Question: You spoke about the importance of the last three days before the December convention. What is the best way to organize preparation during these days?

Answer: There is a notion of three days of transition from one state to another. During these three days, one must leave the past state and from a neutral state gradually transition into a new one.

This is why we really advise people, who wish to properly connect to the convention (essentially, convention is our unification), to try to keep this thought, this feeling, to be in anticipation of general unity, especially within the three preceding days. This will help them experience unity with higher intensity and reveal at least a part of the upper world in it for themselves. This is exactly what we expect from our mutual action.

A convention is not a regular event when we gather, sing, attend lectures, dance, and participate in the gatherings of friends. A convention is first and foremost our uniting into a single desire of mutual bestowal. Once we form this desire, we will immediately feel the next level of our development in it, which exists beyond our world. Essentially, this is what we aspire to.
[61618]
From the Sunday Virtual Lesson Series 11/20/2011

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Spiritual work, the revelation of successive movements, one by one, from the “minus” (what I lack) to the “plus” (the one who can help me) is not easy at all. It seems irrational from the outside. No matter how much we advance, we always forget about that because our egoistic feelings and mind are not built on this principle.

Everything is arranged differently in spirituality. I make efforts and find a completely different place. I get disappointed, reach total despair, and the moment after that, if I do not run away, then I find. And I find something that I absolutely did not expect and didn’t think that this should get.

The spiritual world that we discover has no analogue in our world. A tiny hole like the eye of a needle opens, like a small pupil in our eye, a focused view that requires nothing else. And through it, we break into a new world!

The Creator, the Light of Hochma (Wisdom), opens this hole, and we expand it. This hole is created by everyone compressing their egoism to zero, and all our points in the heart connect together. Having united, these points burn the wall, the boundary between us and the spiritual world. If they unite, they turn into the point through which we enter the spiritual world.

This is why we have gathered here to try to achieve this condition when “Israel, the Torah, and the Creator” join together. It is necessary that everyone reaches the same frequency and sways together, everyone with only one thought, the unity of our points in the heart, above our ego, above this corporeal life.

We have the right to forget about this corporeal life once for 24 hours, disconnect from all the worries, and wait for the upper force that sustains this life to come and meet us. By our desire, we will force it to get closer to us.
[61227]
From Lesson 2, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

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You have probably heard that the Ari once told his students: “If we go up to Jerusalem today, we will be able to reach the end of correction (Gmar Tikkun). Let’s get together in an hour and go up there, let’s continue this way!”

When the students began to assemble after an hour, one of them said that he couldn’t come for one reason, another for another reason, another’s wife wouldn’t let him go, and another couldn’t go because of the children, or because of some illness or some other problems. And so they didn’t ascend to the state of Gmar Tikkun.

We don’t understand how such interruptions could have stopped the Ari’s students from reaching the exalted state of Gmar Tikkun. But we also don’t understand what obstacles are given to a person from Above so that he will draw closer to correction.

We are neither the strongest nor the most special. We are actually the weakest of all the generations that preceded us. But we are living in very special times, and these times require a great correction, which is possible to carry out! Therefore, even if we are not worthy of it, even if we are not strong enough or don’t really understand what we are doing, the upper force still connects us and pushes us forward.

So we mustn’t forget what we have to do. We should try as hard as we can! And the Creator will finish this job for us.
[61180]
From Lesson 1, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

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Question: How do we need to unite with each other before the December convention? How do we prepare for it to experience everything the right way?

Answer: We do not do anything different: We read the same articles, we hear the same things, but still, it is written: “It has to be like new in your eyes.” Why is it said, “like new”? Because you renew it by revealing your Aviut, your new details of perception, more and more.

We know that when we are served a new dish, we have no idea how to approach it. But once we have tasted it plenty of times and become accustomed to it like to “our mother’s cooking” which has been familiar to us since childhood, then we can enjoy its taste to the maximum.

The same happens in the spiritual Partzufim. The first time the Light enters, it is nothing else but the Light of Nefesh. The second time it is already the Light of Ruach that enters the same old Reshimot (informational genes), the third time it is the Light of Neshama, and so on.

In other words, every time man advances, he returns to what he has already experienced and discovers a greater depth, feels more flavor in it, as it is written: “You will eat what has long been laid in store for you.” It is the same with us. Every time, in the same place, but only deeper and deeper, we have to be more connected with one another, more unified and directed towards a true connection.

Let us hope for this and raise our prayer so it would become a “prayer of many,” in mutual guarantee.
[61524]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/23/2011, The Zohar

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Question: We have finished the Arava convention with an obligation between friends to maintain the mutual sensation attained at the convention.

Answer: I think everyone is trying to remain in the state that we experienced in our common unity. Everyone will remember it at least from time to time and maybe even constantly. The Light will shine on a person from Above, and he will remember and awaken. And at the end, he will receive an external awakening to return to the same state that he experienced at the convention. He will not do it on his own, but it will happen through the common awakening, the Light that will come from Above, from the Creator.

It is a pleasant state, and this is why it is worthwhile for him to return to it. Naturally, it is still an egoistic aspiration to feel good in this shining, exalted state. But this already comes from a proper action that originates from unity and is directed towards it.

Question: How do you work with this mutual obligation during the lesson?

Answer: Right now we only must be aware of: “Why am I doing this? Is it because I was in an elevated state? Then naturally, I wish to be in it all the time and even more than that. Am I only doing this to feel good, with respect to myself, because this is important to me?”

It is true that we have experienced a special elevation, desire, and phenomenon that we have never felt before. But how do I perceive this entire state? Do I perceive that it benefits me, makes me feel good, confident, and comfortable? Or do I want to transfer it to higher rails, to desire it for other reasons than it making me feel good or giving me pleasure.

I want for this sensation to come from the realization of its higher value without any connection to me. This is because when it comes to my egoistic connection, whatever fills me more has more value for me. But I want to appreciate this state because this sensation of bestowal is a higher sensation that comes from the upper force, and this way I become close to the Creator. At this moment I do not have any feelings for it, I do not see any importance or value in it, but I want to see it!

Now we begin to think about another reason to experience the same state that we attained at the convention. I want to feel it because this brings me closer to the Creator, to a higher degree. I do not wish to feel too much satisfaction from it. It is not that I reject it, but I do not want it to obligate me. I want for the greatness and importance of the actual state of bestowal to obligate me.

This way we begin to change degrees. That is, I want to rise from the degree that I am on right now, in my current desire, where I feel good and thus, wish to remain there because it is not a desert, but something beautiful and pleasant—a land full of life. However, I want to experience the desert for my ego and feel fulfilled in my desire to bestow, my aspiration towards the group, the Creator. This is referred to as wandering through the desert.

For this reason, we must now try to change the basis and the cause of the wonderful sensation of unity that we attained at this convention, where we had no foreign influence. And then we already begin to rise towards a different, more spiritual attitude towards the group, fulfillment, our inner sensation, and the past state.

We raise ourselves towards a different state when we are no longer influenced much by moods or different factors. I begin to be more connected with the actual importance of the state of bestowal. This is the Light of Hassadim (Mercy) already awakening in me, and a spiritual degree is shining on me slightly. I try to separate from my ego, from how much I feel in it, whether I feel better or worse, one way or another; I wish to separate from its outcomes, fulfillments, and values. I do not want it!

I want that wonderful, strong, and good sensation to remain. I do not neglect it, I only wish to perceive it in my attitude, which instead of coming from my desires to receive, comes from my desires to bestow and my intention to direct everything towards unity.

There are many inner sensations, calculations, and manifestations in this. But the Light of correction is already awakening these states over us. And then man begins to receive the so-called Light of faith, a force that keeps you above your ego, above all its inner calculations. And then we enter the actual work with the force of fulfillment, calculations, and attitude. This is already the beginning of analysis.
[61316]
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/21/2011, The Zohar

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Question: How can we preserve all that we have attained in the Arava convention? How can we pass this force onward?

Answer: In two weeks, we will begin the great convention, and we have to be very anxious about its results. It isn’t just another event, although it is great and impressive. We are proud that we have the ability to hold such complex events in which guests from all over the world take part. This is wonderful, of course, but now we should worry about something that is totally different.

When we went to the desert, we had one worry. We wanted to connect and find a new force in the connection between us: the vessel for the revelation of the Creator. Actually, we have achieved a great result. Each of us at least has tasted the meaning of “unity,” and each of us has a Reshimo, an impression of what he has experienced.

Now, the question is how to preserve these impressions. How do we reinforce them in the next couple of weeks above all the disturbances?

Everything is awakened by means of an opposite force. A friend of ours who has a fig orchard in the Arava told me that they water the trees with salty water. Why do they use salty water, not fresh water? It is because it makes the fruit sweeter. It is as if it urges the fruit to overcome and to ripen.

This is how nature’s universal law is revealed: Spiritual development is realized only by means of opposing forces. This is why we give children different exercises. We want to develop a certain attribute in a child, so we give him the right exercise. We “add salt”: We place him in some difficult situation so that he will overcome the obstacle and learn something from it.

Now, in the coming two weeks, you should watch out for, identify, and overcome the disturbances, while keeping the impressions from the Arava convention so that it won’t just be a spark, but the entire picture of your reality. Every new interruption will enable you to rise to another level. Every step will make you “sweeter,” and we will “taste” you in the convention.
[61331]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/21/2011, “The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee)”

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There is no “upper world”; the upper world is the connection between us. If we feel this unification, we will sense the upper world within it. It does not exist somewhere outside of us. The spiritual world does not exist on its own. We, ourselves, create it and form it.

There is the simple upper Light, and there is a point standing in the midst of the Light. It is divided into many parts. If we unite this point into one whole and connect all of its parts together, it becomes similar to the Light. According to the law of similarity of form, it turns into a big vessel (Kli) for the Light.

It turns out that this black point within the Light of Infinity is transformed into a huge vessel that includes the entire Light. Without connecting its parts together, there is no vessel, there is nothing except for the black point. “Existence from existence” is the Light, while “existence from absence” is a tiny desire, which is still not sensed, non-existent as the creature.
[61221]
From Lesson 1, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

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Question: How can we help each other at this convention so that everyone will be able to rise above himself?

Answer: First of all, if I am thinking about rising above myself, thus I help others. It is enough that I “plug” my personal “hole at the bottom of the boat.” This is one thing.

Second, if I think about others and care about them, I help them. Third, my concern for others is expressed in the fact that I see my friends who have invested so much effort, time, strength, and money against many disturbances, and I want to reach such a state when my effort contributes to their spiritual attainment because they deserve more than I do.

I am concerned that they do not disconnect from the correct intentions, true desires, the connection between us. In my desire, I am so worried that they do not “fall” and think only about that.

This concern is the best protection possible in our state, and it ensures that not a single person falls out of this mutual guarantee between us, and we are always above our ego. Everyone should be on alert, thinking only about his friends, like a mother who cares about all her children.
[61427]
From Lesson 1, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

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Rabbi Moshe Chaim Ephraim, Degel Machaneh Efraim: It is best to be always united…when they unite below, they cause their root above to unite too.

What does it mean that by uniting below, we cause our root above to unite too? The moment we unite, we oblige our upper one to unite. We know this from the structure of the upper system: Above us, there is a Partzuf that cares about us, called Aba ve Ima (father and mother), Hochma and Bina, and above it, there is Keter, the Creator. Hochma and Bina are two parts, two desires, two attributes, Hassadim and Hochma.

Through our desire to connect, we give rise to the connection between them. Without this, they are “turned away” from each other, that is, they are not connected to each other, and so the Light is not revealed within the creature.

The moment we want to unite, we arouse their connection. Then, the Light passes through them to us and fills us. Thus, when we connect below, we call upon the connection in the upper one, and it brings the Light from Keter through Aba ve Ima (Hochma and Bina) to us, to ZON (Zeir Anpin and Nukva). And this is how we reach correction.

So, it is all achieved by our connection, and not even in the connection itself, but in our desire to connect. We have to desire with all our might to connect with each other, to try to unite. The connection is carried out from Above. The Light comes and connects the desires.

Whenever we feel a desire to connect or the lack thereof, we should realize our yearning to be one. When we feel different disturbances, even the slightest and weakest ones, it is important to pay attention to them and to build the connection on top of them.

Then, we will rise above the great mass of small disturbances that separate us and will finally arouse the first connection between the upper Aba ve Ima so that they will pass onto us the Light of Hochma dressed in the Light of Hassadim. With the help of the Light of Hassadim, we will acquire the intention to bestow, the Light of Hochma will fill the intention, and then we will feel the upper reality.

This should really happen and be felt inside us. It all depends on our efforts. We will do it! So, whatever we do, let’s devote all the time during the convention to being above the body all the time, above all personal thoughts. I want to “lose” myself in others, I want to feel “we,” and not “me,” “you,” or “him.” I want to feel us connected into one whole: one desire and one thought and try to hold on to that as hard as I can.

It’s like a weight lifter who needs to lift a weight above his head and hold it for several moments. This is enough—he has reached the desired result. It is the same with us. All of us together have to raise our desires and thoughts above us, hold them together for one moment, and it will happen!
[61216]
From Lesson 1, Arvut Convention at the Arava Desert 11/18/2011

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Question: In the group, we need interaction, contact. That is the only way I can reveal love and hate for my friends. When we work together on dissemination, I receive a real inner response. But in all other regards, we just sit together at lessons or meals, sing and dance together. I don’t find any interaction there….

Answer: Still, try doing this together with the group more and more. In reality, this is the work: to sit together with friends, to eat with them, to dance and sing with them. This will cause greater repulsion to be revealed inside of you. Overcome yourself and try to submerge deeper into the group—and you will discover your weakness.

This is already the expression of the truth. The more you try to take control of yourself, the more negativity you discover toward the friends. This is the entire essence and nothing more is necessary.

The sons of Israel received the method of correction only when a strong egoistic desire ripened in them. This was no longer a clan or a family, but a great number of people who felt that they didn’t belong to one another. That is how a nation emerges: I am part of a group, I was brought to it, and I participate in the life of the friends, who are connected by a common goal. But to be perfectly honest, I don’t harbor any warm feelings for them.

And now I must form the deepest connection that can possibly exist in reality—the same as the connection with the Creator. Can you imagine: to cleave to the friends like to the Creator, without any excuses, and to feel them closer than myself. Is this possible? Yes. You make efforts, and in response, Light comes from above and corrects you.

In mutual actions, everything that’s important is inside. You can take physical measures only if you can vest the intention into them. Otherwise, you shouldn’t. We need actions that will become an expression of our interconnection. This includes conventions and dissemination work. But in reality, if a person is really dear to me, then I invite him to a coffee shop or to my house to socialize with him in a friendly setting. I try to be as close as possible to him.

The gist of the matter is not for every person to prepare for the convention in his own niche, hoping that these external efforts will unite us. Rather, we must feel a much greater proximity, which is what we were slightly able to achieve at the convention in the Arava dessert. After the December convention, we will continue acting in this direction to come even closer to one another.
[61440]
From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/22/11, “Mutual Guarantee”

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