Question: How can I tell Haman from Mordecai?

Answer: Haman is our simple, straightforward egoism: I want, I need. “I want to rule over everyone, I want to be great, I want to…I-I-I.” Moreover, it’s not simply the egoism with which we were born but the egoism that we cultivate in the group.

When we start treating each other nicely in the group, preparing meals together, studying together (we are good guys, we are friends), suddenly something unexpected explodes between us: distrust, rejection, and hostility. This is the secondary egoism that appears as a result of our attempts to get closer to each other, and it’s called “Haman.” We need to reveal it as much as possible and not to be afraid of it.

That is why it’s necessary to prepare ourselves for the fact that there are very serious revelations of egoism ahead of us that work against our connection of unity in a single Kli (vessel) in which we can reveal the Creator. That is, this is the egoism that is clearly directed against the Creator.
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From the Virtual Lesson 2/24/13

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Question: What is the difference between Haman, the desire to receive for himself, and Esther, also the desire to receive?

Answer: Esther is the desire to receive that operates secretly. It hides under the Light of Hassadim and is necessary only for drawing the Light of Hochma. In fact, the Light of Hochma gets into the Light of Hassadim as if ennobled at its expense: I want only to bestow! Like a guest who, in front of the master, does not want to receive anything for himself even though he has huge egoistic desires, but he restricts himself and only wants to please the master—to bestow.

How can he bestow? Then he discovers that he can do so only if he receives from the master. He begins to weigh how much he can receive. And the part that he can receive inside the Light of Hassadim for bestowal in order to please the master is called “Esther.”

Haman is the entire Kli (vessel), huge desires. It will never be fulfilled directly; the first restriction was done on it, and it will go to Esther. In the end, Esther brings her entire hidden desire under the Light of Hassadim that becomes clothed on the Light of Hochma. That is, by changing our intention to receive in order to bestow, we raise the Light of Hassadim.
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From the Virtual Lesson 2/24/13

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The festive days of Purim are very good and beneficial. These are the days when, in our world, there are good forces, the forces of unity, that can help us connect and resolve the problems.

We have just one problem: to find the network of forces between us, such a connection in which the Creator would be revealed. We do not need anything else! The most important thing for us is to reveal the Creator. This is our main task, and it can be solved only in the connection between us.

Once we have established a network of connection between ourselves, at least in its minimum quality, we immediately will feel the Creator.

That is why it is very good that we are getting together these days. Try to do all this! You cannot imagine how much we need this! Once the general force begins to be manifested between us, we will get a powerful weapon in our hands, a powerful means for correcting the world, and then we will begin working with it.

After all, we do not know where to go without this, what to control, and what to press. The manifestation of the Creator opens our eyes fully, unties our hands, and shows the path.
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From the Virtual Lesson 2/24/13

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Question: I have been studying Kabbalah for two years. How can I help my husband join the studies of Kabbalah if he refuses to do so?

Answer: You can help him only in one thing: Do not include him in anything and do not influence him in any way. Just let him feel that you are grateful to him for allowing you to study. Otherwise, it will be worse.

You cannot force a person by putting pressure on him. If he does not want to study, he doesn’t need to. The only thing that is required of him is that he does not prevent you from studying. This is enough to make him gradually move toward it himself. If you do not put pressure on him, you will see that he will gradually become interested in what you are studying. Give him a book that is far from Kabbalah but talks about our worldly problems so that he understands that this is not mysticism or something like that.

In general, act in a hidden manner a bit, like Queen Esther. It is not by chance that she symbolizes a special female feature, a special approach to the man from whom she cannot escape.

Men are more direct, but a woman can quietly and calmly incline him to what she desires.
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From the Virtual Lesson 2/24/13

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Question: Can we assess the balance of power in our world according to the balance of spiritual forces in the story of Purim? How are integral education and the science of Kabbalah reflected in this story?

Answer: Let’s have a look at the characters of Purim: The king, Mordecai, Haman, and Esther who ties them. All the threads are woven in her.

This is how a person’s inclinations are presented: the three lines and the Creator above, that is, knowledge and the aspiration for Keter above reason in the middle line. But in reality, all this is manifested due to the work on unification. That is why the events of Purim take place during the Babylonian exile.

Purim is the most important symbol.

The group of Abraham came from Babylon, realized a series of corrections, and then fell from its degree and descended to Babylon again to reveal the ultimate method of correction there.

With this method, the group builds a spiritual vessel again; however, it cannot stay in it because this vessel is much weaker than the previous one. It has a lot more limitations than the previous one because now the whole world needs to be corrected.

Then again, mixing takes place, but already on the basis of this vessel corrected in Babylon and adapted to the world.

And then the sons of Israel go out into the world to be together with it, and in our days they come to the same Babylon, to the same situation with Haman, Mordecai, and Ahasuerus.

Today, everything is ready, but we want to advance along a good path, above reason, and that is why we have to explain to everyone that salvation is in unity.

At the time, Haman wanted to use the state of the “sleep” of the sons of Israel: They did not maintain the correct connection between them and it provided an opportunity to destroy them, that is, to destroy spiritual aspiration and to make them work egoistically.

On the other hand, integral education tells us, no, we must begin to unite because in it lies the salvation of the world, both material and spiritual. We have no other option.

In the current conditions, we seemingly stand against the entire world, calling for reasonable consumption according to basic needs, for equality, for fair distribution, etc. We explain that the inflated banking sector and excessive production have no place in the world. Gradually understanding how we have to live in new conditions, humanity will get rid of all those invented activities, leaving only what is really necessary for normal existence.

This does not mean that we move back or reverse history. Of course, we can continue to develop various technologies but in a way so they are not frills, but real necessities for life.

For example, if production is automated, people will not have to work for even an hour a day. Well, let them be engaged in the main activity of their life—spiritual development. Let them do internal work on themselves.

We do not understand yet that the cutting-edge technologies create a new “virtual” world in which the desire to receive will exist quietly on the “animal” level because, after having risen to the human degree, you will cease to feel the “flavor” of previous desires. Similarly, we do not feel how our hair and nails grow, and how we trim them.

The feeling of this world will start to “fade,” and all our actions, all the connections, all the existence will be felt only in the relations between people. Only these relations will be based, not on the principle of “give and take,” not only in the physical interaction and not through exchange of goods, this level will recede to the background and disappear from perception, instead of it, we will increasingly feel the inner essence of what is happening, our true, deep relationships.

So, in our perception, we will move on to the next level, which does not exist in our world because it consists of the still, vegetative, and animate levels, and the human degree does not belong to it. If you attain it, all the other degrees are included in it and disappear as such. Then, our perception is suddenly transported in the world of forces, not the world of matter. It turns out that “matter” is the desire to receive, and not material images, like shadows, projected on the mirror of our consciousness.

Modern technologies provide good support to this perception. In the coming years we will see how people lose their usual activities and as if are left with nothing. Then, why are we needed at all?

We are needed, but not in the form of bodies. After all, the “I” is something eternal, immutable, and we rise to this degree by means of integral education, which allows us to move forward smoothly and comfortably and not under the barrage of blows that leave no other choice.

We cannot despair on this path. After all, our small spiritual effort many times exceeds all the material efforts. If we think a little bit more, “push” a little more in spiritual development, no bombs and missiles will be able to resist this, millions of haters will be powerless before this.

We have to be aware of the difference of potentials between the spiritual force and the material force. As Baal HaSulam writes that all the representatives of the “animate” level are equal one representative of the human degree. In essence, there is nothing to compare because the power between the degrees differs so much. We only need to go deeper inside, and you will see how we come to Purim…
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From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/25/13, Writings of Rabash

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The same process repeats on every level. Symbolic of this are the holidays that repeat every year, every new cycle. All this is revealed according to the Reshimot (spiritual genes) relative to those who receive, who clarify their Lights, sparks, and vessels and so go through these phases. So a person goes through 49 “gates of impurity” and reaches the 50^th gate of Bina. Then everything that seemed terrible to him changes. The upper level seemed impossible to reach and awful, but he is ready to accept it above reason in every way possible

Thus, by his efforts he goes through the 49 gates, and each time it seems that he cannot go through, but he somehow overcomes the obstacle and passes. The 50^th gate stops him, he cannot go through it, and then a prayer is born in him which helps him do that.

Esther symbolizes the double concealment of both the vessels of receiving and the vessels of bestowal. The corrections that Mordecai made all seem to lead to an opposite result which is meant to be of the special Light “Mor –Dror ” (pure myrrh). Thus we reach Purim in which the worst state of helplessness is revealed, but we try to attribute it to the Creator and are ready to work in bestowal, above the worst states, in order to flip them by rising above them and by revealing the opposite state. The Light dresses in all that and then the help from Above is revealed.

We should understand that it all depends on a person, while there is no action on the part of the upper. All the upper system already exists, but we awaken it: Partzufim, Abba, Ima, Arich Anpin, by raising our prayer, MAN, to ZON of Atzilut.

And when there is an “awakening from Above,” it is only if it is its turn in the cycle of our mutual actions according to our awakening below.
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From the 1^st part the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 2/21/13, Writings of Baal HaSulam

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Question: Can we say that the miracle of Purim symbolizes a certain exception to the absolute rules?

Answer: The slight illumination that appears in the image of Mordecai summons and leads to a great Light; we must first understand that the clarification is by the Light of Hochma and not by the Light of Hassadim. It is the Light of Hochma that separates the items “cutting off” one from the other like a knife: this is good and this is bad, this is one way and that is the other way.

Without Haman, this clarification would be impossible. But Haman has to come by Mordecai. Just as a flashlight is not enough in the dark, it must first be focused on the right spot, which means to prepare the deficiency in advance; Haman must be added to Mordecai so that it will be possible to manage him correctly.

As for the miracle of Purim, it is like the miracle of the exodus from Egypt; if there is no great Light that shines, we cannot connect the vessels. There has never been such a great Light as in Purim, a Light that connects all the ends into the “middle line” and then raises them to the first restriction.

Question: Why was it necessary to kill Haman?

Answer: Haman symbolizes the intention of “in order to receive.” Is it possible to leave this intention alive?

After all, it isn’t about the vessels of receiving which are eternal, but rather about the intention, about how to use Malchut: whether in an egoistic way or an altruistic way, with the intention of in order to receive or in order to bestow. Who will manage the King’s treasure, all of Malchut, in the King’s favor, Mordecai or Haman?

First all my vessels, all my desires, are egoistic “in order to receive” (↓). All this is called “Haman.” On the other hand, “Mordecai” is the intention of only in order to bestow (↑). So we have to change our vessels from one intention to another intention. By that we kill “Haman” and raise “Mordecai.”

At the same time the vessels remain the same, and we only change the “cover,” the “hat,” the intention, which is called the head of the Partzuf. The treasures, Malchut with all its 127 states, remain, but we pass only on the control from Haman to Mordecai.

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Now, after 2000 years of exile we return to the Tower of Babel, which in the meantime has grown even more. We have returned to the great grief of the ego, to the huge tower of human egoism that we have erected and find ourselves at a dead end not knowing what we should do with our lives.

Everything that we have built on the foundation of egoism doesn’t bring us any solutions: We are left with nothing; all we built in the world is crumbling and is overwhelmed by crisis.

Today, we should refer to the same solution that was found in ancient times, in the days of Abraham—unity. However, not only on group, which was then named “the people of Israel,” is supposed to unite, but rather the whole world has to finally connect and forever.

As an example, let’s use the Maccabean Revolt to which the holiday of Chanukah is dedicated. This story happened at the time of the Second Temple and its downfall. As always, the egoistic force, which at that time was called the “Greek power,” endangered the group, which was called “Israel”; the Greek power tried to separate Israel.

And in this category of “Greek authorities” were included many who were previously in the group of Israel. In other words, people who used to live in a spiritual level, fell en mass from the spiritual level to our material plane when they began to act according to their egoism instead of rising above it and connecting with others.

So the affects of global egoism, which appeared in the form of “Greeks” led to the destruction of the Temple.

History tells us that an uprising of Maccabees took place at that time; they began to fight this power. It was more of a spiritual war than a material combat. Their only goal was to bring their people to unity. By achieving unity, they attained victory: they managed to correct Jews who were following the Greeks and their customs, and the Greek invaders were forced to retreat.

In this way they were able to rebuild the Temple (Beit HaMikdash), then there is the building (Beit) of mutual love and bestowal, and so they achieved correction.

We need to learn from this history how to reach correction when we were in such a deep crisis. Today, the resolution is still the same. It differs from the previous situation only by the fact that at that time they had a group of Maccabees who were known to the entire nation as a distinct family, a dynasty of priests.

Today, there is nothing like that. We are in a total confusion and have no idea how to live further. It seems that we have a state of Israel on the land of Israel and have built the Israeli nation, but none of them correspond to the internal definition given by Abraham.

However, this situation can be corrected in an instant. Indeed, at the moment we join together in mutual guarantee, we will elicit the upper force according to the law of equivalence of form that will combine us into one whole. This is how we regain bliss and joy and feel powerful.

We become happy because we reveal the upper force that again reigns between them, and opens the spiritual world. After we connect even a little bit, just to modify our predisposition and direction, we immediately will feel that the upper force empowers us from the inside.

We don’t even have to fight any longer; the Creator will struggle for us, since it is the only force that previously was elevating our egoism and creating hardships, particularly to make us rise above them. If we try to elevate above them and make the slightest effort to achieve it, the upper force will complete the work for us. That’s why the Greeks simply left. This is what is called a “spiritual war.”
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalists Write” 12/4/12

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Today, we are under attack by a physical force; it is fierce and dangerous, posing a serious threat, and is fanatically committed to its goal. It demands from us the same kind of dedication to our goal, that is, our unity.

If we unite today (I hope it will happen), we will immediately feel that there is a spiritual power that supports us. On behalf of the upper governance, this force will abandon our adversaries, since It manifested Itself as an opposing force to the Creator.

Today, we are in a situation identical to the time of Maccabees. A shadow of a new Palestinian state is floating on the horizon; many European countries have already spoken in support of it. At the same time, there is no unity in the nation of Israel. Everybody defends their personal opinions, specifically right before the elections. We lack the upper force that supports us. However, It will descend to us only on the condition that we become united.

Consequently, the only solution that works for us is to return to our genuine principles: “Be as one man with one heart,” “All who belong to Israel are friends,” and “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” These principles are the conditions that bind our nation. If Israelis had this kind of attitude and treated each other this way, we would rehabilitate all physical forces as well as all sorts of negative spiritual impacts on us.

Everything depends on our internal organization and on how we implement the method of connection through integral education, learning how to unite, how to communicate, how to organize so as to act like a common single body. The moment we reach a more intimate connection, mutually reciprocal, we will immediately feel that the upper force supports us. All of a sudden, the darkness and black clouds that are pressing on us disappear, and we see the Light.

Hanukkah is a celebration of Light; there is a tradition of lighting candles by using one lit candle in the center that is called the shamash. Our task is to become the central candle for the whole world. The Israeli nation is a shamash that kindles all the other candles around the world.

It is said that Israel has to serve as the Light for the nations of the world and show them the Light that comes from those who have managed to annul their egoism and connect with each other. When they achieve this state, they gain a sensation of the Light, of the upper force, that can be transferred from one nation to another, from country to country. Everybody becomes ignited as candles!

Hanukkah is a special holiday relating solely to spirituality. It is not restricted by any religious limitations or prohibitions, since it is above all possible limitations. It is not subject to any religious or even national characteristics, as it symbolizes that all must come together and rise above their matter, to be similar to the Light, to a burning candle.

This is exactly what we need today. By achieving it, we would certainly change ourselves completely and the condition of the world in general. Actually, this is what the entire world anticipates from us.
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From KabTV’s “Kabbalists Write” 12/4/12

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