Question: Why are there stereotypes of people?

Answer: It is because all our internal properties consist of five parts, each of which is divided in turn by another five, another five, and so on.

But these are very clear gradations. We do not take into account the root part because it is the root, and four parts come from it. From here we have a division into types of characters, types of races, and generally everything.

Question: Why, as a rule, do we determine the type by appearance? Let’s say: this professor, this murderer, this alcoholic?

Answer: Because there is a correspondence between a person’s appearance and his qualities since at each level they manifest themselves differently. Naturally, a person is already in such behavior, and in communication, and in movements, and in conversation, and in thoughts—in everything. After all, each property of the four main ones (HaVaYaH) is divided into four more, four more, and so on. Hence the division into groups.

Comment: At one time, an experiment was conducted on how public opinion affects a person: they took students, showed them some face and gave them a brief description: “This man is a murderer, cold–blooded…”—so and so. “Describe how you see him.” And the person would begin to describe: “Yes, he actually…”

My Response: This is a completely different matter. People were given such a tip and probably wanted to show how a preconceived opinion leads them away from the truth.

But, in principle, you can more or less judge people by their appearance. Although, this does not apply for example to major scammers, internal freaks, or maniacs, they may have a super-intelligent look.

And today it is impossible to say anything about it at all because our egoism has reached such heights in its development that the most seemingly calm, intelligent people suddenly find themselves under such pressures, such impulses that were not peculiar to them before. Therefore, no one believes anyone now.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Human Types” 4/21/12

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Question: People communicate with each other mostly during meals: either they sit in a cafe or drink tea at home, and so on. Why does such a ritual of communication take place during meals?

Answer: This has been and is the case in all cultures everywhere and always because the most pleasant state of a person is when he is getting saturated and filled.

Filling the soul with the upper light is called Taamim (flavors). This corresponds to the intake of food and liquids in our world. In the spiritual world, our coming closer to each other causes us to receive light, and in our world to receive food. In other words, we call the upper light (food) upon ourselves, and this brings us closer.

In the spiritual world, on the contrary, everything goes according to the work of the person, i.e., coming closer to each other causes us to have the opportunity to receive light.

This is the real Kabbalah; it is the most obvious, best action a person can do because the connection with others gives us the opportunity to reveal the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. The Most Delicious Food” 5/27/12

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Lake Kinneret (the Sea of Galilee) is a special place, the quality of Bina in our world. Although compared to Lake Baikal or the Great Lakes in America, it is just a small lake, but through its strength and influence on all mankind, nothing is even close. No wonder there are various monasteries scattered around the Kinneret, including ancient ones built on rocks.

Question: Does the fact that there is less and less water in the Kinneret mean anything?

Answer: This suggests that the quality of Bina is running out in our world. We see it all over the world, as it is gradually being depleted.

But it is for the best, it should be so. We must gradually move to the upper source (call it an alternative one).

Question: Do you think it is no coincidence that Rabbi Shimon and his friends chose this place to write The Book of Zohar?

Answer: There is nothing accidental. Everything happens under the influence of upper forces and in unison with them. It was impossible to write or even feel these forces anywhere else. Therefore, Lake Kinneret and everything that exists around it is really special.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalistic Geography” 10/10/10

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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the meaning of Purim in the Bible?“

The story of Purim describes the near-genocide of the Jewish people.

Haman recognized the Jews’ division as an opportunity to eradicate them. “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples” (Esther 3:8). Haman said that in his view, the Jews would be able to be destroyed because they were separated from one another.

However, Mordechai, the hero of the Purim story, worked to bridge the Jews’ division, which is what eventually saved their lives: “the Jews gathered themselves together to stand for their life” (Esther 8:11).

Purim is as significant for Jews today as it was for the Jews in the story itself. Also, it holds immense importance for society at large. A major aspect that needs to be understood about the meaning of Purim in order for us to understand its modern relevance is in relation to Haman: Who or what is Haman in our present times? That is, who or what is behind society’s increasing estrangement and polarization?

The immediate response according to our primal instincts is to personify the blame, that a President, or a group of politicians, financiers, executives or other conspiratorial schemers are behind our woes. However, beyond the face-value finger pointing, what is really behind today’s social division is the divisive mindset that Haman represents: the desire to seek money, honor, control and power despite everyone and everything. This divisive mindset shuts us off from each other, separating us, harming us and masking the harm that we do to each other.

Today’s tumultuous social atmosphere is a calling for us to seek our common voice as a humanity that shares common values and purpose. If we use this calling to connect a little above our primal instincts, then we can create a much more harmonious and peaceful world.

Whenever the Jewish people were at risk of ruin, it was our unity that saved us. We can use the Purim story as an eternal reminder that our unity can get us out of the worst situations, and that by uniting, we set a constructive and positive example for the rest of humanity.

Although we Jews have an innate obligation to set the standard for choosing unity over division, people of all races, colors, shapes and sizes should make the same strides toward unification before heading into greater turmoil and crises. Our destiny is in our hands.

Based on the post “What Is Purim?” by Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Preparation to the Lesson

Zohar for All “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” “The Thirteenth Commandment”

Zohar for All “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” “The Fourteenth Commandment”

Lesson on the Topic “Summary of the Convention”

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