such a way.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 1/9/2011, “Introduction of The Book of Zohar,” Article “Yitro (Jethro)”

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