Question: Michael! As far as I understand, God’s decree to come to know yourselves only applies to the people of Israel? Here’s the quote: “This means that every man from the nation of Israel is guaranteed to ultimately acquire all the wonderful attainments with which the Creator intended to please every creature in the Thought of Creation.” Why then are you preaching Kabbalah around the world? Am I missing something?

Answer: After the exile from the spiritual level (which happened in the beginning of our era), when Kabbalists attained the Light and mixed with the nations of the world over a period of two thousand years, the sparks of that Light, which was present only in the souls of Kabbalists, have also spread into the souls of the nations of the world, as it is said: “Israel has gone into exile so as to unite with the souls of the nations of the world.” This mixing takes place through existence on the egoistic level, which is common for all nations, and not through mixed marriage as some may think.

Today, this mixing of egoism and the sparks has been completed, and all that’s left for us to do is correct the egoism of every person who has a spark of Light, and ascend to the level of the Creator. This happens gradually, in those who already ask themselves the question about the meaning of life. These are the ones called “Israel,” which stems from the words “Yashar” – straight, and “El” – the Creator, that is, “Straight to the Creator,” according to their aspiration. Obviously this no longer has anything to do with nationality.

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News Story: Leviev: Zionism is bankrupt because of ‘new American religion’

Businessman Lev Leviev, one of the world’s most notable diamond dealers who recently moved to London from Israel, declared that Zionism has gone bankrupt. In an interview with the newspaper Haaretz, Leviev stated that life in today’s Israel is losing its Jewish substance. Leviev, who also owns a chain of private schools in Israel and abroad, also came forward with his criticism of secular Israeli education.

My Response: This is all true. Zionism’s bankruptcy was predetermined long before it began, just like how all of humanity’s endeavors have been carried out without understanding history’s plan. The Jews were given the right to return to the land of Israel on condition (from Above) that they return to their spiritual root (the spiritual land of Israel), to the qualities of bestowal and love, like it was before the ruin of the Second Temple and the exile. As Baal HaSulam writes, in the article, “A Speech in Celebration of the Conclusion of The Zohar”: “The Creator gave us this land, but this only gives us the opportunity to receive it through purifying ourselves (from egoism).”

If the Jews don’t use this opportunity to ascend spiritually, but instead wish to simply exist in Israel, on “the holy land,” like all other nations, then “the land will reject you.” Moreover, there’s not much time left for us to either begin the correction or be expelled from here once again.

Unfortunately, many people don’t understand the Creator’s plan, thinking that a modern religious upbringing is sufficient, that it educates the Jewish nation and provides the knowledge necessary to fulfill its Creator-given mission.

Baal HaSulam writes, in the article, “The Revelation of Godliness (Matan Torah)”: “‘Love thy neighbor as thyself’ – Rabbi Akiva says: ‘it is a great rule in the Torah.’” This is what the main goal of education should be. Knowledge of the nation’s customs and culture should be secondary. The sages say: “Why should God mind whether one slaughters at the throat or at the neck?” After all, the commandments were given to cleanse people. “Cleansing” means cleansing our desires from egoism – this is the goal of performing commandments. Egoistic desires comprise a person’s whole life, and such desires are what make people opposite from the Creator, whose nature is absolute altruism. Moreover, it is decreed that we need to attain adhesion with the Creator, that is, complete equivalence with Him.

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