It is said by the sages: “The long road is short, and the short road is long.” The Creator wants us to see ourselves not as the righteous who have nothing to correct, but as sinners and to rise above our defects, over our separation and inability to bestow.

I reveal that I am a sinner and strive to become righteous. The righteous is one who justifies the Creator. Nothing is required of us except this justification, everything else is done from above.

The long or short road, I decide on my ability to justify the Creator. Perhaps I am only at the very beginning of the path, but I adhere myself completely to the Creator. It is not the condition itself that matters to the Creator, but the efforts made by us, as we appreciate the efforts of a baby in a trifling matter and are touched by them more than the great successes of a grown child.

The person himself determines where he is. Maybe he is far from the Creator, but uses this estrangement as an opportunity to show his devotion and closeness to Him. And then the long road becomes short. A short road can be long if a person thinks that he is already close to the Creator. So we judge not by our sensations, but only by our ability to justify the Creator, and then we can already achieve correction.¹

From Baal HaSulam’s article, “You Have Made Me in Behind and Before”: “You have made me in behind and before,” meaning the revelation and concealment of the face of the Creator. This is because indeed, “His kingdom rules over all,” and everything will return to its root because there is no place vacant of Him. But the difference is in the present or the future, because one who connects the two worlds discovers His clothing in the present, that everything that is done is a clothing for the revelation of the Shechina [Divinity].

A person for whom the present and future are one and the same feels that he already has the revelation of the Creator; that is, everything that happens is a manifestation of the actions of the upper force.

If I imagine that it is not me acting now, but the Creator acting in me, then the present and the future are connected for me and there is nothing left but this moment. Time does not exist. If the next moment matters to me, then I’m in a flawed condition right now.

The future exists only in order to cancel it and pull it into the present. For this, I must imagine that the Creator rules me at every moment, and for me there is no next moment because I am completely in His power.²

The Creator wants us to find that He controls us all the time, like a horseman with a horse, and leads us toward good. If I reveal a good higher management, then for me the difference between the present and the future disappears, everything ends in the present moment. As soon as I merge with the Creator, time disappears because it does not matter to me what He will do with me, I do not expect anything new.³

It is a mistake to think that in the past I decided something myself and did something wrong, which led to a bad state today. It turns out that I deny the uniqueness of the Creator if I affirm that in the past it was not His government, but I ruled myself.

Everything that occurred up to this point happened according to the will of the highest management, and I am forbidden to regret the past. I have to stick to the present moment.

The horse’s freewill is not to ride against the will of the rider and not even to guess his wishes in advance. The horse’s freedom is to work against its will. This is where it reveals freedom of choice: to be in the power of the Creator all the time and merge with Him. The state cannot be frozen; it changes all the time. And I have to change myself, remaining in constant fusion with the Creator, despite changing conditions.⁴
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/6/19, Writings of Baal HaSulam, “You Have Made Me in Behind and Before”

¹ Minute 7:50
² Minute 18:20
³ Minute 20:48
⁴ Minute 25:00

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It is said that the Creator is close to those whose hearts are broken, and my heart breaks when I understand that I can’t break it. I need to work a lot to agree that my heart is really as hard as a stone, and only the Creator can break it, and only through the ten, the friends.¹
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From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/6/19, “The Condition Of Raising Above Your Circle”

¹ Minute 1:11:19

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Richard S. Hirschhaut, Director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Los Angeles, meets Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman to discuss the role of Jews toward humanity.

Our world is naturally drawn toward greater and greater connection. This is the law of our evolutionary progress. The more we in balance with that trend, the more we benefit from nature, and if we go against it, we suffer.

In order to stop suffering and take the path to happiness, we need to learn how to connect above our selfish attitudes toward each other. Humanity cannot advance toward that connection without the group of the people of Israel. Why? It is because this is their essence as a group. They attained a special connection around 3,800 years ago by Abraham around the principle “love covers all transgressions,” where specifically in a period of intensifying social division, they applied a method to connect above the increasingly divisive tendencies.

Therefore, these days, there is a growing demand upon the Jewish people to connect according to what they originally received from Abraham, and show the world the method of human connection. This is the matter of education and raising awareness of the need for this method. When Jews realize that they are a kind of “social glue” and start performing their role, then the anti-Semitic sentiment will calm down. People would then understand that Jewish unity is what they wanted from the Jewish people, and support will replace hatred.

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The Most Certain Thing in Life is Death, the Most Uncertain Thing Is Its Hour

Question: According to the Latin proverb “The most certain thing in life is death, the most uncertain thing is its hour.” Indeed, a person does not need to know the hour of one’s death although it is interesting.

Buying, let’s say a lottery ticket, he reckons that he will win although the chances are one in a million. Yet when he goes out on the street, he never thinks that something can happen to him even though the chances are much higher. This is how we are arranged.

What is the reason for this behavior?

Answer: This is because we wish good things for ourselves and not bad. Therefore, we do not evaluate circumstances and actions correctly. As a rule we think that everything will be alright.

Question: Is the formula “maximum pleasure with minimum efforts” the program of our existence?

Answer: Yes, because our entire life is designed so that we would go through states of pleasure. In every moment of our existence we always put ourselves in the most comfortable state.
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From Kab TV’s “Fundamentals of Kabbalah,” 1/14/19

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New Life 1125 – National Resilience
Dr. Michael Laitman in conversation with Oren Levi and Nitzah Mazoz

The social cohesion of Jews influences national resilience across the globe because the purpose of Jewish existence is to connect ourselves and the whole world. Jewish people have a spiritual root past down from Abraham based on the principle “love your neighbor as yourself,” whereas other nations have physical roots and unique, instinctive connections. When Jews live by this rule, they match the integral nature of the system in which we exist and they become strong and resilient. As a result of this connection, the upper force will dwell in them and they will become a source of abundance for the whole world.
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From KabTV’s “New Life 1125 – National Resilience,” 6/18/19

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Lesson Preparation

Lesson on the Topic “”The Jewish Choice: Unity or Anti-Semitism,” Chapter 4

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It is precisely the dissemination of the method of unity among the nations of the world, the general movement toward one goal, an explanation of nature and the causes of #Antisemitism as the moving egoistic force toward the goal of creation that will divide all those who study Kabbalah into two parts.

With our unity, we draw the light that reforms, Hassadim, which pours out between us—and we are like in a cloud of mercy. The upper light of Hochma descends in order to advance us—does not enter as a knife, since it clothes into Hassadim, and by equivalence of form reveals the Creator to us.

By uniting, we awaken mercy, the light of Hassadim in the world. The light of Hochma, which comes to propel Isra-El and all of humanity toward correction, enters the light of Hassadim, which we have prepared from below. Hassadim comes from below, and the light of Hochma comes from above. Everything depends on our unity.

Baal HaSulam knew what would happen in Germany and tried to save the Jews. They did not allow him to do this and perished. They could not change anything: a certain period of time is allotted for freedom of choice, to make a decision. Once the decision is made, the authority is transferred to the force of correction by way of suffering.

Israel is us, those who aspire toward the Creator.
Torah is the upper light that directs us and all of humanity around us.
The Creator is the force that’s revealed in the center of the group, in the center of our efforts.
The result of correction is the unity of all creatures and the Creator’s revelation in them.

While in the middle line, we turn the ship’s steering wheel correctly, which must always be aimed at the central point: the unity of Me – Us (the ten, all of BB) – Humanity, as one whole. Then the one single force in the world, the Creator, will be revealed in us.

To steer the wheel is to strive for the middle line so that “all crimes” on the left side are “covered by love” on the right. The middle line will arise in the middle. We do not destroy the left line—those who disagree. We look at how criticism awakens those who agree, helping them to make the right choice.

The mankind ship will tilt, first to the left, then to the right. And if with the help of our efforts we manage to turn the steering wheel, this huge ship will go in the right direction. This is what our work is about—to feel responsible and lead the process of correction.

In reality, no one can have himself corrected and achieve the goal on his own. But, if we act together, as Rabash and Baal HaSulam advise, a path opens before us. Moving forward, we are thrown to the left, then to the right line. We though must make our progress in the middle line.

No one has a patronage from above, but there is a privilege—the opportunity to get involved in the process of correction, to discern all the pros and cons of this process, and to advance consciously, by consent. And consent always comes from disagreement, like the light is revealed from darkness.

Inside of our unity, we will clearly reveal the upper force, the Creator. There are only two forces in the world, which must be brought into balance. This balance is what we create in the group by our unity. The method of Kabbalah is very practical and specific, and we can implement it.

There are two forces in nature: the positive and the negative. The positive force of unity is concealed, while the negative force of egoism is revealed. If we in the group aspire to unite above egoism’s rejection, then the positive force awakens and helps us, that is how we advance toward unity.

There is a simple method to attain unity: we awaken the force of unity by connecting among us above our egoism, in spite of it. To the extent of this connection, we reveal the force of unity between us, which is called “the Creator,” revelation of the upper force.

We must study how to reach correction and awaken the whole world to it. The whole world divides into two parts: those who work for idols and those who work for unity. The upper force is unity, unification. Bringing all of nature to complete unity is the upper law of nature.

If we don’t convince #Jews in the world and in Israel to start uniting, there will be harsh, unprecedented sanctions directed at Israel from all nations, including the USA. In Israel, we will feel like we are under siege. And if we don’t unite, we will be thrown out of this land.

American Jews are admitting that the problem of #Antisemitism is escalating in a menacing way. The courts, prisons and police in America are standing on their guard. But in the case of Antisemitism, the government’s actions and attempts to extinguish Antisemitism will have no effect. Because here we are dealing with a law of nature.

#Antisemitism is the sensation in the nations of the world of the need to receive the light through the unity of the Jews. The most vehement Antisemites are precisely the ones who will join the Jews, as soon as the Jews unite—and the purpose of creation is then revealed. We have already seen such drastic turns in history.

The upper forces are organized such that only the nation of Israel, the group gathered by Abraham from all the nations, is coming together again—all the paths are opening up before it. There are no obstacles, the forces of nature are ready to assist it to raise it to the spiritual degrees. And after it, all of humanity will happily unite as well.

The law propelling humanity toward unity, operates in a harsh and cruel manner. It first of all pressures those who must be the first to lead humanity, the one nation that is obligated to do this work, to become the pathbreakers on this path and lead the whole world along with them.

Since the times of the ARI (16th century), Kabbalists say that we have entered the era of egoism’s final correction. The nations of the world are pressuring the nation of Israel—this pressure is intended to obligate us to unite by way of suffering if we do not wish to advance toward the correction on our own, running ahead of their pressure.
From Twitter, 1/6/20

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The Times of Israel published my new article “Solidarity March in New York City: From Hatred and Fear to Love and Unity”

As fear still ripples throughout the Jewish communities of Monsey, Brooklyn and Jersey City following the recent string of anti-Semitic attacks, today’s Solidarity March in New York City, organized by the UJA Federation, aims to counter the negative sensation head on, and bring the Jewish people together “proud, united and strong.”

My students in New York City will also be joining the march. As an act of unity aiming to support all Jews in New York City, it can have a certain positive effect, since unity of any kind acts throughout nature.

For instance, if secular and religious Jews walk side by side in a common identification, then it can bring a very brief moment of correspondence with the force of nature, which connects all parts of reality. Such short-lived unity can thus bring a temporary sense of relief from the rising anti-Semitic sentiment.

However, marches and demonstrations play no long-term role in preventing anti-Semitism’s future rise, and will thus fail to secure a positive future for the Jewish people.

For instance, a memorial march followed the Pittsburgh massacre with thousands of attendees. However, despite the march, a continued rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the US followed. The ADL reported a near-mirror of 785 reported anti-Semitic incidents in the first six months of 2019, which closely mirrored the 780 reported incidents in the same period a year earlier. Also, in New York City alone, anti-Semitic crimes rose 21% in the past year. Thus, as anti-Semitism has been exponentially increasing the past few years, it can be expected to continue increasing regardless of any marches and demonstrations.

Standing together in a march of solidarity is an admirable act, but if the Jewish people want to solve anti-Semitism at its root, they need to also sit down and learn together. Learning in groups has been part and parcel of what made us Jewish to begin with. It dates all the way back to when we learned how to unite according to the commandment, “love your neighbor as yourself,” under Abraham’s guidance some 3,800 years ago. Marches, on the other hand, have never been a Jewish activity.

Therefore, while we are in solidarity with the Jewish people of New York City today, we should still recognize that unifying in order to “say no to hate and no to fear,” as mentioned in the march’s promotion, is far from the kind of unity that made us a Jewish people to begin with. The essence of our unity is not reactionary to hatred that rises against us, but that we positively connect with a common intention to equalize ourselves with the laws of nature. This is why we received the name, “the people of Israel” under Abraham’s guidance: “Israel” stemming from the words, “straight to the upper force” (“Yashar Kel”), i.e., a common intention to love and bestow as is the quality of the upper force.

Therefore, I hope that we will realize the immense potential we hold: to learn our important role in the world, and not wait for more acts of hatred and fear to momentarily unite us, but that we will take our future into our own hands, implement the method made for uniting us, and become a positive unifying example to the world. We would then have a very good reason to be proud. By doing so, we would uproot anti-Semitism from its root, and witness a complete inversion of the sentiment surrounding us into one of support, encouragement and appreciation.
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Each one of the ten people in the ten will say something different; coming to a common prayer is possible only with the help from above. But help from above will not come until we ask. What stops us from asking? We all have one obstacle: our stony heart does not want to feel any other; it is incapable and unprepared for it. The reason is the Creator himself, who stands between us and disallows our unity until we ask properly.

It is He who interferes with us because He created the evil inclination. Therefore, we need to beg Him, scream, and pray that “My sons defeated Me” will be fulfilled. We already stand right on this threshold; we only need to strike a common blow to convince the Creator. He wants this and waits, but He tolerates and restrains us, suffering more than we do.

It is necessary to think over this attack, as if during war, to mobilize all means and forces for this request, to constantly cry, ask, and annoy the Creator without ceasing to feel that it is He who stands in our way and does not let us. You must think about it together 24 hours a day. Suppose we do not feel each other, but we can feel this common point for us: the Creator, who interferes with our union. And everything is achieved only through connection—the beginning of the soul is there.

This is called “breaking through the Machsom.” The Creator stands on the border of the spiritual world, and we need to convince Him to let us in. He is not our enemy, but only insists on this condition: connection, unity, and mutual support. It is necessary to invest all our time to this effort, pushing our way toward the answer, constantly beating at one point.¹

No one is ready for this work, and the bigger the person, the bigger is his ego. But despite your disappointment, you need to help each other and rise again. We must not think about our failures but about how to awaken the hearts of our friends. Then, there will be no problems. If I take care of sick friends, I will forget about my own illness, like a mother caring for a sick baby. So, I will recover quickly.²

The Creator does not hear one person but at least two, and even then, only under special conditions. But He will certainly hear the ten if it addresses Him as one person. In the spiritual world, a single unit is ten united as one.³

We all speak different words, even in different languages, but the essence of our request is the same: we ask the Creator for one thing—connection. First of all, we want to connect, and from our unity, we will already understand what we need. What do we then want? We then want even bigger and stronger connection. And so it is every time, more and more, nothing but this. This must all be done by the Creator: “He who makes peace above will make peace upon us and upon all Israel.”⁴

To turn to the Creator means to imagine that you are under a sphere that covers you and determines everything. Then I turn to this desire, to the power of this sphere that organizes and controls our entire life to the final finest detail, to the smallest molecule in my body. I ask this force to bring my life in line with this sphere in order to exist in harmony with it.⁵
From the 2^nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 12/24/19, Writings of Rabash, “What to Look For in the Assembly of Friends”

¹ Minute 5:10
² Minute 9:55
³ Minute 19:26
⁴ Minute 28:45
⁵ Minute 32:35

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