My new article on Linkedin “Understanding Negative Social Phenomena”

In recent years, it seems as though one of the “hottest” topics in public discourse has been racism. But not only racism has been a hot topic; any kind of discrimination has become a topic of great public interest. Racism—whether against Blacks or against Jews, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia, and even discrimination based on political views, have all gained notoriety.

All men and women are not born equal. We are born different, and our diversity drives our development as a human race. Just as no two animals, plants, or even rocks are the same, and the diversity of nature drives evolution, so it is with human diversity. The difference between human society and the rest of nature is that people, unlike any other element in creation, strive for absolute dominance. Deep down, each of us, consciously or not, strives for superiority. This is why we do not accept differences among people; we want everyone to be the same, equal.

Whenever such a topic receives attention, politicians, journalists, and celebrities jump on the bandwagon and blare their views emphatically. These statements may help their careers, but I have yet to see one problem solved by sanctimonious assertions and contempt for other people’s views. If we want to solve social problems, we must understand where they come from and uproot them at the core.

All men and women are not born equal. We are born different, and our diversity drives our development as a human race. Just as no two animals, plants, or even rocks are the same, and the diversity of nature drives evolution, so it is with human diversity.

The difference between human society and the rest of nature is that people, unlike any other element in creation, strive for absolute dominance. Deep down, each of us, consciously or not, strives for superiority. This is why we do not accept differences among people; we want everyone to be the same, equal.

However, we will only think that people should be the same if they are the same as me! Anyone who does not think like me is wrong, should be “reeducated,” or eliminated. Of course, this is an extreme presentation of human ambitions and most people do not maintain such extremist views, but it is nonetheless the driving force behind social mindsets.

As just stated, diversity is essential; it drives our development. The problem is our attitude toward it. To change our attitude toward diversity and make it constructive, we need to understand that were it not for diversity, we wouldn’t be here; we’d be extinct. Diversity means mutual complementation, where each element provides what no other element can. Just as we wouldn’t want salmon to be sharks, and just as we wouldn’t want our hearts to become kidneys, so we shouldn’t want anyone to be anything other than what they are. We may not see the contribution of each person to society, but ignorance does not excuse mistakes. As Martin Luther King, Jr. already pointed out, “Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Therefore, to solve negative social phenomena, we should relate to them constructively. Every time a problem manifests, we should treat it as an invitation for correction. It is not the problem itself that we should fix, but the hatred that has caused it. As said above, people’s differences make them hate one another, which manifests in different ways each time. Nevertheless, it is always the hatred that we must correct, and not the differences.

Think of the most extreme examples, such as hatred between Whites and Blacks in America. We shouldn’t expect Blacks to become, or even want to become White, or the other way around. We should, however, work on recognizing the contribution of each part to society, on the unique values and beauty that each race and color possesses, and then we will come to love one another precisely because of who we are, and we will not want each other to change. The idea is therefore not to change one another, but build love atop the differences, and in fact, precisely because of them.

If we were able to see the beauty and unique contribution of each element in society, we would grasp how dependent we are on the success and prosperity of each person in society. We wouldn’t need to deal with social problems since they would dissolve in the love that would surround everyone. If a certain problem did appear, we would treat it as a sign that we have not completed our work and there is more love to build, this time around a new rift that we did not see before. If we treat our differences in this constructive manner, we will be thankful every day that we have so many people of so many colors, creeds, and races.
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My new article on Linkedin “A Two-Pronged Solution to Campus Antisemitism”

Academia has become a bastion of antisemitism across the globe, and both the UK and the US are not exceptions. The most recent case of inflammatory statements against Jews and Israel emerged from David Miller, a professor of political sociology at the University of Bristol who advocates to “end Zionism,” and who accused Jewish students of being used as “political pawns by a violent, racist foreign regime engaged in ethnic cleansing.” The hatred against Jews will not be ended by saying he is not right. As Jews we can only stop the problem of antisemitism through a two-pronged approach: explain the root of it, and fulfill our expected role by establishing unity among us.

As it is written in The Book of Zohar, “Everything stands on love” (VaEtchanan). It is the obligation of the Jewish people to unite in order to show the way for the cohesion and balance of the entire human race by implementing the great tenet of the Torah, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When this happens, animosity towards Jews and Israel will transform into praise and appreciation.

Miller’s words left no one indifferent. A good number of scholars signed a letter backing Miller’s right to academic freedom, while hundreds of professors from around the world, in contrast, penned another letter criticizing his hateful idiocy. Bristol University in the meantime has not removed him from his position and merely expressed that they do not endorse his statements.

As uncomfortable as it might be, antisemitism is a natural manifestation in people. We can punish haters on college campuses or in any other educational institutions and it will never end the problem. In the place of this antisemitic professor there will be another hundred, and another two hundred, and thousands upon thousands that will continue multiplying worldwide. We already see this undeniable phenomenon in America where forces against Jewish students are not only growing but strengthening over time. The high value Jewish tradition has placed on education attracts many young Jews to college and university campuses, and their prominent participation puts them at the cross-hairs of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist sentiments.

We need to understand that what lies behind antisemitism is rooted in history, all the way back to ancient Babylon where the Jewish people emerged some 4,000 years ago. The people of Babylon thrived at first and worked in unity toward common goals, but later, as their intensifying egos alienated them from one another, they fell into unfounded hatred.

The solution proposed by Nimrod, king of Babylon, was the dispersion of the people. He argued that when people are far from one another, they do not quarrel. Abraham, at the time a renowned Babylonian sage, suggested a second solution. He had observed the integrality of nature and pointed out that it is nature’s dictate that human society must eventually become united. Therefore, he campaigned to unite the Babylonians despite and atop their growing egos.

Today humanity finds itself in a state very similar to the one the ancient Babylon experienced. We are globally interdependent, yet, at the same time, we are alienated from one another. But because we have already spread throughout the world, Nimrod’s solution of parting ways is no longer practical. We are now required to use Abraham’s method.

Because we as Jewish people have previously implemented Abraham’s method and achieved a state of optimal connection, we must rekindle our unity and teach the method of connection to the whole of humanity. If we fail to do so, the pressure against the Jewish people will continue to escalate.

Antisemitism can only be solved through two thrusts: 1) advocacy against antisemitism on the one hand, and 2) the proper functioning of the role of Israel to exemplify and educate for unity, on the other. This must take place both in theory and in practice. In other words, we need to explain that when the Jewish nation fell from its moral apex of love of others, hatred of Israel among the nations began. Through antisemitism, the nations prod us to disclose the method of connection. Therefore, the people of Israel, descendants of the ancient Babylonians who followed Abraham, are required to set an example for the whole of humanity and thus become a light unto nations.

As it is written in The Book of Zohar, “Everything stands on love” (VaEtchanan). It is the obligation of the Jewish people to unite in order to show the way for the cohesion and balance of the entire human race by implementing the great tenet of the Torah, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When this happens, animosity towards Jews and Israel will transform into praise and appreciation.
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“My sons defeated Me,” that is, not one person but precisely together. Anyone who wants to reveal the Creator must unite with others like himself. And only when they feel themselves as one, as the sons of the Creator, can they come to Him, demand and overpower His concealment.

The Creator is hiding on purpose so that we can search for Him. “He will not quarrel forever” because He wants to reveal Himself but only if we search for Him and need to reveal Him.

Therefore, the more of us who seek Him, the greater the revelation of the Creator, exactly as it is said: “My sons defeated Me,” that is, many sons. The Creator is waiting for our quest and rejoices when we defeat Him. After all, all the concealment created by Him is designed to make us grow, to awaken us to seek and reveal the Creator.

The Creator is always revealed from concealment, and we must make an effort to unite. To the extent that we unite and eliminate all the forces of separation that operate between us, we will turn them from forces of separation into forces of revelation, and to the extent of our efforts, we will reveal the Creator in them.

“My sons defeated Me” means that we are turning concealment into revelation. Of course, we cannot do it ourselves, but we demand the Creator to help us. Therefore, our work consists of two parts: first, to unite by reaching one desire, one aspiration, and second, to seek the Creator and oblige Him to reveal Himself. We are always working mutually: “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine.”

And when we almost succeed in defeating the concealment, the Creator immediately hides and forces us to search for Him again. And so again and again because only from both forms, concealment and revelation, do we clarify all the qualities of the Creator and turn them into our own qualities. The revelation of the Creator can only be in the equivalence of form, in the reflection of His qualities in our qualities.

Therefore, spiritual advancement always goes through concealment and revelation. And if we do not associate our states with either revelation or concealment, then we do not relate to spirituality at all and are not directed toward the Creator. After all, the path to the Creator can have only two alternatives: either concealment or revelation.

A person who seeks the revelation of the upper world must direct himself correctly, always discovering the concealment and revelation over all his qualities and actions. And the greater the concealment, the greater revelation comes after it—one against the other.

In order to reveal the Creator, it is necessary to organize a group because the Creator only reveals Himself as ten Sefirot. And so, we need to discover the ten desires that are properly connected and united by a common intention, to feel ready to unite and support each other like the ten Sefirot of the spiritual Partzuf. All are included in all and become ready for the revelation of one force.

And although all tens are very different and separated by their egoism, since we come out of one force, then by annulling our egoism, we again become as if one whole and have the opportunity to reveal new forms of the Creator, one, one and only.

The Creator is playing hide-and-seek with us: He hides, we search and find Him, and He hides again. So we run after Him and in this pursuit gradually study Him and format our desires in equivalence with the upper force, preparing them for the revelation of all the qualities of the upper light.

What is learned in the ten is already a spiritual gain that remains in the Kelim forever. But one person is not able to keep spiritual thoughts and feelings within himself.
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From the World Kabbalah Convention 2021, “Discovering Life In The Ten” 2/28/2, “The Ten: A Musical Instrument in the Creator’s Hands,” Lesson 9

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Comment: There are some similarities between the way Abraham and his thousand followers left Babylon and the way the Israelites left Egypt. The difference is that Abraham was not pursued and the Israelites were pursued by Pharaoh and his army.

My Response: Abraham divided the people in a very simple way. He left most of the Babylonians, knowing that they with their egoism would scatter from each other anyway.

This is described in the “Great Commentary” (Midrash Rabbah), which refers to the same time as the “Book of Creation” of Abraham.

Thus, we have sources written four and a half thousand years ago. Of course, this is not recent history, but in principle, we can believe it because as we reveal these ancient stories, we see more and more that what is written in those books is really true.

Although Babylon was originally inhabited by a single nation of about three thousand people, they were still a collection of many ancient tribes, clans. Abraham was also from a tribe called “Ivri.” That’s why he was called “Abraham the Ivri.”

The famous historian Josephus Flavius, whom we can trust, describes very clearly how people settled all over the Earth: one part of the Babylonians went to Germany, another to the Apennines, a third to the East, to India and China, a fourth to the north, toward Russia, a fifth to Africa, and so on. Although he calls this by other names, but, in principle, you can guess.
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From KabTV’s “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #6

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Abraham was a very famous, respected person in ancient Babylon. Therefore, his Kabbalistic teachings successfully spread among the Babylonians. It is said that he presented them with the whole idea of future spiritual development.

Rambam, the great philosopher of the 12th century, wrote that thousands of people followed Abraham. Thousands! He led them away from Babylon into the Land of Israel. Those who did not follow him, because they did not feel an inner predisposition to become similar to the Creator, decided to scatter around the globe. The original sources say that Abraham gave them so-called “gifts.”

The gifts mean that he has taught them all sorts of other methods that are based not on overcoming egoism and not on correcting it in the middle line in order to advance above the ego and rise from HGT to HBD. On the contrary, these methods are based on reducing egoism, belittling it, and being satisfied with modest and small things. In other words, Abraham gave the Babylonians the beginnings of beliefs and religions. This is how they settled all over the Earth.

We see that those spiritual teachings, especially the Eastern ones, as well as religions, are built on being modest, not standing out among others. They do not encourage the development of egoism and even the development of machinery and technology.

These theories are completely opposite to the method of Kabbalah, which says: the more egoism, the better because with its help we can rise and correct ourselves.

However, if a person has no desire for correction, then it is better for him to belittle his egoism and keep his head down.
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From KabTV’s “The Power of The Book of Zohar” #6

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Question: The fourth commandment is: “Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it.”

Why is it necessary for man to observe a certain day, to rest on this day, and is it so important to the Creator?

Answer: It is important because there is a cycle: every seventh day is a break, as if stopping the entire universe and starting it again. This is called “a week.”

Comment: You said that the work of man takes place during six days that symbolize the six Sefirot of Zeir Anpin. Let’s say our entire work is to connect with others. For six days man seems to work on his own, but he must understand that even if he works on the seventh day, it will not bring him any benefit. The Creator must complete the work for him.

My Response: This is not about our everyday work.

It is written that the Creator worked for six days and rested on the seventh day. This means that we are supposed to work for six days and rest on the seventh day. But this does not mean working as the Creator.

His work is creation. It is Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod—six directions.

And our work is to kind of modify ourselves in accordance to these six categories. When we finish it, we come to the last one. But the last category is realized in us by itself. Therefore, there is nothing to do here, just not to interfere.

If you have correctly attracted the six forces upon yourself, then the seventh force, Shabbat, from the word “Shvita” (a break during work), does all the work itself precisely because you do not interfere with the actions of the Creator. You have received from the Creator everything possible in the six stages, the so-called “six days,” which are united in you, and then on the seventh day, you receive their result.

Question: So, are we talking about internal spiritual work? When I pass these six degrees, the next one starts automatically. Does it mean that even if I wanted to, I could not work?

Answer: No, absolutely not. This is the work of the light. The seventh degree is the sum, the result of the previous six degrees. We only need to allow it to be realized.

Question: It means that if a person has connected with another by his own efforts, then pride arises in him. This is not the connection we are talking about. Do we need to make an effort and then leave the work to the Creator?

Answer: Always! Because you will not be able to finish it by yourself anyway.
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From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 12/26/19

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Preparation to the Lesson

Lesson on the Topic of “Everything Is Obtained by the Power of Prayer” 

Selected Highlights

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The entire reality is filled with our great egoism. The entire world, inanimate nature, plants, animals, and people, all these are degrees of our egoistic desire in which we must begin to make room for the force of bestowal, the force of the Creator.

We work inside ourselves, inside our perception of the world, our connection, and create a place where the Creator can place the embryo of His quality of bestowal and begin to grow within us.

The Creator influences us both from within and without. We are inside the white light, which has purposely restricted itself so that we can exist in it. Thus, we find ourselves inside an empty space freed from the presence of the Creator, and we do not feel Him.

A ray of light entered into this empty space and started building spiritual objects and worlds inside this emptiness. Therefore, we are inside the Creator, under His full control. But this is how it looks from the side of the Creator.

From the side of the created beings, we exist in an empty space, supposedly free from the control of the Creator because we do not see this control and do not feel it. Therefore, we think that we are the masters of this world and our lives.

But in fact, the Creator educates us and brings us to the realization that we do not know where we really are. Then we begin to search for what our life depends on and discover that there is the upper force that determines and realizes everything, and we yearn to reveal it.

This is how it happened to all the Kabbalists of the past generations until they disclosed the method that allows us to connect with the Creator and passed on to us the method of revealing the Creator to the created beings in this world, which is called the wisdom of Kabbalah.
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From the World Kabbalah Convention, “Discovering Life In The Ten” 2/27/21, “Ibur in the Ten,” Lesson 5

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If a person simply intuitively yearns for the Creator and it seems to him that he feels the upper force, then this is still only fantasy and self-deception. This is not enough for spiritual conception.

In order to become a spiritual embryo, I need to somehow separate myself from my egoism. This can only be done by connecting with the friends. At the point of my connection with the friends, the very place of annulment of my egoism is formed in which the spiritual embryo will then begin to grow.

We are not talking about fantasies, but about real desires that exist in nature, which we need to correct in order to feel the upper force in them. Otherwise, this force will not be revealed to us.
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From the World Kabbalah Convention, “Discovering Life In The Ten” 2/27/21, “Ibur in the Ten,” Lesson 5

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