Question: How should the nation of Israel living on the material level of this world participate in the general correction?

Answer: Together with correcting the spiritual Israel, we have to correct its material “hypostasis.” It is the result of the reincarnation of the souls of Israel, whereas the spiritual Israel is all those who have a point in the heart, a spiritual aspiration by which they join the process.

The difference between them lies in what they are drawn to: a person with a point in the heart is drawn to spirituality, whereas a person who does not have this point is not. Still, if a person without a point in the heart belongs to the nation of Israel (Yashar Kel, meaning those aimed straight to the Creator), then he is obligated to work on correction.

True, there is a principle stating that there is no coercion on the spiritual path. But nevertheless, this obligation is incumbent on Israel. The Torah says, “You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for Me.” And the time has come.

Of course, the responsibility of those members of Israel who have a point in the heart is different from the responsibility of those who do not have this point, who have not been awakened yet. However, this obligation is incumbent on everyone, and the external pressure of AHP, the nations of the world, is aimed precisely at making Galgalta ve Eynaim correct themselves. This pressure will only keep growing. The more we fall behind, the more AHP wants because egoism constantly grows and becomes more and more empty. That is why the pressure on Galgalta ve Eynaim will become stronger. That is how the nations indirectly incite Israel to accelerate its correction.

Therefore, people with a point in the heart, meaning the spiritual Israel, and just the Jews, the material Israel, have to actualize the correction upon themselves and attract the Light for AHP. You can’t do anything to change this fact because we are talking about a single vessel whose parts are interconnected in this way.

Question: Does this mean that two processes have to occur simultaneously?

Answer: I don’t see two processes occurring here. At the end of the “Introduction to The Book of Zohar,” Baal HaSulam writes about two parts of Israel: the internal and the external. The inner part are “the workers of the Creator,” those who desire to serve Him. They also divide into two parts: the inner part, those who wish to attain the intention for the sake of bestowal, and the external part, which makes material actions. Besides them, Israel also includes people who don’t know anything and aren’t interested in anything.

Similarly, the nations of the world also include two parts. The inner part wants to join us and belongs to Israel, even though it is called “Israel in the nations of the world.” And the external part is indifferent to this and feels only the troubles of this world. But we also have to awaken these people, so they will at least avoid making great mistakes in the future and will save themselves from annihilation and grave problems. That is how they join us.

In the end, correction is intended precisely for this external part—AHP. They are the goal of creation. The top priority is the will to enjoy, while Israel is not the goal of creation, but just its correction.

This is what our entire work has to be aimed at: correcting ourselves in order to bring correction to the world. This is the meaning of “a kingdom of priests.” We are servants, we serve the world.
From the lesson on 5/13/11, “A Discourse On Wisdom” by Ramchal

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Question: How do you envision the future of Israel?

Answer: What can Israel give to the world? Today it produces certain “know-hows,” computer and military products and technologies. All those things are nonsense.

The world is subconsciously waiting for Israel to give it only what Israel can deliver to it: the method of the revelation of the upper governing force. It is written in the Torah that Israel (Yashar Kel, meaning those aimed “straight to the Creator”) must be teaching the world how to connect with the Creator (Mamlechet Cohanim ve Goy Kadosh). Of our exports, this is the most important item.
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Question: I feel as if we are sitting at the bedside of a dying person, discussing what painkiller we should give him. Our priority is to engage the Light through studying. And yet, where Israel is concerned, we seem to be stuck.

Answer: Here, we receive blows in another form; therefore, we should approach people in a different way. We need to make them aware of what is going on in Europe and other parts of the world, while explaining to them how threatening these processes will be when they reach our country.

In Israel, they will manifest not in the economy collapsing but in pressure from outside, in problems with security. It is not about food and jobs; the reckoning will be done not at this level but at the level of our mission, our duty before the world. This is what we have to make people aware of.

However, at present, the nation is not ready for it in the slightest degree. Therefore, they will simply cover their ears and won’t even look at you. For now, at least they do not resent you. But if you start pushing them to take action, they will simply turn away from you. It is one thing “to join the good,” and it’s completely another matter to hear about troubles that obligate us to do something about them. “Who are you to tell us that, anyway?”

Many circles will be happy to see such turn of events and will want to crush you. On the other hand, while you are still talking about love, they have something to worry about.

Hence, we have to use a very fine approach in this case. Today, I don’t feel an impulse to make any drastic moves toward disseminating in Israel. It will only turn people away from us. For the time being, they are not willing and will not hear more. Unfortunately, this is what we are working with so far. By adding some “heat” to it, from good Samaritans, we will turn into moralists and preachers in their eyes.

We must take the path of love and good instead of forcing them into the mutual guarantee: “Let’s take care of, love, and unite with one another.” No posters with slogans: “Did you sign the guarantee?!” No, we desire to be guarantors for you.

We can’t approach this nation in any other way—only with love. Only if people begin to feel that circumstances are pressing them down will we be able to explain from where and why this pressure is put upon us.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/22/2011, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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The Torah, the method of correction, was revealed in ancient Babylon where desires emerged, both related and not related to correction. Since then, this method of correction has existed in humanity.

Why did only a small part of humanity learn it? In Babylon, it was absorbed by those who were drawn to it originally, those who by the law of equivalence of form felt that it was for them. Others took “a detour.”

The question here is not about any given nation, but about the entire world. Why doesn’t everyone find this method? Why don’t desires and intentions directed to correction manifest in all people?

To find the answer, we have to turn to the breaking of the vessels and see why everything happened that way. Some vessels relate to the receiving desires and others contain more of the giving desires. They were intermixed with each other, and as result, let’s say, 99 percent of all the vessels are unable to aspire to correction themselves. They demand the point directed straight to the Creator to pull them forward, to become the connecting link between them and the Light that Reforms.

Similarly, people with the point in the heart also need the connecting link: the books through which the Light is drawn. A “book” means revelation in Kabbalah. The book helps attract the Light to the group, meaning to the desire that needs to be united. Thus, on the spiritual path, the role of an “adaptor” is played by the teacher, the group, and the books. However, people without the preparatory base only suffer and need to be connected with those who by now are ready for development.

This order is the result of the breaking of the vessels. The fact is that the receiving vessels cannot correct themselves before the giving vessels, the Light of Bina, connect with them, meaning with Malchut. Only this combination between Bina and Malchut allows them to rise.

Some of the giving vessels are related to the world of Atzilut, to Galgalta ve Eynaim (GE). However, the vessels of the worlds of Beria, Yetzira, and Assiya are related to AHP (Awzen-Hotem-Peh). Because of the breaking, GE fell into AHP. By making corrections, we raise GE back up, and AHP rises if it adheres to GE. First, only the vessels of Galgalta ve Eynaim rise because Israel corrects itself. Then, it corrects AHP as well.

This is the order of correction. Initially, it is intended for AHP, and the goal is to correct it.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/21/11, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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Baal HaSulam, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah),” Item 5: We must first understand why the Torah was given specifically to the Israeli nation and not to all the peoples of the world equally. Is there, God forbid, nationalism involved here?

As we know, the Torah itself gives a negative answer to this question. It explains that Abraham, the forefather of the people of Israel, was a high priest in Ancient Babylon, among people who were far from knowing the reality of the Creator. He revealed the Kabbalistic methodology as if by chance, although obviously, he was already quite developed internally.

There were ten generations from Adam, the first man who revealed the spiritual world, until Noah and then another ten generations before Abraham. In fact, we are talking about the inner development of the points in the heart, the first of which was Adam. It is possible to imagine this process as concentric circles, radiating from the center outwards. The twentieth round of the development of desire is represented by Abraham.

Thus, Abraham already had a background, the internal preparatory base that was created initially from the degree of Adam. Abraham’s level was very high. While Adam revealed the Creator with a small receiving desire, Abraham revealed Him above the big egoistic desire that arose in Babylon. On one hand, he had the necessary base, and on the other, the burdening of the heart. As usual, one is consistent with the other.

As a result, Abraham was able to understand and develop the Kabbalistic methodology, while Adam, with a small vessel and a small Light which had not grown yet, could not develop, disclose, explain, and carry it to people.

Baal HaSulam explains the order of global development which is divided into three phases of two thousand years each: HBD (Hochma, Bina, Daat), HGT (Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet), and NHY (Netzah, Hod, Yesod). Although the clean vessels of the first Kabbalists are close to the Light, it’s impossible to reveal the method without big, fierce desires that demand greater Lights for their revelation in richness of detail.

Essentially, it’s clear to us that to reveal the method to a certain depth, one needs big desires, big egoism, against which big Light is revealed. Only then will we have the opportunity to present new things so they are understood.

That is why Abraham became the founder of the method of correction. It could not be described properly before him because there was nothing to correct yet. The conditions in Babylon became the basis. The point in the heart awakened in Abraham and in thousands of his students, and they headed to the land of Canaan, to the desire intended for correction, so that it could become the land of Israel in the future.

Babylon is a corrupted desire which reveals the part that can be corrected. Working on this part makes it the land of Canaan. Over time, the egoistic desire appears in it, and it turns into Egypt, then into the desert, and finally, into the land of Israel.
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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/21/11, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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Question: Why aren’t modern scientists discovering the essence of what is happening?

Answer: On the contrary, they are gradually digging out the essence. Many people are already discovering and writing that human society has to strive to unite. It is written, “Believe in the wisdom of the nations.” They have knowledge and they see that unity really is necessary. We simply don’t have any other choice. People can see this with their own eyes even without being on the spiritual path, without acquiring the method of correction.

Moreover, they will widely voice the need for unity themselves. We should only encourage this process with all our might.

But the most important thing that will be required of us is to let all the people know through all the possible means, using all the channels, that there is a method, a means. This is where the problem lies: How can we present this method to the world so it would take the medicine? How can we rewrite the entire science of Kabbalah in a way so people won’t turn away from it?

We have to act gradually: Now we aren’t talking about the Creator, the Torah, the commandments, and so on. We are only picking up the thought about unity and continuing it. We continue to explain more and more, until people’s understanding will undergo specific changes and most importantly, they will undergo inner development by means of the Light. Then new points in the heart will be revealed, and besides, the world will be able to realize that “Israel” is a function, a predestination. And suddenly, everyone will begin to interpret us differently.

For that we must gradually bring our part, the method of correction, to the people. They will talk about the crisis and the need to unite on their own. We must only explain how exactly that unity can be accomplished.

We feel pained by the inability to unite, as if the Creator, nature, is leading us to a dead-end just so we would kill each other. Just like in Ancient Babylon, we are standing before an invariable law. We hate one another and at the same time we totally, boundlessly depend on one another. So what should we do? My enemies are standing behind my back ready to kill me, but I am falling asleep in their arms like a baby. Is that possible?

Nature is leading us to a dead-end, a catastrophe. This is what we have to talk about with the world, clearly showing it that this is the best possible state in order to receive the method of correction.

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From the 5th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 6/21/11, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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Question: What has to happen so that the all of humanity will start embracing the method of correction?

Answer: Most people don’t yet understand where all the problems are coming from. It’s not about the government, unemployment, political and economic manipulations, or “backroom” intrigues. America’s pressure and cheap labor in China are merely the external side of the game, but people think that somebody in this world still has power over them, as though political leaders like Ahmadinejad, Obama, or Merkel can indeed determine anything.

What is the point in going into the streets to loudly claim something if it’s not working anyway? How many governments need to change to show us some use? We have to understand once and for all that changes may come only from Above, by the power of nature, and not by some ruler’s will. He is just the same as his people. What does he know? What can he possibly do in the global world where the well-being of every country depends on all the rest?

There is simple logic in it. There are more than 250 countries in the world. What can one prime minister do with a given country under the conditions of total interdependence? What options do they have in the common market? The global economy is governed by cruel laws, and it’s impossible to take a step to the right or left since everyone is tied to their own zone of influence. Is each nation’s leader entitled to a magic wand along with his office?

People hope for a change of power when, in fact, it’s only going to get worse, not because of certain leaders, but because they are looking in the wrong direction. People are yet to understand who is really in charge of the situation. If we don’t spread the wisdom of Kabbalah in the world, they will never know, while they will feel that it’s our fault. They are not aware of Kabbalah which we hide in our hands, but they will be pointing fingers only at us.

Then, as the era of Gog and Magog is described, the entire world will be making claims of us. First, there will be wars between the nations followed by their turning against Israel. It’s only natural since they are in conflict and have no idea what to do about it.

They will blame others until they will start to understand that everyone is in danger, everybody is desperate, but there is no salvation in anything. Where does this misfortune come from? Whose fault is it? No, it isn’t Obama’s, Ahmadinejad’s, Merkel’s or Sarcozy’s. They are not to blame; it’s only the Jews. How so? That’s how they feel.

It is a natural reaction of an anti-Semite: “It’s all your fault!” Frankly, are they that wrong? No, they aren’t. That is how it’s going to be if we don’t spread the method of correction at the right time and show the willingness to share it with the world.

We must act ahead of all their claims and be ready to respond to the world’s desire. We must apply the medicine before the illness becomes acute. Mind you, it’s not because we fear them, but because such is the will of the Creator who doesn’t want to see any people suffer.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/30/2011, “The Peace”

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Question: What do we celebrate during holiday Shavuot?

Answer: During Shavuot, we celebrate the giving of the Torah. It’s the day when all who are regarded as “Israel” (“Isra-El,” meaning “straight to the Creator”) were given the Torah, the method of self-realization through free will, rather than coming to the pre-programmed state of fulfillment under the impact of the Light pushing them to it.

On the contrary, they are able to see themselves, the entire reality, and even the Creator. Instead of Him doing it, they can decide that they truly desire to reach this goal, as if He wasn’t the one who supplied it.

We celebrate that we are able to understand, feel, and attain the upper force that works within us and can identify ourselves with its acts. Clearly, this upper force, the Creator, works either way. However, we attain how He works; we desire for Him to work on us, and even before He takes any action, we already strive toward Him. This is how love is measured.

Question: So, only with the giving of the Torah did we obtain free will, the freedom to accept the method and realize it willingly, whereas previously, we didn’t have any such free will, did we?

Answer: Correct. Hence, it is regarded as freedom from the angel of death, “being a free nation in our own country (our desire),” being free. What does such freedom entail? Now I am able to express my own view of the purpose of creation and our path.

Can you switch to another purpose? You can’t. Can you choose a different path? No. What is so unique about it then? I take my part in it; I make a decision; I choose this desire; I am present in this process. Otherwise, I’m not. The Creator gave us a chance to participate. This means I assert myself and my independence, which happens in the degree I identify myself with the Creator by becoming similar to Him. I am either a beast or a human.
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From the 1st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/29/2011, Shamati #40

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People with the point in the heart have received an understanding, means, and ability to help the world. We have to put into practice whatever we have received to realize ourselves one hundred percent.

We still have time: People are still looking for the cause of all the troubles and for an opportunity to improve the situation. But eventually people will understand that there isn’t a particular solution for their country because it is dependent upon the whole world. “What’s the point in gathering in the square? How will it help us? So I need to appeal to the entire world?” “Yes, you do. Let’s find together what we have overlooked here; let’s understand where help can come from.”

And then the nations will turn to us. The prophets write about this, talking about big suffering all over the world. It’s not local calamities anymore, but epidemics, natural disasters, and so on. All this is to press Israel, despite its seemingly small size on a global scale.

A global drama is unfolding in front of our eyes. Israel is still not in the position of its people having lost their jobs and necessary social services, such as health and national insurance. In the U.S., for example, a vast number of homeowners cannot pay their mortgages, while at the same time, their homes have depreciated and are valued at less than the amounts owed to their mortgage lenders.

The situation is bleak. People will see this better when the crisis becomes even more integral and undeniably global. It’s not a coincidence that the participants of the G8 who gathered in Deauville had a meaningless meeting.

I’m not making fun out of them; there is really nothing they can do. A great disaster has come, everyone understands this, and everyone is silent. And they can’t stop the meetings because they have to do something at least for show.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/30/2011, “The Peace”

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In order to receive the Light that reforms, the force that will make us similar to the upper force, the Creator, and that will return us to the source of goodness and abundance so we would become just as good, bestowing, and loving, we have to place ourselves in the right conditions.

How can I prove to myself and prepare myself to make the right request from the upper Light so it would influence me? Only through the environment. I don’t have any opportunity in our world to prove that I want to become bestowing and good unless I organize the right connection with the environment to the best of my ability.

That is why before and during the lesson, especially while reading The Book of Zohar, every one of us must constantly feel that he has an unceasing connection with others, that he is in a net of connection where he loses himself and only feels everyone together. He must try to feel with all his might that he does not have his own “I,” but there is only “WE.” This is called the assembly of the souls of Israel (Knesset Israel)—the unification of all those who aspire to reveal the Creator.

If they unite together in order to reveal Him, that means the broken souls desire to unite together and ascend through their request for unification to Malchut of the world of Atzilut. Malchut of the world of Atzilut takes these desires, which aspire to unite and make mutual efforts to unite, and raises this request to Zeir Anpin. He, in turn, works on this request, corrects them, and then all who participate in it acquire the force of mutual bestowal and begin to feel closer, more connected together. Thus, gradually, step by step, very slowly they reveal the net of connection between them. When this net attains its first realization, we begin to feel that we are on the first degree of the spiritual ladder.

Therefore, while reading The Book of Zohar we must constantly aspire only toward unity among us so inside of it we would reveal the form of our connection called “the Creator.” After all, the Creator is the form of connection among us.
From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/17/11, The Zohar

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