If we look a little deeper in, and thoroughly examine those who observe Torah and Mitzvot, whether they want to be given vessels of bestowal and to give in return the will to receive, the vast majority of the workers will say that they pass on this. Instead, they want to observe Torah and Mitzvot in order to receive. It follows that they have no need for vessels of bestowal. For this reason, how can they say that the Torah and Mitzvot they labor in should give them a reward for which they have no need? On the contrary, they are afraid lest they will lose the vessel of reception called “self-love” (Rabash, “What Is the Gift that a Person Asks of the Creator?”).

Rabash writes that there are people who observe the Torah and commandments as though they were “perfect” and “righteous.” Nevertheless, their practical observance says nothing about their intention, and they do not understand at all what the Creator requires of them.

Most people in the world observe the Torah and commandments only in order to receive a reward in this world or in the future world. The exception is those who wish to acquire the intention for the sake of bestowal, the screen, something that is completely impossible to achieve except through the wisdom of Kabbalah. Working for the sake of the Creator is precisely what the wisdom of Kabbalah is about. It means becoming similar to Him.

I in no way reject the observance of the Torah and commandments by those who observe them mechanically. This is called the initial, minimal degree, the spiritually inanimate level; it is where people have been taught to observe the commandments practically, but have not been taught about the intention, because their teachers do not know what it is.

The intention is the screen and reflected light, which can be acquired only after many years of great effort, while being under the influence of the surrounding light that comes to a person through studying the wisdom of Kabbalah.

We are speaking about two levels: the level of the masses, which is called the path of the ordinary person, and the path of Torah, the path of the influence of the surrounding light, through which a person acquires a screen. The first is one thing and the second is another. But for me there is no contradiction between them, nor do I oppose this. I reject nothing, there is simply Torah for those who are not yet spiritually developed and Torah for those who are already spiritually developed.

I lived in Rehovot and began searching and making efforts, as though I had returned to religion. I was looking for something internal and saw that there was nothing there. I began demanding more from those who had brought me back to religion and continued searching.

Among them was Rabbi Fischer from Holland, who told the others, “Leave him alone. There are people who need something more internal. Help him.” That is how I came to Rabbi Zilberman from Jerusalem. He quickly understood that I was one of those who needed something more. But even what I received in Jerusalem was not enough for me, so I continued searching until I found Rabash.

There are such people and there are others. You cannot say anything more than that.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 8/10/26, Rabash, “What Is the Gift that a Person Asks of the Creator?”

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