My new article on Linkedin “76 Years After Its Founding, the UN Has Yet to Achieve Anything”

“United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force,” writes the UN page dedicated to this date. The title of the page reads “Building Back Together for Peace and Prosperity,” and states that the anniversary “offers the opportunity to amplify our common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.” For 76 years, the UN has been trying to bring peace to the world. In 76 years, we have not moved one inch closer to it. If I had to summarize the operations of the UN during the entirety of its time, I would capture it in four short words: a waste of time.

I cannot say it hasn’t tried. During the earlier years of the previous decade, I myself had dealt with the UN extensively. I met several times with then director general of UNESCO, Irina Bokova and we sought ways to mitigate some of the world’s most pressing issues. I had a wonderful meeting with the former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, after which an organization that I am heading, ARI Institute, collaborated with the UN, which declared that the topic for 2012 would be “education.” Together, we designed an international educational program for establishing unity and camaraderie in society and in schools.

If the UN is to be an effective institution, it must be above any particular interest of any single country. Its sole interest must be for all of humanity to unite, and it must be given the power and authority to carry out its task.
Sadly, the meetings and efforts did not result in changes on the ground. They failed not for lack of competence or good will, but because the UN is not intended to succeed. It is not intended to make the world a better place, but to serve as an arena for international political manipulations and power struggles under the guise of concern for human rights, food and water problems, and climate change.

Its intentions may have been good when it was first established, but once politicians took over and pushed their own agenda, they warped and distorted everything. By doing so, they had turned an institution that could have been very meaningful and positive in humanity into a stage for making empty speeches and sanctimonious declarations. This is why I said that its activity has been a waste of time.

If the UN is to be an effective institution, it must be above any particular interest of any single country. Its sole interest must be for all of humanity to unite, and it must be given the power and authority to carry out its task.

Currently, no one in the UN is accountable. If the intended agenda does not happen, no one pays for it; no one is held responsible. This is why no one takes it seriously.

For this reason, I think that the UN, as such, should be dismantled completely. Instead of it, there must be an international educational institute dealing with installing the realization that we are all dependent on each other. Before we realize that when we pollute one part of the world, we are polluting our own backyard, nothing good will happen.

Countries must learn that they have to support one another despite their mutual enmity. Unless we rise above vindictiveness and begin to build a common, global entity called “humanity,” humankind will suffer the consequences of its disunion.

We can learn that we are connected in one of two ways: a good way or a bad way. The bad way is the one we’re on today, and we can see where it is leading. The good way is our only option since this is the only way where we come out alive on the other end of it.

In conclusion, I hope that this birthday was one of reckoning for the UN, that heads of states are beginning to realize that if we want to celebrate more birthdays, and we want our children to celebrate them, we need to change course. Once we learn how to feel close to one another, it will be possible to build a United Nations that will warrant its name.

Happy Birthday!

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My new article on Linkedin “We’d Shoot Anything for Social Media Attention”

“For more than 40 minutes, a woman was harassed by a stranger on a public transit train in Philadelphia and then raped while bystanders held up their cellphones, seemingly to record the assault,” NBC News reported last week. “The assault was observed by a SEPTA (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) employee, who called 911, enabling SEPTA officers to respond immediately and apprehend the suspect in the act.” A few days later, another video surfaced, depicting a crocodile pouncing on a fourteen-year-old boy, whose remains were found several hours later.

While some readers’ comments expressed shock at the bystanders’ unwillingness to intervene, I think it is their natural instinct to preserve themselves that prevented them from doing so. What is anything but natural, however, is the fact that they documented the events on their phones and posted them on social media. This is a testimony that we are not only worse than any animal, we rejoice in, and exploit the suffering of others, even when that other is a woman or a child.

On the face of it, the bystanders committed no crime, yet we are appalled by them even more than we are appalled by the sex-offender or the death of the child. There is a good reason for it: The bystanders could have been each one of us. They were not sick people; they were regular folks commuting to or from work, or perhaps traveling to visit a friend or a family member. They represent the true face of society, of which we, too, are parts.

Our sages defined indifference as “Sodomite Rule,” the principle for which the Biblical city of Sodom was destroyed. They called that principle, “Let mine be mine and let yours be yours” (Mishnah, Avot, 5:13), meaning that no one interferes with another person’s life; each one keeps to him or herself. For this carelessness, Sodom was destroyed. How far are we from that trait? Judging by the filming bystanders, we have gone beyond it.

This is why our society is disintegrating. We can already see that we have no feeling for others, other than the desire to exploit their misfortunes or use them for some selfish pleasure. Is it not time we did something about who we are instead of waiting for a Sodom-type fate?

Enjoying people’s suffering is nothing new to humankind. In ancient Rome, for example, a common punishment to the worst of criminals, runaway slaves, and Christians, was damnatio ad bestias (condemnation to beasts), in which condemned people were killed by wild animals, such as leopards or lions, before a cheering crowd at the Colosseum. These days, the Colosseums are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and other social media networks. The arenas might be different, but the joy of the spectators indicates we have not changed.

I think we must begin to seriously contemplate correction of our core nature. We are on the brink of destruction. A race whose nature is so corrupt, a race that has taken over the planet and imposes its wickedness on all beings, will not be allowed to live for long. I think we must reroute not just our behavior, but the cause of our behavior, its engine, namely our own nature.

I have no doubt that in the end, we will come to the resolution that we must do this, but I am afraid of the price we will have to pay until we get there. If we make a conscious choice to change now, before nature forces us to do so, we will avert the cataclysms that clearly await us. If we choose inaction, nothing will stop them from coming.

The relics of humanity will still have to make the necessary changes and reform human nature, but there is no reason whatsoever that there will be such disasters. Earth is rich enough to provide for everyone abundantly, but it depends on whether we change ourselves for the better or maintain our diabolical nature.
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My new article on Linkedin “Hollywood’s Untold Jewish Story”

After a decade of delays and a cost of nearly $500 million, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles has finally opened to the general public; here classic films will be screened and screenplays and pictures from the dawn of cinema will be shown.

But the surprise that many have today is that there is no mention in the museum of the pioneers who built the Hollywood industry: the Jews. An article titled “Jews built Hollywood. So why is their history erased from the Academy’s new museum?”, published in The Forward, brought this subject to people’s attention. The author quotes Doris Berger, the museum’s senior curator, explaining the reason to omit the bold Jewish contribution to Hollywood, “We want to attract many different audiences. We want people to see themselves in our programs and exhibitions featuring highly known objects and films as well as lesser-known filmmakers. We aim to create dialogue.”

Jews of Eastern Europe who immigrated to America were the first to build Hollywood. Until the end of the 19th century, even the beginning of the 20th century, Jews were excluded from various professions, educational institutions and social circles. As those who had nothing on the one hand had an opportunity opened up for them on the other, the Jews took with both hands and gratitude the uncultivated ground of cinema.

The place was vacant, it was very easy to enter, work and succeed, and they were drawn there as to any place without disturbances and restrictions. Thus, with the help of the developed business sense, the Jews made the film industry a comfortable cushion of prosperity.

It is likely that behind the modern pluralistic philosophy of the museum’s Jewish curator lies a simple need to obscure these facts, to lower Jews’ prominence and remain under the radar. The truth is that this is not a great loss because the people of Israel, blessed with their skills, are not meant to entertain the world and provide it with an hour and a half of escape from reality.

The role of the Jewish people is to harness a sharp thought and wise heart to spread a fulfilling explanation of the nature of the world to human society providing the tools and knowledge to connect to each other in this difficult life. This is the doctrine of the nation, these are the aspects rooted in our people that we are commanded to realize and instill in everyone. In other words, until we, the people of Israel, present the method of fixing the world, it is worthwhile for us not to be vociferous.

Even so, Jews in the United States cannot afford to show the current state of affairs and brag about their contribution. Jew-hatred is on the rise in America and there is no need to add trivial prominence. We need to be pioneers in presenting the story of humanity: where we are today and where we can head to if we work for change.

Drama and comedy, laughter and crying, are tools that touch the heart directly, so through them one can describe with sensitivity and wisdom the immense difficulty we are in today. With their help it is possible to illustrate on the one hand all the natural disasters that afflict us, all the cruel battles and struggles that erupt between us and on the other hand to draw in clear lines our abilities to overcome forces and create a better world.

The Jewish people are able to be pioneers in creating a new script, a new plot to reverse the current negative society’s trend by redirecting the ties between us, from receiving to giving, from hatred to love.
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My new article on Linkedin “What If We Could Be Young Again?”

David Sinclair, a professor of genetics and co-director of the Paul F. Glenn Center for Biology of Aging Research at Harvard Medical School, claims to have found a way to make people young again. He calls it “epigenetic reprogramming of aged tissues,” and according to him, we can gain back lost years. Assuming this is true, and assuming we could buy a pill or some other form of medication that could do that to our tissues, I would not want it. I would not take it even if it were free. I think it is not a gift, but a curse on humanity. What matters is not how many years we live, but how we live our years.

If I were asked if I wanted more power than nature has given me, it would be only more power to change my selfish nature, my egoism. What would it give me to live in order to acquire more wealth, or power, or social status? But correcting the ego, growing closer to the nature of loving others, and connecting people to the nature of creation—the integrated network of benevolence that supports us—this is a goal worth living for.

Only when we connect to the interconnected network of reality, life becomes worth living. In such a state, we emerge from the illusion that we exist only for ourselves and begin to feel the whole of existence. Just as a cell exists individually but lives for the sake of the organism of which it is a part, when we live not for our own sake, but for the sake of all of humanity, and all of reality, we are endowed with the life of all of reality.

In such a state, we need no reprogramming of any tissues. We reach far beyond the tissue level and connect our consciousness with everything around us. This is what I call life!

If we are confined to our tissues; if we venerate them, then we exist as long as our tissues exist. But if we focus on helping all of humanity find the vitality that is found in connection, we are beyond life and death. In such a state, there are only love, care, and compassion in our reality.

For centuries, kabbalists could not reveal this truth to humankind since people would not understand them. But now that people are beginning to listen, it is possible to share this secret with all of humanity: Happiness is found not in the self, but in good connection with others.

To conclude this post, I would like to quote the words of my teacher’s father, the great kabbalist Baal HaSulam: “I am glad that I have been born in such a generation when it is permitted to disclose the wisdom of truth.”
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Michael Laitman, On Quora: “What is the root cause of antisemitism and collective hatred towards the Jewish people and their faith?“

According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, the Jewish people bear the method of humanity’s correction, and negative phenomena in the world surface more and more due to the Jewish people’s failure to implement this method.

In other words, according to Kabbalah, Jews are responsible for the world’s correction. By failing to accept such a responsibility, and instead seeking to find success in this world, hatred against the Jews subconsciously dwells in non-Jews.

Antisemitism will continue until the Jewish people correct their connections up to a point where they unite “as one man with one heart,” and by spreading the method of such correction, they will realize their destiny as “a light unto the nations.”

If the Jewish people succeed in fulfilling their mission, it will act as a true solution for antisemitism. That is one of the points that the Kabbalah sages have stated throughout the generations. The Jewish people have to be corrected and connected, and through such unity, love will spread to the rest of the world. Then, all nations will respect and honor the Jews.

Based on the video, “What Is the Solution to Anti-Semitism?” Written/edited by students of Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman.

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Question: The UN Secretary General named six problems that are leading humanity to the abyss.

The first is the absence of peace. The second is climate change. The third is inequality among countries. The fourth is gender issues. He says that in countries where men and women are equal, there is peace and stability. Fifth is the lack of equal access to the internet. Half of the population does not have access to the internet. And the sixth is the conflict between generations. Sixty percent of young people consider themselves deceived by their own governments.

What do you think about these six problems that are leading humanity to the abyss, as he says?

Answer: I do not see anything terrible in any problem.

The UN Secretary General has to say something, so he does. He must see something, supposedly. This is what he sees.

Question: Then in your opinion, what is the main problem?

Answer: Only education. And this is precisely what the UN is not doing! That’s all. In addition to education nothing is needed.

Question: And when you talk about a global education problem, what do you mean by that?

Answer: In all states, in all state institutions, from elementary schools to retirement homes and above, people just need to explain what the right attitude to each other means. And associate all the problems with this.

That is, a bad attitude toward each other is the basis of all problems.

And this is introduced to a person from a young age, constantly, constantly explaining that. He will hear it and gradually understand what the problem originates from. It all happens only because people are greedy and care only about themselves. Naturally, egoism is meant here.

Question: If a person finds out that he is an egoist and that all the problems come from this, what will this do to him?

Answer: At least knowing the problem is half the solution. Firstly one will no longer look for it somewhere else. He will not create various committees and invent problems instead of that one.

He will know that the whole problem is in human nature and it must be corrected somehow. We will announce an international competition to solve this problem. We’ll talk about it everywhere. This is everyone’s problem. I wonder who will put forward any proposals for its solution.

And we will discuss this everywhere, on the networks and so on. We will publicize people who participate in this. Let’s name the winners who want to help for free. And in this way we will create a worldwide movement.

Question: Will this movement change a person? Suppose he understands that the basis of all the problems of mankind is egoism, which all of us have.

Answer: We will gradually be able to explain to people that this is precisely the problem. And that it is solved only in a special way, by the inner force of nature, whose effect on us we can arouse. And in this way this problem can be solved.

I believe that humanity has no other way. I know that. And it will just make sure that nothing helps, that nothing can be done. But if we all say that we need to change, that we are bad but we must change for the better and so on, then it’s like a prayer. It will work.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 9/23/21

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Question: Any person can be justified. How can you justify the Creator?

Answer: You can justify the Creator only by rising to a certain spiritual level, even to the smallest. Then you will acquire “sight,” a feeling of the quality of bestowal from which you will see the whole universe. And before that, it is impossible.

Question: What question should I ask myself in order to move toward the goal correctly?

Answer: Do you ascertain at every moment that you are absolutely at the mercy of the upper force, the Creator? This is your landmark, your right direction.

An even more correct direction is through the group: each moment I should feel myself moving toward adhesion with the Creator together with the group.
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From KabTV’s “Videoconference”

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Comment: An interesting article appeared in Rosbalt “Therapist Explained why Motherhood Is in Crisis” in which, “The expert [Otta Maria Bloch] recalled that motherhood is in general going through a crisis these days, and among the reasons is not only the changed position of a woman, who must have time to make a career, and raise children, and remain a loving wife.

“’The attitude towards motherhood is also influenced by the growing speed of life, a dense information background, and a shift in values ​​towards self-love. Now for many, success is financial well-being, the ability to have fun here and now, without investing much effort in it. And parenting in itself presupposes not receiving, but giving, ”noted Maria Blokh.

Question: What is your comment about this?

Answer: We have come to such selfishness that we do not want children! We do not want to raise children, we do not want to give even to our children. Let them grow as they like or let the state provide for them and take care of them. Not us.

This is motherhood in crisis, this is family in crisis in general. And what is a family if there are no children? If earlier people were against boarding schools, kindergartens, and other such institutions, today it is the other way around: “How can I send my child somewhere so that I could take care of myself,” says a modern woman.

Comment: Will we return to normal motherhood?

My Response: I think we will. Through suffering, but it will come.

Question: Is it correct to say that parenting itself does not involve receiving but giving?

Answer: Of course.

Question: So we have a crisis in bestowal?

Answer: Yes. In general, all nature is built on the fact that we learn through our attitude toward children to give, then to give to others: adults, others, society, and then to all of nature.

Question: But we see that a mother immensely enjoys when her child smiles at her or takes a spoonful of porridge. We see that this is a great pleasure. Where does it go? Why don’t they want to continue this further, to give birth to more children?

Answer: They are not to blame. Nature made them this way. It wants people to realize how selfish they are, that this selfishness drives them and therefore, they are okay mothers.

Question: How can you otherwise give birth?

Answer: You must first change the goal and then give birth.

Question: What should the goal be? Why am I giving birth to a child?

Answer: Only for the sake of the world. So that there are more good, righteous people in the world I will give birth and raise my children this way. This is why I give birth to them. We have grown to the point where we must correctly deal with the intention: What is the reason I am doing it?

Question: That is, the intention will become the main thing when I give birth to a child?

Answer: Yes. First the intention, then the action.

Question: Is that why this crisis is happening now?

Answer: Yes.

Question: But will this happen?

Answer: It will definitely happen!

Question: And this is how they will give birth to children?

Answer: Yes. And it will be a new world.

Question: Will these children be happier?

Answer: Of course! They will be taken care of in a different way, and they will feel that they are being born in a new world, and they will want to live in this world.

Question: Will mothers be happier too?

Answer: Of course. They will know why their child grows, lives, and exists. They will feel the very nature of the infinite.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 8/12/21

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Filed under: Children, Education, Family, Man and Woman | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: How do you see the development of Kabbalah in the near future?

Answer: Now there is a process of accumulation, an accumulative process, as a result of which the world will begin to see clearly and realize it is in a vicious circle of its development and nothing new is happening except for the aggravation of all processes.

There is no way out of this state since we are guided by the egoistic nature, which turns any achievements of humanity into vicious use.

Unfortunately all this passes through us, and people will still have to realize that this process is based on our egoism and our consumeristic attitude to everything.

We need to somehow change our nature, otherwise we will aggravate our condition continuously. Even if we exit it, for example as a result of a world war, we still will not exit egoism, we will still spin inside it, simmer in hatred for each other, swear and fight among ourselves like boys in the yard. So we need to realize this.

The science of Kabbalah explains the whole process, the entire program of nature; therefore, we must reveal it to humanity, and then on the one hand we will nevertheless see its light under the influence of blows and fate, and on the other hand under the influence of our explanations of how to arrive at a truly perfect, good life.

I would like to see such a development. But in principle everything lies in our choice, in the choice of all mankind, as Baal HaSulam writes in “The Last Generation” and other articles.

I really hope you will become more actively involved in distribution via the Internet and use all the opportunities to explain to the world, to each person, what his or her good future is.
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From KabTV’s “Videoconference”

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Question: How can I open my heart?

Answer: You can open your heart only through the correct communication with the environment. There is no other way.

When you begin to communicate correctly with friends, try to be closer, and love them regardless of their external properties, which seem good or bad to you, then you will feel how much your attitude to the environment is determined only by your egoism.

It is a big job to rise above egoism in order to love your friends. This is what we are doing. To open your heart does not mean to open your egoism, but to open your desire toward others.

For now we should only think about how to rise above our heart, how to exit our egoism, and begin to feel everything that is happening above it.

Try to do it. The path lies only through the environment. Good luck!
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From KabTV’s “Videoconference”

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