Entries in the 'Israel' Category

“How Israel Should Respond to Iran’s Nuclear Politics” (Times of Israel)

Michael Laitman, On The Times of Israel: “How Israel Should Respond to Iran’s Nuclear Politics

If there is one consensus among all the political parties in Israel, it is that a new nuclear deal between the US and its partners and Iran is bad for Israel. I do not dispute this view, but I think it misses a crucial point. First, we need to understand that Iran’s nuclear ambitions stem not only from a fanatical zeal to annihilate the Jewish state. More than religious fanaticism, it is politics. The Iranians are very clever and very well-grounded people. Their threats and their nuclear weaponization are political means to an end, which is to become a powerful player in the global arena. Therefore, even if they do have nuclear weapons, I doubt they will use it because it will hurt their interest; they will lose more than they will gain. They will pester us and hurt us in various ways, but they will not put themselves at risk.

Therefore, in terms of political strategy, Israel should do what it can to stall Iran’s progress as much as it can. At the same time, we must remember that Iran, too, will only go so far in its extremism.

But there is something more important than trying to prevent Iran from getting the A bomb. We need to understand our own role in the global scheme of things, and play our part. If we play it correctly, we will solve our problems without any wars or external conflicts.

The world is built in such a way that if you want the good to overpower the bad, you need to play by the rules that govern reality. You cannot make your own rules and expect to win. When it comes to playing by the rules that govern reality, we Jews have a crucial role, and this is the part that we must play.

The situation on the ground before us changes according to the way that we Jews relate to one another. The better we relate to one another, the better our situation will be. Better yet, the better we relate to one another, the better will be the situation of all of reality, not just our own, but in the entire world.

The first step toward doing this is to understand that we cannot destroy anything because all parts of reality are required in order for humanity to reach its goal. What is required, however, is for all the parts to connect to one another correctly.

A correct connection means that we relate to everything in reality that we regard as bad as an opportunity, as a call to increase the good so that it covers it. By bad and good I am referring to one thing only: bad means hatred and division between people, and good means unity and concern for one another. Therefore, for every bit of hate that we find among us, we make a joint effort to cover it with care, or as King Solomon said (Prov. 10:12), “Hate stirs up strife, and love will cover all crimes.”

We, Israel, must begin this special kind of work, which is currently nowhere to be found, and demonstrate how we transcend our negative feelings toward each other. We will be able to do this only if we elevate the value of unity and concern for one another above all other values. This is why Rabbi Akiva said that the all-inclusive rule of the Torah—our code of law—is “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Once we begin to work in this way, even before we actually establish a society that operates this way, by simply trying to raise mutual concern above mutual hatred, we will project a positive influence on the entire world.

The world’s eyes are always on Israel. Its opinion about us reflects our opinion of each other. Currently, we slander, despise, and detest each other, and the world feels likewise about us. We can proclaim that we are like everyone else, but it is undeniable that the world is always focused on us, and nothing we can do will change it. Since we are always at the center of attention, what we display is what the world thinks of us.

Therefore, if we resolve to rise above our hatred and nurture solidarity and unity instead of division and derision, the world will notice right away and recognize and appreciate our effort. If we make that effort, the bad example we are setting now will change into an example of unity, solidarity, and mutual concern.

In that case, the fact that the world is watching us will work in its favor and in ours. Just as currently the world is following our bad example and is therefore full of strife, if we unite, it will learn from our example and cover the crimes with love, to use the words of King Solomon, the wisest of all men.

In conclusion, Iran is not our problem. Neither are Hezbollah, Hamas, or the Palestinian Authority. If we make peace with one another and cultivate inner unity and solidarity above all our different views and perspectives, everyone will appreciate and welcome our existence as a model country for the world.
[301983]

What Can Keep a Person in Israel?

560Question: What should keep a Jew in Israel? Suppose I am repatriating to Israel from South America or Europe. And here I come across absolutely absurd things: a very expensive life, threats to security, an absurd political system, in general, a lot of things that are not really difficult, but simply incomprehensible. What should keep a person in this land?

Answer: An inner feeling when he senses that there is no other place for him on Earth.

Actually, this is how I found the answer for myself: “There is nothing good here, there is no reason to remain here, but I have no other place.”

Question: How is this thought, this feeling supposed to come? Is it like a person comes out of the plane, inhales the air and understands?

Answer: No. It is given gradually. But generally a person very quickly begins to feel “This place is for me.”

Question: Does he need to make any effort to understand this?

Answer: I don’t think so. I think that for a person who is looking for some kind of mutuality with other people this is a pretty good environment, because in other countries it is cold, polite, and nothing more.

Question: Should there be any internal prerequisites for this?

Answer: Naturally. A person feels that he needs support; he is looking for it.
[301706]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalah Express” 8/5/22

Related Material:
Who Seeks to Come to the Land of Israel?
Connection With The Land Of Israel
Unconscious Craving For The Land Of Israel

Israel Should Pursue a Closed-Door Policy

294.2In the News (ABC News): Nine European countries said Tuesday that they have seen ‘no substantial evidence’ to support Israel’s allegations that six Palestinian civil society groups are terrorist organizations and would not change their policies on supporting the groups.

“The rare joint statement was a major rebuke of Israel, which backlisted the groups as terrorist organizations last October but has provided little evidence to support its allegations. The rights groups denied the allegations and accused Israel of escalating a long-standing crackdown on Palestinian opposition to its decades-long military rule. …

“’Accusations of terrorism or links to terrorist groups must always be treated with the utmost seriousness,’ read the statement, issued by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.

“’No substantial information was received from Israel that would justify reviewing our policy towards the six Palestinian NGOs on the basis of the Israeli decision to designate these NGOs as “terrorist organizations”’ it said.”

Question: Support for creating two states for two peoples was also expressed. How do you feel about the two states for two peoples?

Answer: Very negatively! The nation we are going to be neighbors with has not shown itself to be a friendly country we can exist side by side with in any way.

Question: So they should first act as a neighbor and only then can we be neighbors?

Answer: Absolutely. Let’s do this: Given the current situation, within the framework that we have today, let’s establish normal normative relations between us. Then we can gradually reach the state where we can be neighbors.

In the meantime, nothing can be done.

Comment: As long as everyone claims our land, as long as there is terrorism…

My Response: Yes. This is a well-known tactic of theirs; piece by piece they keep slicing away until they end up swallowing you.

Question: Why is Europe so idealistic?

Answer: They are not idealistic! Nor democratic! They have only one thing, acting in order to pass things off as good deeds. None of it really matters to them at all!

Question: What is important to them? For us not to exist?

Answer: Of course. For them, the existence of Israel is unpleasant to say the least, it is even unbearable! It is choking them.

Question: Are you talking about those civilized countries?

Answer: About all those civilized countries.

Comment: By the way, France, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands are there.

My Response: Those are the most anti-Semitic countries.

Question: Why do they have it in for us so much?

Answer: No reason. The fact that we are Jews. That we are Israel. That we are smart. That we can build our own country and win wars.

Question: What should our actions be in this case?

Answer: Not to give an inch. No way!

Question: What policy should we stick to?

Answer: A closed door policy. That is all! You want to kiss the closed door? Please, come and kiss it. We do not negotiate about this.

We have no one to negotiate with! Because we see no partners! You are not partners. You come from the outside and want to force us to sign a contract with those whom you impose on us. We have been in this state for quite a long time—decades! This can be characterized as a positional war.

We seem to be in constant war. The fact is: these are not partners and those are not neighbors. Such is the state we are in. Therefore, we will not listen to these, and we will separate ourselves from those.

Unfortunately, this is our fate until we change. Until we change ourselves in accordance with the upper laws, until we become one good nation for ourselves! Until we come to Kol Yisrael Haverim and we become friends close to each other—absolutely all Jews.

Question: Will this be imparted to our neighbors?

Answer: No, we are not forcing anyone. This is how we want to live ourselves. Let us first build ourselves as a nation where everything exists according to the principle of goodness and mutual kindness.

And until we build this, we will be separate. Then, we will see. If you want to join us by following the same principle, no problem.

Comment: So, what you are saying is that the seed of everything is the kind, warm relations of brothers and sisters. It will be the people of Israel. That is what it should be. And only then, if they want to, neighbors will become neighbors and eventually come join us. The world will become…

My Response: “All around Jerusalem,” as they say. Jerusalem becomes the capital of the world. It is said about this: if the nation follows this, Jerusalem shines on the whole world. All these beautiful countries have to understand and agree to this.

Comment: And we ourselves should agree.

My Response: Yes. But they do it in order to extract billions for themselves, create dozens more commissions, hide behind them, and keep criticizing.

Question: Are they doing this in order to make money and earn dividends on it?

Answer: Exclusively! They are normal basic egoists.
[301469]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/18/22

Related Material:
The Struggle With Terrorism – A Postponement Of Death
Money Is At The Core Of The Israeli Palestinian Conflict
Plan Of Separation From The Palestinian Authority

Where Is it Good for Jews to Live?

427.02Question: The European Association conducted a study of the parameters of Jewish communities’ life in 12 European countries. Security, the fight against anti-Semitism, religious freedom, government support for Jewish communities, and provision of cultural development were studied. Based on these and many other data, they have built a rating system and determined that Belgium and Poland were the most unfavorable countries in Europe for Jews to live in, and Italy and Hungary were the most favorable.

What do you think about the research on where it is good for Jews to live?

Answer: I think the researchers are right to study this. We need to study this. There are so many different objects and subjects of study, so this one will be there too. In general, I have nothing to say. I do not encounter such phenomena at all. Therefore, I do not know.

Comment: But surely all research must have some specific purpose.

My Response: Of course, there is a purpose. They want to paint the map of Europe in different colors, where it is easier for Jews, where it is harder, and so on because there are always such contrasting conditions regarding Jews.

Question: Do Jews generally have a place in Europe or not?

Answer: I think there is no place for Jews anywhere. This is why they live like this.

Comment: What about America or exotic countries? Nowadays Jews live even in those countries with which they historically had no contact at all.

My Response: I have been to Latin America many times and met Jews there. There are huge communities there. I personally think there are problems everywhere, but it depends on how much the Jews living there can put up with them.

Question: What is the spiritual root of the dispersion of Jews around the world? There is a time when they disperse and there is a time when they should gather. What is happening now?

Answer: I think that soon we will come to a state where Jews will be gathering. This period has not yet come. It is in dynamic equilibrium. Thus, everything is still ahead.
[301669]
From KabTV’s “Kabbalah Express” 8/5/22

Related Material:
The Time Has Come To Pack Their Bags
Terrorist Attacks In France: An Attempt On Its Foundations
The Nations Of The World Are Telling The Jews: “Do Your Job!”

Overcome Internal Disagreements

281.02The Creator is the Nature surrounding us and nothing more. Write “Nature” instead of the Creator, but still with a capital letter, so as not to attribute it to something purely mechanistic.

The Creator is the upper degree, the upper light, and the quality of bestowal in relation to us, who represents the quality of reception. That is, everything is based on very simple concepts that are close to each of us.

The only thing is that we are all very confused. After all, the attitude to Kabbalah throughout the centuries has been deliberately confusing and impeding. We are also confused by all kinds of external customs, items, and objects,  as well as the appearance of religious Jews, as if it has anything to do with Kabbalah. In general, all this is so heaped up that it is, of course, very difficult for a person to understand.

I can see how hard it is for my students in different countries of the world who belong to different religions and races. I see what a huge amount of work they are doing internally and will have to do for a long time.

A person brought up in a different religion who belongs to a different race and thinks in a completely different way, with an opposite mentality and a different language, and one must overcome all this. This quality of the soul is necessary for its correction and not that it is in a more favorable or less favorable state relative to others.

This is how we are separated and distant from each other. I see that many of my students from all over the world would really like to be here next to us. Just tell them it is possible and that a thousand people will come here at once. But they have to overcome huge problems within themselves, big internal disagreements.

When a person suppresses something in himself, since the truth has not yet been fully revealed in him, he is in a kind of semi-compromising state: “Well, what can I do? I will not pay attention to this, as if I don’t see it, do not understand it, and do not observe it, as if this is not in me. I will leave this aside.” It is very hard. But that is the way to live.

This is very similar to how Jews live among other nations. Exactly the same feeling: “We are opposite to them, but we want to be like that. Can we or can’t we? How do they treat us and how should we treat them?” All this omission, this kind of special attitude, is exactly what a person who comes to study Kabbalah goes through.

I understand this. There are many problems. The world is still in such a transitional state.
[301592]
From KabTV’s “I Got a Call. Criticism of Kabbalah” 2/20/13

Related Material:
When Will This Iron Wall Fall?
Interest in a Critical Approach
Complaints Against A Teacher

Do We Want to Go Back to Socialism?

552.02Comment: Prices have risen in Israel for the first time in a long time! Basic bread has increased by 36%, and there have been sharp jumps in the price of eggs, dairy products, water, oil, energy, and so on.

It should not be like this—these are essential things. The state should give away all the money, open everything in order not to increase prices for these items.

My Response: We need to steal less! This is my conclusion. Essential products cannot become more expensive under any circumstances.

Question: How to work with this?

Answer: There is nothing to work with regarding price increases! Rising prices are a consequence; this is how they settle down everything.

Comment: Not only them; it is a consequence of world politics, everything that is happening around.

My Response: It does not matter. We are a small country and we could somehow balance ourselves in a different way.

After all, we have a semi-socialist economy. Therefore, we could increase the cost of all kinds of luxury items. By doing this, we would be keeping the price of bread, milk, eggs and other staples at the same level.

It is better to raise prices for what is not so necessary for a person and keep the prices of necessities at the level they were.

Question: This means that in our previous life, in principle, everything was right. Bread, 12 kopecks; sausage, 2.20. I even remember the prices! So, the message was in principle correct then, socialist??

Answer: Yes.

Question: Do you want to go back to socialism?

Answer: No, of course not!

Question: The country, in theory, as you say, should be semi-socialist?

Answer: Not socialist, just caring about society. This is not socialism, but concern for the nation.

Question: And how can we make this concern for the nation the main thing, and not another parliament seat?

Answer: You will not find anyone like that. The environment is such that any person who climbs up becomes like everyone else.

Question: Is it possible for a person not to become like everyone else? What should he do?

Answer: To do this, it is necessary to transform a person into a Kabbalist who would have a connection with spirituality, who would feel what he lives for and why people should exist. And because of it, he would move them forward.

Question: That is, the one who would like to break away from egoism?

Answer: Yes. It is all very difficult, but we will come to it anyway. When? This is not yet obvious.
[301406]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/18/22

Related Material:
‘Israel’s Price Hikes Expose Its Many “Inner Countries”'(Times of Israel)
New Life 801 – From Capitalism To Socialism
The Blind Leading The Blind

The World Was Created By The Letter “Bet”

548.03Question: It is written in the Torah that the world was created with the letter “Bet.” Why?

Answer: The Torah begins with the word “Bereshit” – “in the beginning.”

The letter “Bet” with which this word begins is a special letter. And although it has a hidden meaning of its outline, our world, which is formed by it, is the second world. After all, the Gematria of the letter “Bet” is two.

A person must imagine that he is a created creation and must ascend to the Creator. At first glance, these are very simple things, but inside there are many internal hidden symbols and forces.
[301308]
From KabTV’s “Spiritual States” 7/26/22

Related Material:
Symbols On The Banners Of Israel
Jerusalem: A Symbol Of Unity
Intricacies of the Hebrew Language

Iran, Jews, and the Atomic Bomb

294.2

In the News (Israel National News): “The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Saturday warned that the establishment of a joint defense alliance between Israel and the Arab states in response to Iran’s UAV attacks, and announced that the move would only exacerbate instability in the region. ‘This will be a catalyst for tension and divisiveness,’ a spokesman for the ministry said. …

“A new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran is increasing the rate of its uranium enrichment with the help of advanced machines installed in an underground complex. According to Reuters, Western diplomats have already been warned that these machines will allow Iran to construct a nuclear warhead faster than before.”

Question: Iran is very successful at blackmailing everyone. Israel is Iran’s main target. What are our actions, can you tell?

Answer: Our actions are to think about our own security, about ties with neighboring countries, and to strengthen all this. But, in principle, this is Iran’s politics. All its weapons, all its conversations go only to politics. Otherwise, it will not feel like the primary country of the world. And it won’t go beyond talking, because it will lose.

Question: Do you think it weighs everything so rationally?

Answer: It weighs very much so! Iranians are very smart, cautious, and balanced. Therefore, I am calm in this regard. They will annoy you from all sides, harm you, but they themselves will not get under attack. It is necessary to behave with them in such a way as to leave them at this level and no more. But they on their own will not do more.

You can’t destroy anything. The world is arranged in such a way that if you want to do good, to destroy evil, you must do it only in accordance with the upper law of nature.

It depends on our Jewish attitude to the world, to ourselves, and to the Creator. We should think correctly about how to balance the world so that the Creator manifests in everything within it; so that there would be as little evil as possible, as much good as possible, and we strive for the good to triumph. And in this way we will do everything possible to reveal the Creator in this world.

Question: How can you make good triumph without destroying evil?

Answer: We cannot destroy anything—neither evil nor good. We can only tie them together in such a way that good always covers evil. And evil will grow and good will grow even more above it.

Question: How do we respond to this accumulation of evil, this hatred of us, and nuclear weapons?

Answer: This is all so that we grow in goodness and develop kindness.

“Good” is love for one’s neighbor, the connection between us, first of all, amongst us in Israel, then between us all over the world, and then all over the world.

If we are connected by good ties or “love your neighbor as yourself” in Israel, then by this we affect the whole world. The nations of the world will see us like this and want to be like us.

This is the law of nature! If we treat each other correctly, then automatically proceeding from this, the nations of the world will feel that we are filled with kindness to each other and to them as well. It will work on everyone.

That is, the warmth we generate here and send to others, begins to envelop the whole world.

Question: Do you still single out this nation as essentially the core of all problems and precisely the core of everything?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: This is what they accuse us of being “The chosen people.” They feel like they are the chosen people all the time. We’ve talked about it more than once, but it’s still going on. I see in the comments how they write: “Jews again. It’s them again.”

My Response: They also stutter about us in every second word! So where does it come from? Why is it in them?

Question: Then how come that these 0.3%, whose land is exactly the same, who are just an eye of a needle, are somehow always in the news?

Answer: This is the navel of the earth.

Question: Do you think there is a spiritual root here?

Answer: Of course! That’s the way it is.

And where do we see this? We see this constantly throughout history. There is no need to prove it or philosophize.

Being the chosen ones is chosen for being responsible for correcting the world. If Jews do not do this, then people hate them, beat them, and push them forward to correction.

Comment: How can we calm Iran down?

Answer: Only if we unite among ourselves and show the whole world the method of connection.Then they will calm down. Very simple!
[301143]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/11/22

Related Material:
“Will WW3 Start Because The Tensions Of Israel And Iran?” (Quora)
“What It Takes To Make Peace With Iran” (Times Of Israel)
Terrorism Ruins Islam’s Image

Will the US Really Support Israel?

448.8Question: Biden and Lapid signed the Jerusalem Declaration whereby the United States and Israel affirmed strategic cooperation and the US committed to enduring support of Israel’s security. The main point is both countries commitment not to allow Iran to have nuclear weapons. How much value is there to these declarations?

Answer: Zero.

Question: That is, in “hour-x” everyone will still do what is beneficial to them?

Answer: Circumstances change, everything changes.

Question: Why do we sign these declarations?

Answer: It is politics, it is a game. They live by it.

Question: Do you think that both sides understand that this is all fiction?

Answer: Yes. Sometimes it delays advancement toward one direction or the other for a while, but no more than that.

Question: So Biden or someone else will not say: “I gave my word, so I have to keep it”?

Answer: Such words and generally such communications are not embraced.

Question: And when will the declaration be 100% fulfilled?

Answer: When you hold the opposite side by the throat.

Question: Are you talking about our world today? We have to hold someone by the throat and then he will do what he signed up for?

Answer: Sure.

Comment: In general, ideally two parties sign the declaration…

My Response: It is only if people and countries are under the influence of the upper force, then they perform. Then they do not need any extraneous restrictions or pressures.

Question: And what is it? Do they perform out of shame, out of some duty? When they are under the upper force, then they are, so to say, obliged to keep their word?

Answer: They are obliged because they determine their future by this. I am not signing with the opposite side, with some people, but with the upper force. That is all. So there are no other conversations here anymore.

Question: In that case, what works more, respect for the upper force or fear?

Answer: Respect that comes from the fear that I am under His power in an absolute sense. This is the most reliable. And I cannot break my word. It is the same as if I am killing myself, the people, the state, the world.

The declaration will work only if we are afraid of the Creator. Otherwise, nothing will work.
[301438]
From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 7/18/22

Related Material:
The Era Of Israel Begins
The United States Is Losing Interest In The Middle East
The War From The Middle East Will Move Through The World

“His Legacy Is Our Duty” (Times of Israel)

Michael Laitman, On The Times of Israel: “His Legacy Is Our Duty

This month, eighty-two years ago, one of the founders of the State of Israel, Ze’ev Jabotinsky, passed away. Jabotinsky was a gifted poet, a celebrated author, and an eloquent orator. But most of all, he was a Zionist leader who had fought his entire life for the establishment of a Jewish state in the historic land of Israel.

From my nation’s elders I did hear,

As He formed every nation and tribe

He vowed that in this land here,

A Hebrew nation will reside…

These lines from the poem A City of Peace reflect Jabotinsky’s passion for Zionism, which he felt was the only way to prevent a Jewish slaughter and annihilation in Europe. He was right about the slaughter, but he did not manage to bring European Jewry into the land of Israel in time.

Jabotinsky was a contemporary of my teacher’s father, the great kabbalist Baal HaSulam. Both were born in Eastern Europe, and both believed that the vocation of the Jews is to come to the land of Israel. In that sense, not only Baal HaSulam, but all the kabbalists were Zionists, as was my teacher, RABASH, Baal HaSulam’s firstborn son and successor.

However, where Zionism sees its end goal in the physical return of the people of Israel to the land of Israel, kabbalists see it as merely the beginning of the fulfillment of Israel’s calling, and not the zenith of it, but rather the basis for the realization of Israel’s vocation: the unity of the world.

As just said, RABASH, Baal HaSulam, and all the kabbalists were avid Zionists. Baal HaSulam even had the words “State of Israel” etched on his Sabbath knife, with which he would slice the bread on the ceremonial reception of the Sabbath. But their Zionism was not an aspiration for physical relocation from Europe to Palestine; it was a yearning to see the people of Israel unite as one, and the world unites along with it. The physical return, therefore, was a significant step toward it, but only a step, and certainly not the ultimate goal.

Jabotinsky’s dream was to see the Jewish people dwelling in the historic land of Israel. I believe that if the people of Israel focus on their unity, and intend for it to be a model for humanity, a proof that people who hate each other from the bottom of their hearts can unite as one man with one heart, then Israel’s unity will spread throughout the world without any borders whatsoever.

When kabbalists speak of “the final correction,” they mean the final correction of hatred, the abolition of enmity, and the establishment of complete and undying love among all people. In such a state, no borders are needed, and no borders are erected between people or nations.

Like my teachers before me, I am a Zionist. Like my teachers before me, my Zionism is dedicated to the unity of our nation as a model for the unity of the world. Like my teachers before me, I believe that the place where the people of Israel can unite and become that model of solidarity and love of others is here in the land of our fathers, the land of Israel, where Rabbi Akiva said, “Love your neighbor as yourself, this is the overarching rule.”

Jabotinsky’s anniversary is a good time to reflect on Zionism, what it means for us today, and what it should mean. Today, Zionism is disintegrating. To many people, the very word has become derogatory. However, if people only knew the real meaning behind the word, the love for all of humanity that was the cause of the establishment of the Israeli nation, I believe that they will change their attitude.

That said, unless we Jews rekindle the spirit of unity that is the basis of our nation, no one will understand what Zionism is about or why we need a Jewish state. We, Israelis, through our choice of unity or division, determine our own fate. Zionism must be taught at all the schools and educational institutions, but it must be the complete version of it, the one that sees its end in the unity of the world, and the unity of Israel as a means to the final end. If we do this, we will have no enemies to worry about. If we do not do this, nothing will prevent Israel’s decline.
[301689]