When we examine nature and human behavior given the egoistic desire to rule over others, we see that the only way to influence it is through the society. It is a fact that once a person provides for his corporeal needs, he wants to rule over others, use them for his own benefit, and make them suit him. And this is why he depends on the society.

For this reason if we were to give him an environment that demanded a good attitude from him to be accepted in it, whether he likes it or not, he will have to change his qualities, like jealousy and passion for pleasure and respect, according to the demands of the society.

It is his egoistic inclination that demands this connection with a society, a connection where he is the ruler. But the society, can give him an opposite understanding without breaking this connection: Go ahead be great, be proud, be above others! But do it through good, not evil!

In other words, the desire, which he used to use in a way that harmed the society and benefitted him, gradually begins to change through his dependence on the society. There are many examples like this in life.

For example, a person is running for an election. What does he want? To rule, prove his abilities! He wants to make new laws, establish a new order, and head the government. And what does he say? Something completely opposite: I will serve everyone, work for the common good, I will treat you the best I 
can, and love you like a father.

It follows that a person’s connection with a society forces him to have an altruistic attitude towards it, even if it is nothing but words, even when his actual intentions are completely egoistic. For this reason, if we give a person a proper society to educate him, the problems will disappear.

When a person, egoistically running for president, promises the people to carry out all their demands: create jobs, provide shelter, safety, etc., the society must treat him the same way.

You want respect? Work for us, do good for us, and you will be valued. Then you will have what you deserve according to the good deeds you do for us.

It turns out that we do not complain, do not blame, and do not require a person to change; these demands are meaningless and unreasonable. But we can influence a person in an indirect manner, through the environment, so he would easily accept everything necessary.

A person will grow like in a greenhouse, acquiring a form that corresponds to the heat, moisture, atmospheric pressure, and other external conditions. He will enjoy doing it as a game, just like children grow and become wiser by playing.

There is no point discussing the way each one of us needs to change since everything depends on the influence of the environment. We simply need to act like in a play. It will be a game—a life-changing game, but still a game, which is so much fun that we will dedicate our free time, freed by our ego from daily 
obligations, to forming a good environment.

We will grow without effort and will easily change with the support of teachers and educators just like children who grow and are changed by playing. We only need to know how to use our free time and knowledge, which we are now receiving, to change the right way.

But why haven’t we done it earlier? What prevented us from doing this a thousand years ago, when we were living in an underdeveloped society in past generations? Then we were not able to know and recognize our evil. We thought that the ego helped us develop and didn’t feel that it was bad. The ego pushed us toward progress and development, and we did not consider it to be evil.

Well, we became distant from each other, created separate families, marked social and state borders: All these were good things. We never thought that this would bring us to such a big common destruction.

Only recently did we start to realize how hopeless our state is, and that the only way to form a new person is by building a new society.

Like an incubator, greenhouse, or the hands of a maestro, this society prepares new people out of us who use all the strength they have on top of the animal level for the good, and not evil—and they will become good people instead of evil people.

We will try to use the power in the group, society, and humanity in a good way so that when every person connects with others, he would feel that he is close to them both in his heart and soul, in one thought like in one body. He will feel so close to them that he will feel and understand thoughts and feelings that fill the world.

Every one of us will include the entire humanity within himself, and then we will see nature has brought us to this wonderful state through our development where every person feels that he is a collection of everyone. This way a person goes beyond the boundaries of the perception of his brief and insignificant life and begins to feel our integral world through the entire humanity.

This way we realize the main force of our life, egoism, which distinguishes us and lifts us above the animal level. It actually lifts us, and does not lower us to an unhappy, miserable life where I would feel afraid and powerless, which is worse than the animal level, in fact sometimes when I watch my dog or cat, I envy their lives.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” Episode 9, 1/6/12

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Question: What is the problem with learning Kabbalah in our time?

Answer: When a person comes to Kabbalah, becomes interested in it, it seems to him that it speaks about things that are outside of him; he feels like the material that he studies is somewhere above, far from him, outside of him, disconnected from this world, outside of this world. Even though he learns about the need for the group, he does not seem to hear that attainment happens in the unity of students.

But then, it is explained with more perseverance how to use his knowledge to practically attain the spiritual world, perceive it, enter it – and to do this, he needs to work on the connection between himself and his fellow students. But if a person stays in the group, sooner or later he experiences a breakthrough in his realization of the need for connection with his friends on the journey, to reveal the upper World in this connection.

And then, as he unites with his friends, he needs to start uniting with all of humanity. And he is not able to accept this. All of his egoism pushes him away from connecting with people who do not study Kabbalah. He does not understand how the upper World might be connected with these folks.

At this stage many leave or become delayed in their spiritual development even though they continue studying; they do not advance because they do not realize their connection with others; they only gather theoretical knowledge.

So, the first complication is switching from yourself to the connection with the group, the 1%. We gradually begin to comprehend that spirituality is revealed between us, in the correction of our breaking.

But the second complication is switching from us, the 1%, the group, from being on the inside, to others, the masses, the 99%, to being outside of us—and to start enlightening them without Kabbalah, but only directing them towards integral unity without the attainment of the upper One. It is difficult to understand the importance of this; it is very far from the “personal interest.”

Today I see the difficulty in switching from working in the group to working with humanity in many groups of ours. But these are growing pains, and they are necessary for the realization of the structure of the upper world.
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The more the goal of attaining bestowal unto the Creator is important to us, so should the work of creating the collective vessel and attaining bestowal unto friends be important. Thus, we will have to turn to the Creator in prayer (MAN), in order for Him to give us the force of bestowal, the will to bestow, the ability to connect amongst us and attain bestowal.

In a group, a person learns how friends should be treated, how to bond with them. When he “buys” friends for himself, he raises a prayer for them, receives strength from them, assistance. We need to attain cohesion with the Creator, as His partners, in equality and mutual love; one needs to attain that state with the friends in order to reveal what it is.

Surely, the will to receive and our initial nature despise this business. Yet, we will have to engage in it because other than that, there is no meaning to our reality, our life. For that purpose, we are born and exist on the beastly level, in the meantime, in order to reach correction.

Hence, it turns out that the friends are no less important than the Creator. And creating the collective vessel is equal to attaining the goal of Creation, attaining the love and cohesion.

We need to realize the immense power found within the group, and that is the only means to attain the goal of Creation, meaning, the attribute of bestowal. That is what our inner, personal work in the group is devoted to, and similarly, the external work relating to the entire world.

The whole world is also suffering. The question of “What is the purpose of my life?” leads each one of us to a group at some stage to study Kabbalah, and to a teacher, obligating us to study. Likewise, the entire world is seeking the meaning to its lost life, and nature is uniting us coercively into a group, an integral, global world. Whether people want it or not, they are beginning to feel they are interdependent.

Therefore, there’s not a big difference between what our groups are going through and what the whole world is enduring. Certainly, there is a difference in the pace, conditions and exposing the material; yet, the more we advance forward, we’ll be more similar, simply like twins. Our small group (those hundreds of thousands of friends belonging to it) will grow closer and closer to that large group comprised of seven billion people alive in the world, thus, we’ll reach a closer understanding of the goal.

Of course, every person does that in accordance with his degree and perception, but everyone, with no exception, must attain the importance of the “friends,” meaning, from the state in which one sees the other people as strangers to attaining the love of brothers toward all and loving each one “as himself.”
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/2/12, Writings of Rabash

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In the News (from Examiner): “According to NASA, as reported by National Geographic, an iceberg the size of New York City is about to break off of Antarctica’s fastest melting glacier. The ice crack measures 350 square miles, which is more than the 303 square miles that covers all five boroughs in the city. … It isn’t known when the iceberg is going to break off, but the educated guess is sometime within the next few months.

“Normally icebergs breaking off isn’t such an issue as it is in this case, but in this case, scientists are seeing a difference in how the ice breaks off, suggesting that the ice itself is changing. The ice breaking off in this way will contribute all the more toward the sea level rising in the area. Another factor which is raising the eyebrows of experts is where the iceberg is in comparison with the rest of the continent. The shifts in the ice in these particular glaciers (in West Antarctica, specifically the Pine Island Glacier, where the crack is specifically) will contribute to the broken off icebergs raising the sea level that much faster.”

(From IBTIMES TV): “Scientists have long suspected icebergs to have a link with earthquakes. When the huge March 11 earthquake triggered the Tohoku Tsunami in Japan that flattened entire coastal towns and killed nearly 16,000, scientists knew that tracking the wave could provide visual proof of the connection. The undersea megathrust earthquake had a staggering magnitude of 9.0 (Mw), and triggered waves of up to 133 feet high. Scientists were able to track the wave over 8,000 miles as it sprawled through the Pacific and Southern oceans. Just 18 hours after the tsunami, a wave of 1-foot height struck the ice shelf in Antarctica. The Sulzberger ice shelf is a sheet of ice 260 feet thick that extends towards New Zealand. It hasn’t budged in nearly 50 years, but the pressure from the wave was strong enough to snap off massive pieces of ice. One of them measured four by six miles in surface area, nearly the size of Manhattan.”

My Comment: Climatic problems, which are the result of our imbalance with nature, are the most tragic. So far, we underestimate our impact on nature: We believe that we inflict harm by exhaust and garbage, but in fact, our spiritual non-compliance with nature causes the most devastating and direct impact on it. Our egoistic relationships are responsible for major imbalances in nature and are the cause of all crises and climate challenges.
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Question: What is the basis of the fusion of the three concepts: “Israel, the Light, and the Creator?

Answer: The basis is that these concepts are not separated. Everything is One. Reality is simple: the desire to receive filled with light. And the question is only one: How can we discover where we really are? How can we discover this reality? How can we add the knowledge about it to our lives, to our current state? In the end, this is what the wisdom of Kabbalah reveals.

Beside this, there is nothing. This reality is permanent. There is no time, place, or distance, but reality simply exists. We can’t imagine this to ourselves without the characteristics of this world, but it exists. Within it we discover both the Kli (vessel or desire) and the Light, meaning all of its components, and thus we reach real existence.

We don’t understand how separated we are today from the truth. Israel, the Light, and the Creator seem separated to us. But we need to connect them into One.

The person who tries to discover the true reality is called Israel since he yearns “directly to the Creator (Yashar Kel).” Light is the Light that reforms, that brings a person to the goal. The goal is the Creator, the upper force, the root to which we long for. Thus everything is connected at the root, and through this, I return to Him, I really become like Him.
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/22/12, “Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot”

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I am this point in the heart, and there is nothing in me except that. I long to exit from this point towards others, towards spirituality, towards the group, but I am not capable of externally escaping myself with my own strength since the point can only maintain itself and nothing more than that. This is what I need. And below this point is my ego. In the meantime, it is small and physical, at the level of the animate.

In order for me to have this tendency towards the group, this point is absolutely not enough. I need an environment that influences me in addition to my point in the heart, and then I will receive the force to bond to the group. So, then in some way, I succeed to be included in the correct environment (1). The environment begins to influence me with the importance of bestowal, the goal of spirituality (2). And this gives me the strength to begin to be included, just a bit, into the group (3).

But when I try to be included in the group, I feel an unpleasant response: criticism, evil, rejection, and hate (4). And thus I constantly work: 1-2-3-4, and again 1-2-3-4….. When I feel this hatred, I again return to the friends and ask them to influence me so that the strength to overcome myself and connect to the group will appear for me in spite of the rejection. This is how we constantly work, in parallel to studying and dissemination work.

And when all the forces and these tensions accumulate, we feel that we are in need of help, as is said, “Man will help his friends.” These forces of the environment that take care of me are already not enough for me. I need greater support from the other people. It is already not enough that the environment will supply the awakening for me. I need a real force that will allow me to be included into the group itself. I won’t have strength like this, if I don’t receive it from the others.
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/22/12, “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)”

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From the Constitution of the Arava Convention: During all the days of the convention I commit to disconnect internally and externally from the physical world and to forget about myself. I disconnect myself and am ready to escape from the present state, to jump into the Red Sea, to lose my head, to leave everything, remain naked and destitute, and to accept whatever comes, only because it comes from Above.

We should rise above everything that we are. Constant efforts are required here.

It says: “They helped every one his friend.” If the whole group aspires towards this ascent, to faith above reason, it will work on everyone, and it will be easy for everyone. Now we find it hard to connect, but if we want to use the power of unity, we will suddenly feel a relief.

When the general force operates on a person, the difficulties disappear. He stops fearing, and the current sweeps him away. This is what we must attain.

Actually, all the conditions are easy if we carry them out through unification.

In the convention everyone is responsible for all. It is mutuality, mutual guarantee. Everyone worries about the others, about unity. Inside me I should constantly pray for the friends so that they will connect, so that their desire will finally come true. If this prayer lives inside me, then undoubtedly I am also inside.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/2012, Constitution of the Arava Convention  

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Question: I have no doubt that we will come to the convention in high spirits and greatly impressed. But what should I do if the situation changes and a descent starts?

Answer: Of course we should expect waves: each of us separately and possibly everyone together. It is clear, but it is above them that we should work. Or do you think that the first contact with spirituality will set you free of all the problems? No, you should delve inwards with all your might and hang on like a bulldog.

When a big dog attacks you, you have to shove your hand into his jaws, as deeply as you can, and then it will have to let go. It is the same here: push forward as hard as you can.

Question: Will I be able to do that by myself?

Answer: You will be able to make everyone follow you, without a word. If you care about them, you “shift yourself and the whole world to a scale of merit.” This is because the spiritual force passes from one to all and from all to everyone. It isn’t just our mutual connection; it is above us.

Question: I don’t understand what the spiritual force is, but I do know what my egoism is. It will pressure me, but I won’t admit it and will hide it. And what if it comes to extremes, to unfounded hatred? I will bring everyone harm, won’t I?

Answer: These waves have been passing through you for years. It is normal, and we should overcome it. No one says that the convention is heaven into which you fly like an angel; of course not.

We gather together and disconnect from the world in order to create an atmosphere that will impress all of us. Then together, we will be able not only to neutralize our evil inclination, but also to overcome and to control it. It will “swell up” under us, like dough, and by staying on top of it we will reach the spiritual level. We have to go through all the thickness of the concealment, which is actually revealed in hatred.

Don’t expect everything to go smoothly, without any mishaps. We want it, we want to rise in one spurt, but each one will have his own thoughts and discernments. So bring all your hatred and don’t fear it. The main thing is that it is stirred up by the desire to connect with all the friends and not by something else.

Question: And what if I see that the friend goes though this state? Should I intervene, or should I leave him alone?

Answer: You must set another example for him: to hug him, to do something without pressure, gently, in order to help him rise. Don’t just ignore it because internally he disturbs everyone. We are all in the same boat; can we let anyone drill a hole in it? You have to envelop him with warmth so that he will be happy, so that he will come out of the descent.

Question: But what if I go wrong: It could be that he is deep in thought and I may think that he is in a descent.…

Answer: Think about everyone’s salvation and everything will be fine. Only love and concern.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/2012, Constitution of the Arava Convention 

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The entire work of the priests, Cohens, about whom so much is written in the Torah, is essentially dedicated to caring about others. It may seem that these are some kind of ritual services in the Temple, carried out by the chief priest (Cohen HaGadol) together with the Cohens and Levites, while all the people serve them by bringing sacrifices. However, they teach the people and lead the entire correction because the Creator is expecting it particularly from the deepest and most distant from Him levels of desire.

We think that priests are something separated from the people, somewhere high up there. But on the contrary, the “kingdom of priests” are those who go to the people and take care of them, like taking care of a baby until he grows up and teaches complete adhesion with the Creator. The responsibility of a Cohen is to bring the people to this state.

The Light acts on the upper levels of the desire, which are called Cohens, Levites, and Israel. Then, these levels of desire work on the rest of the levels. This pyramid does not change until the final correction. However, when the Light of Rav Paalim uMekabtziel comes at the end of correction, it turns this pyramid into a circle.

Until then, a special order of corrections is observed, always coming from Above down through all of the worlds, until the very end, to the broken souls, and back up from them again.

According to the depth of their desire (Aviut), the souls receive a different governance through the worlds of Atzilut, Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya; or they even completely disconnect from the private upper governance, which is called the level of this world. That is why those who are in the lower worlds must receive governance through higher levels, the Cohens, Levites, and Israel, who have to provide the nations of the world with care, teaching, and upbringing. (This is how the four levels of desire are called.)

The nations of the world suffer on their level from material, earthly, problems, but this suffering is irremediable since these problems do not have a solution. The form of suffering is material, but its essence is spiritual because one has no other means for healing besides the movement to unite with the Creator.

That is why we need to organize a general system of new education and care for everyone. Only thanks to this will we become worthy of adhesion.

We need to understand that the goal of creation was originally directed at all of humanity. Hence, while aspiring to unite with one another, we must always remember for whose sake we are doing this. It is in order to bring the method of correction to the entire world that, day by day, is discovering its ever more desperate state. The world sees that it needs the method of correction, but it is not there. That is why we need to reveal it for ourselves and then pass it on to the world.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/19/2012, “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)”  

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It is said: “You should post judges and guards at all your gates.” The judges are those who “forcefully” decide what a person should do with himself and thereby create potential obstacles. While the guards are those who actively execute the decision, throwing a person from the path and distancing him. The responsibilities are divided, as it is customary in this world.

On the higher degrees this could be interpreted as the states of smallness and greatness. The judges sentence a person according to his “virtues” (GE, the forces of Bina, the Light of Hassadim that’s present in him), weighing them in relation to the coarseness of his desire to receive, like on a scale. The guards already deal with the receiving desires that require supervisors and officers to ensure that these desires don’t break through and a person doesn’t use his AHP.

This is the same work, and it depends on the state a person is in: Whether he is in double or single concealment, in single revelation (reward and punishment), or in double revelation (love). Accordingly, the character of the judges, supervisors, and, afterwards, guards changes.

And also among the judges, themselves, there are various kinds. The entire study of the Babylonian Talmud is built on these arguments, on the trials of the desire to receive. This is an instruction of how a person should build and evaluate himself, to be his own guard and supervisor, and first of all, his own judge.

A person compares his state with what is written in the Talmud and determines on what degree he is, what examples he needs to apply on himself at the still, vegetative, animate, and speaking levels of desire. He sees to which level of the desire he causes harm by his egoism and which way he can compensate it, meaning to correct the damages caused by the ego that breached its limits.

The entire Talmud and all the work on spiritual degrees is dedicated to this. If you open the Babylonian Talmud, you will see that all the arguments and disagreements are only about this, up to the most detailed clarifications of the tiniest details.
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From the 1st pat of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/2012, Writings of Rabash

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