Israel will not return to their land until they are all in one bundle.

Our sages said, “Israel will not be redeemed until they are all in one bundle.”

2. We must understand how Israel’s unity pertains to redemption (Baal HaSulam, “Inheritance of the Land“).

What does “return to their land” mean?

If we speak about the external world, returning to the land of Israel is not such a great problem. It is possible that we could have done so several hundred years ago. After all, Jews have always lived here.

However, we are talking about the connection of the branch and the root. “Return to their land” means returning to a desire that is entirely directed toward the Creator (Yashar-El). This is the origin of the name “Israel.”

How can I return my desire to the Creator? This is possible only if, together with all other desires, I become a unified whole.

By correctly interpreting the terms, we see that everything aligns. The sages did not play with words, but arranged them precisely according to their meaning. Israel cannot return to their land until they become one. In doing so, they realize the essence of these words and fuse desires into a single aspiration toward the Creator.

On the other hand, in exile, outside the land of Israel, they are divided, separated from one another, and full of mutual hatred.

Understanding the meaning of the words makes their significance clear. Abraham asked the Creator: “How will I know that I will inherit this land?” In other words, why do we go through this process, and how do we return to our land, the desire wholly directed toward the Creator, toward bestowal?

If we return to bestowal, we will inevitably return to the spiritual land of Israel. Then by the very nature of reality, spiritual forces will influence the corporeal world, and a corresponding situation will arise here as well.

In the past, we adhered to the intention of bestowal both in corporeality and spirituality. As a result, the physical land of Israel corresponded to its spiritual root. Then, having lost our spiritual aspect, we were expelled from the physical land of Israel as well.

Now, as Baal HaSulam states, we have been given an opportunity for spiritual ascent, and therefore we have returned here. Though in essence we do not yet match the corporeal land of Israel, we have nonetheless been granted this opportunity so that we may ascend to the spiritual land of Israel. This is the inner mechanism of events.

During the time of the Temple, we were on a spiritual level. Then we lost it and became shattered. In parallel, in the corporeal world, we lived in the Land of Israel, and even after our fall, we remained here for a certain period, let us call this conditionally  “70 years.” In reality, this “70-year” period lasted longer and showed clear signs of the impending destruction of the Temple and exile. Eventually, we were expelled and scattered throughout the world.

Now, 2,000 years later, the process is unfolding in reverse. First we have been given the opportunity to return to the corporeal Land of Israel with the hope that through this we will rise to the spiritual land of Israel. Thus, in Baal HaSulam’s words, we have been given a chance for redemption.

How long this window will remain open is unknown, but it has been open for over a 100 years. Just as there was a delay before our corporeal fall, now we have once again been granted a delay, a chance we must seize.

If we fail to do so, if we miss our opportunity, just as we missed the chance to correct our spiritual fall in the past, then, as Baal HaSulam writes, we may find ourselves in exile once again.
[42703]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/10/11, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Inheritance of the Land”

Related Material:
There’s A Place For Everything
Inheritance Of The Land Of Israel
Why People Hate Jews

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson, Israel, Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: What does the understanding of mutual guarantee include? Can you describe it a little bit?

Answer: Just like with mountain climbers: only together can we reach the goal. I have to think of you as myself, as equal. On equal terms! I am rooting for your every move like I root for myself.

Comment: It is understandable with mountain climbers because otherwise they will fall, and they see it. But here you constantly return to the tastes of this world, and they make you happy.

My Response: This is part of the same program of mutual support, mutual awareness that we are moving forward in this state and must hold each other. We have to realize this. And there should also be mutual support in this; that is, simply concern for what is happening to others, because without that, you will not reach your goal.

And then suddenly, under the influence of the upper light, you start to feel a feeling for them that they become important to you, more important than yourself.

It is just like in our world, when you start caring for someone else’s child, and he becomes important to you, you start loving him. This is the influence of the upper light.

Question: But is it not an obsessive anxiety when they try to force you where to go: now to the right, then to the left?

Answer: No. Try it.
[342092]
From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. How to Deceive Egoism” 5/18/10

Related Material:
What Is Mutual Guarantee?
As If We Are Already In The Spirit World
How To Stop Thinking About Myself, Part 2

Filed under: Mutual Guarantee, Q&A, Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: I heard that in the U.S., one in five Americans hides at least one bank account or credit card from their spouse. Is being independent from each other a good trend in relationships?

Answer: Yes, but it should be based not on financial or any other kind of independence, but on love. When I feel that my partner loves me, I feel confident because I have a helper, a person who cares for me. And in this, the feeling of independence is revealed.

Independence can be negative or positive. I am talking about positive independence. When I feel that my partner loves me, and besides him my children and maybe even a few more people, then I feel secure. And security creates a sense of independence.

At the same time, I feel dependent in that I must show them the same qualities and provide them with a sense of their security and independence.

Question: In what should we be dependent on each other, and in what should we not?

Answer: We must reach such a state in our relationships where we do not feel any dependence on each other, but we perform everything necessary for one another with love. There will be no coercion, no pressure, and no obligations because when a person loves another, they are ready to do everything that the other desires.

Question: What is love? Is it some chemical reaction in the body? Or is it some kind of entity that is created?

Answer: To love means to treat another person better than yourself.

Question: How can we learn this?

Answer: To make this possible, it is necessary to find the right environment, a method of correction, self-education, and upbringing. I propose starting to engage in this seriously. This is the main subject of the science of Kabbalah, the foundation of its existence, its development, and its ability to make a person such that they can love others.

Love must be cultivated in a person. Love is when you accept the desires of another above your own.
[226580]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/7/18

Related Material:
Paradise Without Men
Understanding The Nature Of Women
Love Without Conditions

Filed under: Man and Woman, News | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Preparation to the Lesson

Video: Play Now | Download

Audio: Play Now | Download

1st part of the Lesson — Writings of Rabash, Article 17, “What Is the Assistance that He who Comes to Purify Receives, in the Work?”

Video: Play Now | Download

Audio: Play Now | Download

2nd part of the Lesson — The Conditions for Studying with Friends

Video: Play Now | Download

Audio: Play Now | Download

Selected Highlights

Video: Play Now | Download

Audio: Play Now | Download

Filed under: Daily Kabbalah Lesson | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Listen to an Audio Version of the Blog
Download:MP3Audio

Filed under: Audio Version of the Blog | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: How did Kabbalists lift each other in the past? How did they give the greatness of the goal one to another?

Answer: First of all, it was originally arranged that Kabbalists were not alone. Why did Abraham begin gathering people right away?

It is because correction is possible only in the connection between all, precisely in the place where the breaking of the connection happened. In the world of infinity, you are absolutely connected with everyone else in one single soul where all are interconnected like organs in the body; moreover, to such a degree that if one piece is detached, then the entire system breaks.

In our world, we do not feel that, we do not see that. Imagine if our body were to rise to the level of the world of infinity and even if one hair were to fall from its head; that would be it, it would be instant death, and everything would literally become destroyed. This is because perfection, eternity, and godliness is such a whole, closed, and absolute system that if you remove one atom from it, everything will shatter like a house of cards, and not a single connection remains undamaged.

Therefore, we had to descend from the world of infinity to such a state where all connections seem to be completely destroyed, we can exist independently from each other and even harm one another and continue to live.

Can you imagine what an irony it is? We did not simply descend from the level of infinity, but we turned into something opposite: we exist and enjoy harming one another. Imagine this whole system where everything is opposite!

And now from this state, we have to rise back, meaning we have to determine that by harming one another we in reality harm ourselves, we detach ourselves from the source, from eternity, perfection, infinity, and live like animals in constant worry, anxiety, and fear.

When I realize this, I begin to understand that correction is only possible in rebuilding the connection and in nothing else.
[342147]
From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. Breaking the Connection Between Souls” 6/20/10

Related Material:
From The Outskirts Of Creation Back To Its Center
The Creator is the Power of Correction and Fulfillment
The Purpose Of Being In This World

Filed under: Adam-The Common Soul, Q&A, Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Comment:: Oscar Wilde said it beautifully: “The nicest feeling in the world is to do a good deed anonymously – and have someone find out.”

My Response: “Someone find out” underscored.

Question: Is our world built in such a way we cannot do any altruistic acts?

Answer: Such is our nature. How can we?

We can only damage, use, break, and violate. That is all; that is our nature. We cannot be any other way. Therefore, we must think about how to limit ourselves reasonably to such an extent that we minimally disrupt everything around us. This is possible only with education.

Question: What about a good deed at the level of our world, does it exist?

Answer: A kind act at the level of our world is when we treat our world as our home, which is one for all of us, and we are like one family and we take care of everyone.

If a person has such an attitude, then, of course, we will put this world in order, then it can be returned back to some state. Not even back, but we have crossed some peak of excessive consumerism, destruction, and distortion of everything possible, and now we have to put it all in order a little. That is, we need to limit ourselves in everything that is not necessary.

Question: Can a person come to this?

Answer: His nature will force him. There is a concept of necessary and sufficient. Mutual restriction of all, voluntarily accepted by each one of us in order to make our planet comfortable for us and future generations is necessary.

Comment: But you can hear the voices that are saying: “That is what we want.” Whole movements exist.

My Response: They do not really do anything. Because you cannot do it by force, and you cannot do it by shouting in squares.

Question: And how can you do it?

Answer: By re-educating people! That is, all these environmentalists and other Greenpeace groups, they only create a lot of noise and arouse hatred and distrust.

Question: What should be the basis of this re-education?

Answer: To turn all of humanity into a family and the entire globe into one comfortable apartment for everyone; our home.

Question: It is beautiful, and I really want it to be that way.

Answer: Nature will force us to do it. We are in such a state. Maybe we will go through something else. Or there will be a world war, half of humanity or most of it will be destroyed. It is going to come to that anyway. Nature brings everything to balance anyway.

Question: Do you realize that this is a very long-term educational question considering who a person is?

Answer: It is a long process, but it depends on the awareness of the necessity.

Question: Who can be a teacher in such schools, such universities of life? The one who came to this understanding?

Answer: The one who has risen a little above his egoistic natural level can be a teacher.
[342209]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 12/2/21

Related Material:
Record a Good Deed in a Notebook and Burn It
How Can You Tell What Is Good, What Is Evil?
What Are Good Deeds?

Filed under: Crisis, Globalization, News, Q&A | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: Have there been moments in your daily life when something or someone disturbed you, and you started to get angry, but then you remembered where it all comes from? For example, if some knocking, humming, or other noise is distracting you.

Answer: If it falls within the boundaries of freewill, I am ready to “kill.”

The “boundaries of freewill” mean, for example, that if dissemination depends on you and someone is interfering with it, this cannot be forgiven under the excuse that everything comes from the Creator, because dissemination is something you are obligated to do.

There is no forgiveness in such a case, except within the framework of freewill where you must disseminate and do everything in the best and most correct way. Otherwise, nothing exists, not even the wisdom of Kabbalah. Then we are simply animals.

We are not animals only because we have been given the wisdom of self-correction. We are obligated to attract the light for our correction. If someone around me, who has been given this opportunity, does not use it or does it incorrectly, I cannot accept it. But only this!

In everything else, I do not even have the strength to force someone or interfere in any way. Only in what is filtered out as part of their freewill and they are not using it.

Question: But freewill applies not only to dissemination and passing on the wisdom of Kabbalah, but also studying, right? Or is study not part of freewill?

Answer: Freewill includes study, connection in the group, one’s attitude toward the book, the teacher, and the Creator, in other words, everything related to personal and collective advancement toward the goal.

Comment: But you do not pressure people when they go through different states.

My Response: They must go through them. Their freewill consists of enduring these states on their own. I have no right to interfere. If I did, I would be acting as if I were the Creator controlling them from above, from the outside. I have no right to do that.

Question: So does this mean there are two types of freewill, one that is punishable and one that is not? For example, going through states versus dissemination?

Answer: No, there is no such division. It is all the same. It is about a person’s attitude toward their advancement. One is absolutely connected to the other.
[342057]
From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. When the Creator Is Revealed” 5/4/10

Related Material:
There Is No Pressure in Kabbalah
What Is A Person’s Choice?
What Is Freedom Of Choice Connected To?

Filed under: Dissemination, Q&A, Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →

On one hand communication between people in our world is constantly evolving; on the other we see how incapable we are of truly engaging in it. We create communication only to use one another to somehow continue our existence. We cannot truly see each other nor can we genuinely talk to one another.

I notice that people today do not even want to use phones much; they prefer sending SMS or messages that do not oblige them in any way; just throw out a printed word, so to speak, and that is it.

But to actually talk to someone, that already comes with certain obligations, and requires one to invest their soul, to form some kind of deeper inner connection. People do not want to take that step. That is why I believe that even this era of phone communication will stagnate in its development: “I do not want to be that open to others.”

The same applies to the Internet. If it ceases to be veiled, the entire communication system will begin to consume itself. People will realize that there is an electronic eye that knows everything about them and can compromise them in front of everyone—in front of a spouse for visiting certain websites, in front of family for something they said or wrote about them somewhere.

In short, if the Internet fully reveals itself as a system that prevents a person from isolating themselves from others—something that today’s egoism demands—then that will mark the end of the internet. It will remain as merely a database, but there will be no communication through it because nowadays a person is primarily seeking their own quiet corner and is willing to connect with others only from a distance.

This is a manifestation of the shattering of connection that occurred at the level of the soul on the descent into our world. I believe the future will develop in a slightly different direction. A person will be given the opportunity to remain incognito while interacting with others, yet will still gradually come to recognize themselves as a necessary element of society and society as a necessary system for them.

We must reveal our complete interdependence. It will become apparent through terrible suffering, crises, and cataclysms, through such intricate games of the Creator that we will have no place to escape.

And suddenly we will discover the first spiritual degree that nature is driving us toward, where we will perceive our interconnectedness. But I do not want this connection; I want to sit in my own corner and use it only when it benefits me.

Yet you will be forced: no, you must surrender to this connection, enter it as a fully integrated cell, and there will be no escape. Discard your personal reasoning and emotions; you must incorporate them into this system.

And what happens to them will be determined by the system itself. To the extent that it may even say, “You are unnecessary; you harm us, or you simply are not needed,” and you will agree to be annulled. Just like the cells in a body; billions die every second, and billions regenerate.

Of course, in our spiritual progress, there is no death or disappearance, but we will have to experience the willingness to be deeply immersed in the system. This is a very serious psychological barrier that must be crossed. And humanity will come to realize this, whether willingly or through hardship.

We Kabbalists try to facilitate this process through teaching and explanation. In past centuries Kabbalists understood this as well, and did the same. The method remains unchanged because we are correcting what happened before our world came into existence; we are correcting the spiritual shattering.
[342156]
From KabTV’s “I Got A Call. Breaking the Connection between Souls” 6/20/10

Related Material:
The Power of Integration
The Way To Ultimate Communication
The Internet: The Mirror Of Humanity

Filed under: Crisis, Globalization, Internet | Add Comment / Ask Question →

Question: If a person falls sick and is embarrassed to ask the group for help because he believes that the group should not be involved in such matters, what does the person lose, and what does the group lose? Or is it just his personal problem?

Answer: He loses the opportunity for help, rapprochement, and connection with his friends. But why should he be embarrassed? Everything that happens is guided by the Creator according to His plan. And we are expected to act in alignment with this plan.

It is crucial not to perceive what happens as solely personal. What is personal here? We are just protein-based organisms interacting within our own slime. The most important thing for us is to elevate the soul above this. Why should we make something significant out of our insignificant material existence, something that supposedly needs to be preserved and cherished? It is the soul that we should value and aim to elevate as soon as possible.

Therefore, we should take advantage of every opportunity, whether someone feels bad or good, in any situation. If we can use all this for spiritual elevation, we should do so. Why should I value fleeting moments of my organic life? It turns out that I do not understand the purpose of life. What is it given for?

It is so that I unveil, create, shape, and expand the soul, receive the upper light within it, experience eternal existence, and remain in it while still existing within this transient organic form.

Suppose, I am given a car to travel from point A to point B, but along the way, I start fussing over it, tending to it, washing and cleaning it. Then it all ends there: I am turning a means into a goal.

Question: But does a person assist his group by reaching out to friends for help?

Answer: The point is that we are created as complex beings, largely unaware of our place and actions we should take. Therefore, in the plans that the Creator implements upon us, He considers our current level of development.
[342198]
From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Ask the Group” 6/15/10

Related Material:
There Are no Personal Hardships
The Soul Is Stronger Than the Body
Don’t Devote Any More To This World Than It Deserves

Filed under: Group Work, Health, Q&A, Spiritual Work | Add Comment / Ask Question →