Question: What is the difference between the Kabbalistic explanation of our world and Pesach (Passover), and the usual explanation we have known since we were children?

Answer: There are several levels that explain reality, existence, creation, development and the goal of man in it. When we speak about Pesach, for example, we can speak about:

1. The historical period of slavery our nation spent in Egypt.
2. A person’s enslavement to his ego in Egypt, to his Pharaoh.
3. The development of the created being, of the desire, under the influence of the Light, the Creator, and under the influence of darkness, Egypt, and Pharaoh.

At the same time we can speak about different levels:

1. The technical fulfillment of the rituals that in our language are called Mitzvot (commandments),
2. The psychological fulfillment of the commandment of “love thy friend as thyself,” as the general commandment and order of the Creator, which includes all the other commandments and orders as it says in the Torah: Love thy friend as thyself is the great rule of the Torah,
3. The Kabbalistic influence of the Upper Light on the worlds and through them on the souls that undergo different phases of development and their spiritual correction.
   [156182]

Related Material:
The Daily Cleanup In The Heart
A Clean Home And A Clean Heart
Meeting On The Bridge Above Hatred

Filed under: Holidays, Israel, Nations of the World, Q&A - No Comments →

Question: The celebration of Passover is a special opportunity to learn something new about oneself, about our people, about our society, and make a qualitative change in our relationships to each other.

Rav Kook wrote that if the people of Israel once had not made this transition from slavery to freedom, the whole world would have never been able to make such a change. Is it true that the people of Israel affect the whole world so much?

Answer: The people of Israel are a special group of people that were selected from the entire world and came out from ancient Babylon in order to unite.

Today, the whole world is in the same mutual hatred, which once was revealed only between the Jews during the destruction of the Temple. Due to this hatred, Jews fell from the height of unity to the level of this world, and that means going into exile.

Today, the Jewish people are mixed with the entire world, and we all are in the same state, which is called Egypt or the slavery of mutual hatred.

Since the Jews have already exited this slavery, we have memories, the genes (Reshimot) of that previous state. This is why we must lead everyone else in exiting this terrible state the whole of humanity exists in now and in setting an example to everyone, meaning, being “a light to the nations of the world.”

Now this task is for the people of Israel who are living in the land of Israel. This is why we were able to come back here. We must realize our mission for the benefit of the whole world. After all, the purpose of creation is that all of humanity become one people, one family, as it is written in the Prophets.
[156994]
From KabTV’s “A New Life” 3/22/15

Related Material:
A Holiday Of Freedom From The Shackles Of Hatred
Pesach Is An Example To All
Pesach Is A Holiday That Is Always With You

Filed under: Ancient Babylon, Group Work, Holidays, Inner Work, Israel, Israel Today, Nations of the World, Spiritual Work, Unity - No Comments →

Question: I think egoism is a positive quality, without which one cannot develop. If a child has no egoism, he does not strive to learn and grow.

Answer: The quest for knowledge, education, culture, to see the world, to fly into space, this is not called evil egoism. The evil inclination is bad relationships between us, the desire to use others, to suppress them.

Just a desire to grow and become a great man is not egoism because by this I may want to bring benefit to humanity. Egoism is a desire to submit others, to enslave them.

Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is the quintessence of all evil. This special power, inherent in every human being by nature, is called the evil inclination, which spoils our relationships with each other. We are talking only about it, not about the human desire for development.

Pharaoh is called the king of Egypt, because he reigns over us absolutely, without consulting our desire. He just orders us what to do—burdens us with hard work.

Pharaoh commands us to build, that is, to unite. But as soon as we want to unite, he stands between us and makes us quarrel with each other, and enjoys this.

Today’s human being is a slave of a special force called Pharaoh. In nature, there is a force that advances the whole world in the process of evolution. It leads to the overall development of technology, science, culture, and education.

But within this development, there is a force that make us treat each other in a bad, selfish way, to enjoy the fact that we are superior to others, are successful and can harass them.

Everyone wants to be Pharaoh and control others. If he has the ability to put down others so that they have nowhere to escape, he gets pleasure from it. This means that Pharaoh lives within each of us.
[156832]
From KabTV’s “A New Life” 3/24/15

Related Material:
The Daily Cleanup In The Heart
Pesach Is A Holiday That Is Always With You
“Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights?”

Filed under: Egoism, Holidays, Israel, Nations of the World - No Comments →

Question: Passover begins with the night of the Passover Seder (order)—a ceremony filled with many details. What does the night symbolize?

Answer: The Seder is the order of the exodus from Egypt, the course of action that a person must make within himself to break away from his egoism, to rise above it, and then come back to it in the days of counting the Omer (Sefirat Omer), to correct all his egoistic desires.

Question: If I were your grandson, what advice would you have given me in light of the holiday of Pesach?

Answer: Learn how to break away from your ego.

Question: But what is wrong with my ego?

Answer: It overshadows all your life, and you need to leave it and run away from it. If you do not learn how to do this, you will be getting blows that will nonetheless teach you to escape from it, but it is a very hard, bitter, and long study.

Question: What is the ego?

Answer: The ego is your bad attitude towards other people. You can have ten meals a day, have a family and children, build a palace for yourself, be a billionaire—this is not considered the ego.

The ego means that you want to use a person who is like you to his detriment, in order to rise above him, to suppress him. Ego is measured only in relation to the evil use of others.

Question: What is “the night of Passover Seder“?

Answer: The “night of Passover Seder” is a break, an escape from evil use of others. This night symbolizes that we come to life in the Egyptian darkness and get blows because of our ego. Pharaoh within us undergoes blows.

Imagine that your body receives blows, illness, disappointments, problems from children, from family, from relatives, from parents and grandchildren, from everything that exists. The unfortunate Pharaoh, i.e., your nature is suffering so much that you want to escape from it: “It is better to die than have such a life!” This is Egyptian darkness.

And suddenly out of this darkness, it is revealed that we can rise above it—and then I run away. I flee in a hurry and care about nothing. This is the exodus from Egypt. This is what we celebrate: the fact that the exit, like the eye of a needle, has been opened to us and through it we can escape from there. It is such a hardship!

But we can come to this hard life because we think, understand, and study, and then we can recognize great evil within a small one. Similarly, people listen to lectures about the danger of smoking, and they realize they should not bring themselves to poisoning and severe illnesses; they recognize this evil in advance and escape. We can do the same thing with “Egypt.” And if not, then we will feel our life in utter darkness, especially the people of Israel.

Let’s examine ourselves and reveal that we are in the grip of our ego, called “Pharaoh,” and therefore we will not have a good life if we continue to obey it. Let’s decide as soon as possible, that we must run away from it, escape from the power of Pharaoh existing within each of us, from the power of our ego, at least to break away from it.

If we accept this decision together, it will be very easy for us because all the people come out of Egypt. Let’s come to public agreement, run away, and rise above evil attitude towards each other. Then our life in the country will become completely different. Happy Passover!
[156810]
From KabTV’s “A New Life” 3/24/15

Related Material:
Is A Person Free Or A Slave To His Nature?
Passover Is A Reminder Of The Future
“Why Is This Night Different From All Other Nights?”

Filed under: Holidays, Israel, Nations of the World - No Comments →

We have a means that can help the whole world. When we come out of Egypt, from loathing and mutual hatred, we will see that the true human mutual connection solves all the problems.

Therefore today, Abraham’s method is needed everywhere. It is the present need and if we, the Israeli nation, do not fulfill and present it to humanity, the pressure that is put on us will grow. It is because the world subconsciously feels that we are hiding the key to happiness from it.

But if we do what we have to do and set a good example, the world will receive it with gratitude and respect. On the whole, this is exactly what the world expects of us.

I wish a holiday of unity and connection to all my friends!
[156601]

Related Material:
Pesach Is A Holiday That Is Always With You
Pesach, Matzah, And Bitter Herb
The Meaning Of The Pesach Holiday

Filed under: Group Work, Holidays, Israel, Israel Today, Nations of the World, Spiritual Work, World - No Comments →

Not long ago we celebrated Purim and now the Pesach holiday is already approaching. All of the holidays of the people of Israel symbolize the joining and connection that must exist between us; they are just indicated on its different levels, its different intensity.

The strongest link in the entire history of Israel is attained on Purim. And the first time we reach connection between us is on Pesach, the holiday of freedom from slavery in Egypt.

Freedom is known as liberation from our ego, from unfounded hatred towards others, from rejection, from those ugly attitudes that are discovered among us when we cut each other off on the street or in any other instance where our interests collide.

When we succeed in reigning in our bad nature and attain oneness, we discover that we can correct our entire lives. We can lower the price of apartments and of food, get along in familial relationships, transform our cities into clean ones, and stop violence in our schools.

This is called the exodus from Egypt, the exodus from exile. We drown in our ego and don’t want to hear anything more. But, suddenly we understand that it is possible to build good relationships between us, to come closer. Not only is this possible, but simply necessary, because it is impossible to continue like this anymore.

Before the last election, all the parties promised to take care of our lives in all areas. But in fact, according to the wisdom of Kabbalah, nobody will succeed in this unless he rises above all the differences and we all become connected above them. It is written in Proverbs 10:12: …love covereth all transgressions. As we begin to unite, without paying attention to personal benefit, then this new form of unity will begin to influence our lives.

The Pesach holiday and the story of the exodus from Egypt are metaphors that indicate the departure from the egoistic attitudes between people and the formation of higher attitudes. This is freedom from our inner Pharaoh, from the ego that dominates us. If we go out from under its control and can love others, this is called freedom, redemption. And after the exodus from Egypt and wandering in the desert, the people of Israel reach Mount Sinai and receive the Torah. They are asked if they are ready to become like one person with one heart, to live in Arvut (mutual guarantee), in oneness, in “And you shall love your friend as yourself.” This is called salvation, for within our connection and unity we discover a unique force that is hidden in nature.
[155831]
From Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 3/15/15

Related Material:
Passover – The Level Of The Exodus From Egypt
Kabbalistic Holidays
Poof!

Filed under: Egoism, Group Work, Holidays, Inner Work, Israel, Israel Today, Mutual Guarantee, World - No Comments →

Question: From a spiritual point of view, Passover is a separation from the evil ruling in me, from my selfish motives in relation to others. Many homes have a special cabinet, which holds a separate set of dishes for Passover. What does this custom to change all the dishes for Passover symbolize?

Answer: In fact, a special set of dishes for Passover is a modern trend. Previously, before Passover people just made new dishes—from clay, wood, or animal skin.

New dishes symbolize new vessels, i.e., our desires, which we previously used for our own sake. Now we cannot use them in this way but only in order to bestow. I have to change the set of my desires in relation to others.

Question: What does it mean “a set of everyday dishes” that we use throughout the year and “a set of dishes for Passover?”

Answer: “A set of everyday dishes” is an egoistic desire to enjoy at the expense of others, and then you repress and use it.

“A set of dishes for Passover” represents, on the contrary, using altruistic desires for the good of others.

You have to replace one set with another—to use your desires in love for others, in bestowal. This is called “new vessels.” And after you use these new vessels for a week, you can begin to return to your old vessels because you already know how to correct them, i.e., to use in the correct way.
[156807]
From KabTV’s “A New Life” 3/24/14

Related Material:
A Clean Home And A Clean Heart
A Glass Of Wine For Spiritual Ascent
The Mystery Of Passover Night

Filed under: Holidays, Israel, Nations of the World - No Comments →

An article written by my student , M. Brushtein:

The Passover Seder (festive meal) is not far off.  Many people know that this holiday is dedicated to the exodus of the Jews from Egypt, which occurred about 34 centuries ago.

Since then, this momentous event is celebrated every year for the whole week. If we consider that it is preceded by a lot of laborious activities and accompanied by all sorts of restrictions, there is a fair question, “Why is such special attention paid to this holiday?”

The tragic events that preceded the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and that subsequently occurred during the wanderings in the desert are well known. Along with this, one event stands out from all the rest. The fact is that nothing like that had ever happened to anyone else.

For the first time in history of humanity, the Jewish people decided to raise the bar of interpersonal relationships to the level of “as one man with one heart.” If we look at the holiday of Passover from this point of view, then much if not all of what that we know about Passover and the Jews may have to be radically reviewed.

Imagine for a moment the situation of those days. The Jews under the guidance of their leader Moses are leaving Egypt – a country, where they were enslaved for centuries. It would seem, what do former slaves need? – To settle quickly in a new place to live safely and enjoy new found freedom. But in reality, something strange took place.

After a long ordeal in the desert, the Jews gather at the foot of Mount Sinai and take on themselves, frankly, an unbearable burden. They agree to guarantee for each other. We know that this is impossible in principle. Didn’t people have other things? Who needed this mutual guarantee anyway?

But in fact, the answer is obvious: “In order for a people to live, thrive and grow, it must be united, and it is unlikely anyone will argue with this.” Question: “On the basis of the principle, ​​through what idea can this be done?”

Of course, you can unite the people on the idea of ​​universal equality and brotherhood and on the idea of ​​national superiority; it is also possible to unite the people by the American dream.

There is a practical question – “How and for how long will these principles and ideas work?”  We know the answers. With all that, these principles are rational and understandable, but the idea of ​​”mutual guarantee” or even worse – “love thy neighbor as thyself” – is irrational, that is, essentially impossible.

Why then, has the idea of ​​”love thy neighbor,” irrational at first glance, lived for more than 3,000 years and is perceived with understanding by anyone in the world, but rational ideas – “national ideas” are always taken ill and die within a generation?

And yet, how could the Jews implement this idea in reality? Let’s not talk about such things as the upper force or the Creator. Let’s talk about where we started – mutual guarantee.

It says in the Torah that the Jews, one and all, decided unanimously to guarantee for each other. It can be said it was a matter of the whole people, with all the consequences. Obviously, this was the reason for success.

Later, as we know and due to various reasons, the people became indifferent towards this idea in order to then return to it again.

In both cases, the Jews thrived and prospered. Having united as one man with one heart in those ancient times, the Jewish people became a model for many nations and the founder of the ethical values ​​that underlie the whole of civilization.

Today, the Jewish people as one, can give an example of correct relations. If all the people becomes engaged with this and if this idea becomes nationwide, as in the days of Moses, then without a doubt, the Jewish people will be able to realize it.

The choice is ours.
[156677]

Related Material:
Passover Is A Reminder Of The Future
Passover – The Level Of The Exodus From Egypt
Pesach Is A Holiday That Is Always With You

Filed under: Group Work, Holidays, Israel, Israel Today, Mutual Guarantee, Nations of the World, Spiritual Work - No Comments →

Question: Why is it customary to have a meal on Pesach evening when the entire family sits around the table?

Answer: Pesach is a special holiday because it symbolizes the birth of the Israeli nation. It says that it is only after the exodus from Egypt that they become a nation, and that we cannot be called a nation as long as we are separated and divided, and the egoistic force tears us to pieces. It is only when we resist these foreign forces and try to connect that we discover the force of unity that ties us and that we become a nation. Therefore the Israeli nation today is not called a nation according to the true Kabbalistic definition.

Comment: This state of division was very strongly revealed during the elections in Israel that ended not too long ago and divided the nation into many parties and movements. The internal division is increasingly growing and deepening.

Answer: These elections were very harmful to the nation since we celebrate the fact that we have conflicts and that we hate one another. During the election’s propaganda, we emphasized these differences and everyone tried to harm the other as much as he could. This is terribly harmful to our nation, although it is called democracy. After all, the entire basis of the Israeli nation is unity above all the obstacles and the differences.

Question: But, what should we do if our opinions differ?

Answer: This is a very good thing! It is actually the connection between plus and minus that generates energy. It is good that we don’t share the same opinions. We only must learn how to connect above all the differences. Therefore, the connection to which the wisdom of Kabbalah brings us is far from being a simple idea. We must find the special force in nature that will help us unite despite our differences and oppositeness. The opposite opinions remain, but we know how to make peace between us above them so that love will cover all the sins. This is a very profound principle. We are both sinners, you and I, but we build a bridge above the hate we feel towards one another.

The Book of Zohar tells us that Rabbi Shimon’s ten students who sat in a cave and wrote this book hated each other so much when they began to study at midnight they wanted to burn one another. But, to the extent that they studied together and made efforts in order to gradually build the bridge above their burning hatred, they reached spiritual revelations about which they tell us later in The Book of Zohar. Such a bridge can be built only above opposite opinions.

Question: Does that mean that whenever we have disputes, we always can build a bridge above them?

Answer: We can always build a bridge above our disputes, and moreover, it is forbidden to pressure a person to force him to concede and change his opinion. The more different his opinion is from the others, the better it is.

Question: So, what will build the bridge between us?

Answer: For example, we can take an electric or electronic system that actually works thanks to the fact that it burns energy as a result of the potential gap between two electric wires that reach it. When we are in a conflict and opposite one another because of our egoistic nature, and, at the same time, connect above it, these two levels create spiritual attainment within us. We attain the spiritual world in the potential gap when we discover and get to know not only our current corporeal world, but also the upper world. The attainment of the spiritual world is called a soul.
[155956]
From Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 3/15/15

Related Material:
Global Darkness Before Dawn
The Whole World Is In Exile, The Entire Earth Is Egypt
We Depend On One Another

Filed under: Holidays, Israel, Israel Today, Kabbalistic Sources, Nations of the World, Spiritual Work, Zohar - No Comments →

Question: Why is Passover, the exodus from Egyptian slavery, reminiscent of being born anew? The story starts with the tale of Moses’ birth and ends with the plagues of Egypt, which are similar to contractions during birth. After this, they cross the Final Sea, as if being born into a new world.
Answer: New life is conceived and cooked inside of the giant pot called Egypt. It becomes formed out of our discernments and attempts to understand how to cope with our egoistic nature.
Eventually, we realize that we are incapable of resisting our egoism and have no choice but to run away from it, that is, to rise above it. This requires qualitative changes: replacing all of our habits, forms of relationships, and the previous upbringing, which we received in Babylon.
When we start to unite using Abraham’s method, we acquire new habits, a new attitude to each other, and a new outlook on life, perceiving everything through glasses of unity.
This signifies a new birth because I turn into a new person, one who has learned to look at himself, his family, his nation, the world, and all of life only through our unity.
If I then meet my previous self, the way I was before I went through upbringing according to Abraham’s method and united with others, then it would be two different people who don’t understand each other. One of them is a slave and the other is a free man, independent of his egoistic nature. That’s because he has acquired a new nature—the nature of love instead of the nature of hate.
[156392]
From KabTV’s “A New Life” 3/22/15

Related Material:
Is A Person Free Or A Slave To His Nature?
A Clean Home And A Clean Heart
The Spiritual Source Closest To Us Is Passover

Filed under: Egoism, Holidays, Israel - No Comments →