If we attempt to unite, we discover that our nature is absolute evil, complete egoism that acts solely for its own benefit and to the detriment of others. Even if we think we have some good intentions toward others, these too ultimately turn out to be hidden egoism.

With the help of the light that returns to the source, we gradually reveal our egoistic qualities—from the lightest to increasingly heavier ones—and correct them. In this way, our evil egoistic desire is graded through 49 degrees.

Through special actions, we draw the light to ourselves; it is a special force of nature that corrects our egoistic qualities. We do not know how the light works on us; we only notice the result of its influence—the changes within ourselves.

We reveal 49 degrees of egoistic desire within ourselves, and transform them into 49 degrees of ascent toward bestowal and love for others. But the main thing is to correct the first 33 degrees within ourselves. According to the calculation, if we correct ourselves up to and including the 33rd degree, the remaining degrees will inevitably be corrected as well.

We will still need to demand corrections and work on them. But there is already a guarantee, a certain additional force that ensures the correction of the remaining degrees.

After all, the final degrees are the most difficult. They are at the very end of correction, and the process proceeds from the easier to the increasingly more difficult. The last desires are very heavy, but we already have confidence that we will be able to correct them.

Moreover, we can ignite these last desires. They are so heavy that they ignite upon contact with the light that returns to the source. Inside them rages such powerful egoism that they begin to burn and radiate light. These most egoistic desires, directed solely toward self-receiving, undergo the most difficult correction—to receive for the sake of bestowal.

Therefore, Lag BaOmer (the 33^rd day of the Omer) is a special holiday that signifies our inevitable attainment of the special day of global correction, which is called Shavuot, the festival of the giving of the Torah.

This holiday is called Shavuot because it comes after seven weeks (shavuot) of counting the Omer. Moreover, it is the festival of the giving of the Torah, through which we corrected our egoistic desire into a desire for bestowal and love for others. This corrected desire shines entirely with its bestowal, love, and the connection of all into one nation.

The holiday of Shavuot symbolizes the possibility of our connection into one single nation.
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From KabTV’s “New Life 559 – Holidays And Festivals: Lag Ba’Omer,” 5/3/15

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