Entries in the 'Israel' Category

The Twelve Tribes Of The Common Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Light emanates from the East, for there the sun rises. From there comes the eastern wind, the most harmful of all winds. From the west comes snow, hail, heat, frost, and heavy rains.

The South, a source of blessing of dew and rain. is the source of the blessed dew and rain. From the North is sent “darkness” and malicious forces.

(The Torah, “Bamidbar”)

The location of the banners of the camps of the Jews corresponds to the four sides of the Light.

A unified system called the common soul consists of twelve parts (the twelve tribes) that relate to and are connected with each other in accordance with the four sides of the world that signify the four parts – Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin and Malchut.

And the banners must stand against each other:

Bina – Hochma

Malchut – Zeir Anpin

Each part consists of 3 lines, a total of 12 parts (12 tribes). Their location represents the pairing of the vessel of the common soul.

The Torah specifies which banner they have to be under. The banner symbolizes the private purpose of each camp that has its own characteristics and properties. Therefore, the one common goal is expressed in them in a slightly different focus, from a different angle.

As an example, a human body consists of various organs. Each in their own way senses the body’s movements, supports, etc. In the same way, thanks to the variety of properties and the way they connect among each other, the properties of the general force, the Creator are shown.

The property of bestowal shows up as a result of huge egoistic differences. Bestowal is as absolute like a mother’s love: Do whatever you want; I still love you.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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The Hierarchy Of The Collective Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Who in the spiritual hierarchy can obtain the closest proximity to the property of bestowal?

Answer: Spirituality is the world of forces. Everything there is about forces.

The closest to the property of bestowal are Cohens (priests) who represent the most internal part of the general soul; then come Levites who gather around the Cohens, and then the people of Israel follows.

Erev Rav (the mixed multitude) is behind the Cloud of Glory (the Surrounding Light). Even though they make all efforts to grab as much as they can for their own sake, they cannot get inside it because they do not accept the property of bestowal, to work for the Creator’s sake, for the benefit of others.

This is a quantitative and qualitative balance of forces in a single system called “the common soul.”
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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French Attempt To Combat Anti-Semitism And Racism

Laitman_727In the News (from www.unian.net): “France will spend 100 million Euros in a fight against racism and anti-Semitism. This was announced by Prime Minister Manuel Valls. ‘Racism, anti-Semitism, hatred towards Muslims, foreigners and homophobia are increasing unimaginably,’ he said.

“One of the proposals to combat these phenomena is to make racism and anti-Semitism as an aggravating circumstance of any crime or offense.

“Other proposals relate primarily to the Internet – through the creation of a state body that will monitor the language of hatred, as well as specific educational activities in schools.”

My Comment: The manifestation of hatred will force a struggle against this phenomenon, but to no avail. Because the problem is not in the eradication of hatred; it cannot be eliminated, but in building a level of respect and unity above it towards real love, according to the principle, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “Love covers all transgressions.”

Evil will not disappear; rather overcoming it is done through even greater connection. We build such an attitude gradually, together, through the Upper Light, the Surrounding Light. The wisdom of Kabbalah explains how this will be realized. All the other attempts will fail.
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The Difference Between The Secular And Religious Approach

Laitman_631_4Question: What is the difference between the religious and secular approach to life? For example, I consider myself a secular person, but I always have an internal conflict, and it is difficult to figure out where in me the secular person ends and the religious one begins. The same division exists in the entire Israeli society.

According to the latest poll: 50% of the [Israeli] population are completely secular, 17% observe the traditions but do not consider themselves religious, 13% observe traditions and consider themselves religious, 12% are religious and 8% are Orthodox religious.

Answer: Secular people believe that the world is governed by laws of nature and there is nothing else except what we see and discover through science. The secular approach to life means that the world should be taken such as it is, according to one’s feelings, without relying on any upper forces, destiny, life after death. Any unsolved phenomena are no more than a figment of our imagination and fantasy.

The secular approach is the real approach. Inside it are many varieties that define man’s relationship to himself and society, but they are not to the level of the difference between the religious and secular approach.

The religious approach is based on the belief in the upper force that created the world and puts us in the conditions that we have to perform. If we fulfill all the wishes of the upper force, we deserve the award, if we do not fulfill them, we will be punished.

There are different kinds of relationships with the upper force, of attitudes to reward and punishment, to a person’s participation in this and one’s freedom of choice. But the point is that religious people take into account the existence of the upper force, a higher design, program, the purpose of creation. Thus, the center of creation is no longer the human being, but the Upper Force, the Creator.

Because people believe that the Creator arranges and organizes everything in response to one’s behavior, they have to continuously relate their lives to the Upper Force. That is, they think that one is dependent not on the laws of blind nature, but on the Upper will. Therefore, it is necessary to pray to the Upper, ask, be ashamed, repent for one’s past actions.

Many different religions and beliefs once existed and vanished or are still existing today Religion has a great influence on the world and on humanity. During the past two thousand years, humanity has evolved under the influence of religion, first after the destruction of the Second Temple Judaism arose, and then from it came Christianity and Islam.

All these religions are fighting among themselves, and there are very complex relationships between them. Each religion has many movements: Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christianity, Shiite and Sunni in Islam, and many streams of Judaism.

Every synagogue in Israel is somehow different from the rest. Not to mention the conflict between the secular and religious who are not able to organize their lives so as not to interfere with each other but want to impose their own view on others.

I do not want to judge who is right and who is wrong. But such a conflict exists only in Israel. For example, in the US or in Europe there is no conflict between religious and secular people. If you are a Jew, no one cares whether you attend the synagogue on Saturdays or only on major holidays.

The Jews abroad feel they belong to one nation. In Israel, there is a conflict, because religion is not separated from the state and is involved in a power struggle. Thus, it appears into the area of general interest, where our desires clash. Over the years, this conflict increases because everyone believes that the opposite side wants to grab a piece from it.

This confrontation in society is gaining strength, leading to such hatred and division, which had never existed among the people of Israel. And I do not think that it is the result of a different approach to the world. It’s just a struggle for power in our lives—desires of some to control others and the state so that it serves their interests, be that of the secular or religious community.

The struggle is for the state, for power, for the state treasury, and using it for their own benefit.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” 5/21/15

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A Stream Of Goodness

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe weekly chapter of the Torah “Bambidar” tells us how the Israeli army was built. We learn how they gathered around the Tabernacle and what was displayed on the flags of each camp, etc.

This speaks about the building of the general soul: about the forces, intentions, and attributes of which it is made. The structure of the general soul reminds us of the structure of an atom, where only those parts that can withstand the radiation of the nucleus, the radiation of bestowal, can be close to the nucleus. It is according to this principle that the camps gather and are classified.

It says that it is forbidden to come close to the Tabernacle since one can die (“the stranger that approaches will die”). This means that your vessels, your desires, may not be able to hold on, and so become egoistic, causing you to die spiritually.

Comment: But all of humanity accepts these words as rigid laws and a threat of physical death.

Answer: The laws of nature are indeed rigid because the system that governs the world is very tough and uncompromising, but everyone still follows the stream of goodness.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/31/14

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Israel: From The First Settlers To The Present Day

laitman_742_02Question: Why did the first settlers in Israel lose their main internal essence of the mutual relations between them and just accepted socialism with all its implications and mistakes?

Answer: The fact is that in Israel there was mutual exclusion between Kabbalists and traditional Judaism, between Rav Kook and the religious people. Rav Kook called for unity, for the Light that is reflected in his writings, while the other Jewish leaders continued to educate their followers according to the principles laid down in exile.

They didn’t welcome the spiritual revival of the nation according to the principle of “love thy neighbor as thyself.” So far this condition has not been met because they are awaiting the arrival of the Messiah, that is, some force, some special circumstances, that will reveal the love of others in us. They don’t realize that this is only possible due to our own internal work, as the wisdom of Kabbalah tells us. From the Kabbalistic perspective it is totally wrong to tie the fulfillment of the law of “love thy neighbor as thyself” to some upper illumination or to a certain person or leader.

After the first wave of settlers in Israel, there was a delimitation between Kabbalah and Judaism. After all, the masses that came to Israel totally rejected religion, or clung to its ordinary corporeal frameworks. The number of Kabbalists among them, was very small and no one listened to them. Moreover, they were afraid to speak in public, afraid they would create a situation that would force them to leave the country.

It soon became clear who belonged to which camp among the settlers that caused the division among society according to political, economic, spiritual, and physical principles. This led to great problems. None of the famous Kabbalists who lived here were able to speak openly about spiritual correction. Rav Kook for example, used a language that could not be understood; therefore, everyone regarded him as an ordinary ideologue, not a Kabbalist.

The great Kabbalist, Baal HaSulam tried to publish a paper to reach the people, but he wasn’t able to achieve anything; the paper was shut down under the accusation of pro-communist ideas. After all, if you pursue the principle of love thy neighbor as thyself, it is perceived as a communistic principle.

Thus a quarter of a century after the first Zionist congress in Basel, the situation in Israel is that we have to revive everything all over again today. There are many people and movements opposed to the Kabbalistic approach of creating one nation since each one is trying to grab a “piece” for himself to become a tiny king in his own community.

We see how divided and torn apart modern Judaism is; a huge confrontation exists between the religious and non-religious factions of society. The entire nation is divided into many sectors.

I think that today we can speak openly about the wisdom of Kabbalah and with an appeal for the love of others, as a consequence of the deep frustration people are now beginning to feel and realize as a result of the cumulative experience gained over 150 years of development.

Therefore, we have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of the first settlers and the founders of the country to call for practical actions based on our internal constitution of love thy neighbor as thyself.
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From KabTV’s “About Our Life” 5/7/15

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Who Has A Soul?

laitman_572_03Question: Does every person have a soul, and is it eternal?

Answer: Only a person who builds his soul has one. Building a soul means attaining the level of love of others. To the extent that I attain the love of others, I feel the love of others in my corrected desire, a feeling that is called the Upper Light. The desire with the Light inside it that is absolutely aimed at bestowal and love of others is called a soul.

The Light is the feeling of the upper force, of the Creator, inside the desire. The desire that is aimed at love of others and the Light that fills it, which means what I feel in my desire by aiming at love of others is called a soul. The vessel of the soul is the desire and the filling of the desire is the Upper Light. This is how we discover the soul. Thus it is clear that initially no one has a soul, but everyone can acquire it if he corrects his attitude to others. Our life is arranged so that eventually everyone will attain his soul no matter what.

If we speak about the nation that will attain it first, the nation of Israel is intended to reach the attainment of the soul first. Now in our generation everyone can do it. This is the reason that the wisdom of Kabbalah is revealed, the method that tells us how to attain the soul out of the egoistic desire, how to change the desire for the benefit of others according to the principle “love thy friend as thyself.” When the whole Israeli nation begins to engage in it and attains that level, the state that is called a soul, all the nations of the world will be able to do the same too. Whatever the Israeli nation attains will also flow unto them. All the problems and the corruption that have lately been revealed in Israel are because we should have started to correct our soul long ago but we are lagging behind.
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From the Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 5/10/15

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We Must Not Allow Nazism To Take Over The World!

Laitman_200_01Baal HaSulam, “The Last Generation”: It is a wonder of nature—what happened to the Germans who were considered one of the most civilized nations and suddenly turned into savages, the worst of most primitive peoples that ever existed. Moreover, Hitler was elected by a majority.

The process of human evolution is not consistent with our rational logic. The German people were the most developed nation in Europe and actually in the whole world; they were considered the most highly educated nation that brought the world enlightened kings, advanced technology, industry, classical music, science, and philosophy.

All this came from Germany and it was actually this highly developed nation that instead of highly cultured people turned into barbaric savages that burned books and only wanted power. This nation changed so dramatically.

The world mistakenly thinks that Nazism was solely a product of Germany; whereas, it is the result of democracy and socialism that remained without religion, morality, and a world court. In fact, all the nations are thus equal and there is no hope that the Nazis will die out with the victory of the allies because tomorrow the Anglo-Saxons, for example, will adopt Nazism because they too live in the world of the democrats and the Nazis.

The Nazi regime is one of the egoistic evolutionary phases of humanity that we cannot prevent. If we continue to develop egoistically, there will certainly be fascist regimes in each country, in every nation according to its level of development.

Although the French suffered greatly due to the Germans during the war, there could be a fascist regime in France too. We already see that the leaders of the extremist right nationalist parties like Mary la Pen are already part of the government.

The same thing happens everywhere, no matter which country or nation. Nazism we definitely be one of the social structures if we don’t start working on the unity of our nation in order to reach adhesion with the Creator. This is the only way we can prevent the uprise of fascist Nazi regimes in all countries.

If we don’t, fascism will take over everywhere. There is no way of preventing it. Countries greatly affected by Nazi Germany will become even the same or even worse!

“Fascio” means unity, a bundle. If we don’t want the fascist regime to follow capitalism as we witnessed in Germany, we have to make sure that the unity they are aiming at will not be egoistic, but rather for the force of bestowal. We only need to change the direction.

It is clear that nations are yearning for internal unity. We will soon see how fascist regimes are taking over the world if we don’t manage to bring them the Light that Reforms through our dissemination, which will immediately change this process.

Thanks to this we can prevent the process that leads to the victory of Nazism in the world and to a third and even a fourth world war. Instead we can rise directly to unity and correction.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/28/14, Lesson on Topic: Holocaust Memorial Day

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The Promised Land In The Desert

 Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: It is said that to inherit the land requires a lot of preparation. What is this preparation?

Answer: The land of Israel is that same Babylon or Egypt, but corrected. In the beginning there was no land of Israel, only the land of Canaan. There is no land of Israel without the nation of Israel. The inheritance of the land of Israel is when you take the desires of Babylon, the desires of the Pharaoh, that are discovered as cruel, terrible, and egoistic, put them to work, and transform them for the sake of bestowal.

And the corrected desires are called the land of Israel because they are directed for the sake of bestowal, straight to the Creator. If I am in the desire to receive that is called Egypt, under the control of Pharaoh, and yearn to reach the state that is for the sake of bestowal, to reach the state of love the other as yourself, then this is called that I want to escape Egypt.

I rise above those egoistic desires that are called Egypt because when I am within them, I can never correct them. Thus, I rise above them, detach from them, and am able to use them in such a way that I correct them. The correction of these desires is such that I detach from them and don’t want to be influenced by them.

This work of rising above the desires to receive are called the forty years of wandering in the Sinai Desert. And after I process and transform these desires and can already work with them for the sake of bestowal, then that is called Egypt, which at the beginning turned into the Sinai Desert and now turned from the Sinai Desert into the land of Israel.

These are very accurate specifications. One only needs to learn how to interpret them correctly, and then everything becomes very simple.
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From Preparation to the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/23/14

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The Torah As The Law Of Love

laitman_549_02Every person is created with an egoistic desire, but in addition to it, we are given the Torah, which can turn this evil desire into a good one. The desire remains, but, instead of using it for our own benefit, we begin to use it for the good of others.

This revolution in the use of one’s desire can be performed with a tool called the Torah, the Reforming Light. Studying my egoistic desire, I discover that it consists of 613 parts, 613 desires, that together comprise my evil inclination.

I need to correct all these desires, from the lightest to the heaviest, in order to stop using them for myself and start using them for the benefit of others. I must make a complete revolution in this. It is impossible to correct them halfway in order to make it beneficial for me and for you.

Therefore it is said that a person must perform 613 commandments. This is about 613 corrections of my desire from evil to good with respect to the other. As a result of these corrections, I come to love, fulfilling the main law of the Torah.

It is this method of correction that the people of Israel once received. For this, we are given the Torah. The task of the people of Israel is to implement this method, setting an example for the entire world and becoming a Light to the nations.

Therefore, the Torah contains so many warnings. Our entire fate depends on the fulfillment of this condition of love for one’s friend as for oneself. Let’s see whether we are approaching this realization or not.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” 5/3/15

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