Question: It is said that Napoleon was passing through Paris with his retinue on the 9th of Av. This is the day when the First and Second Temples were destroyed and other tragedies of the Jewish people occurred. When Napoleon entered the Jewish quarter, he was surprised that the streets were empty. He entered the synagogue and saw it filled with people sitting on the floor. Napoleon asked the Rabbi: “What happened? Perhaps one of your leaders died or a pogrom occurred that I am unaware of?”

“Worse,” replied the Rabbi,” our Temple was destroyed, and we were expelled from our homeland.” “But that happened 1,800 years ago,” said Napoleon. “No,” said the Rabbi, “it happened just an hour ago.”

Could you please comment on such a response? It is as if history has not moved since the destruction of the Temple.

Answer: Yes. It is believed that time has stopped and we only live until it starts again and we begin to rebuild the Temple.

Question: So does this mean that all of this life is just waiting to return to the state of the Temple?

Answer: Yes, that is how it should be. The state of the Temple is the connection with the Creator. Every person could turn to the Creator and feel that he has connection, he could ask and receive answers. People were at that level. And then there was the destruction of the Temple, meaning the destruction of this connection, and that is it!

Question: Do we have a record that we were at this level?

Answer: Yes, there is a record. It is deeply hidden within us, but it manifests from time to time.

Question: So, we lost this direct connection with the Creator? And so, as it is said here, “lost life” as a result?

Answer: Yes, spiritual life.

Question: It is also said that Napoleon exclaimed: “If the Jews still mourn for their Temple and homeland, they will surely return to their land and rebuild the Temple.” What do you think of Napoleon’s response?

Answer: It is natural; the Temple must be rebuilt. The point is that people regain the connection with the Creator, a continuous, clear connection in their hearts.

Question: So then there is the question of what comes first starting to build the Temple or sensing this point within us?

Answer: Sensing it is most important. Gathering stones and building a structure with them is irrelevant.

Question: So everything will proceed automatically?

Answer: Even if it does not, it does not matter. People will start to feel that they are in unity with each other and are building a place for their upper force.

Question: Since we have touched on this question. Two Temples fell and we are talking about the Third Temple. It is said that the Third Temple will be built by the whole world. What does that mean?

Answer: The whole world will decide that it is necessary to achieve such a level among people—harmony, connection between them—when they are all united under the common force of the Creator.

Comment: Usually all unions happen after major tragedies.

My Response: Yes.

Question: Like the League of Nations after World War I, the UN after World War II. What needs to happen for people to suddenly come to this decision?

Answer: Apparently, the world must experience a serious shock. And after that, a desire for the revelation of the Creator will awaken in the nations. And it will end with the fact that indeed the Creator will be revealed in people, in the hearts of people. This will prompt them to connect with each other, and by being ready to connect with each other correctly, with kindness, in one heart, they will invoke the revelation of the Creator within them.

Question: And naturally, they will start to build the Third Temple?

Answer: That will be the Third Temple.

Question: Why is it said that the Third Temple must be built specifically in Jerusalem?

Answer: Because Jerusalem is such a place where all hopes, thoughts, and desires of people converge. So it is not a physical place.

Question: Then what will happen to the 9th of Av, on this day?

Answer: It will become a holiday.

Question: From a day of mourning it will become a holiday? Is this the right transition?

Answer: That is right. That is how it should be.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/8/24

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In the article “The Last Generation” Baal HaSulam described how the structures of the state will look when some people are at the stage of realizing evil, some at the stage of “do not harm others,” and someone is already in love for one’s neighbor.

He specifically describes how the social structures of society, the courts, and everything that exists in the state will look.

In the primary sources, it is said that this should first of all happen in the State of Israel, with the Jews, because this is the nation chosen for the purpose of unity and love for one’s neighbor back in ancient Babylon thousands of years ago. And this does not refer to nationality but to the aspiration of the soul.

That is, the last stage of spiritual development is the existence of the state of Israel for the whole world.

When we can create such a state structure and such emotional relationships between people here, then we will have some tools and we will be able to set an example to others.

And then the whole world will become a closed system that exists according to the rule “love your neighbor as yourself.”
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 5/9/24

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Question: Baal HaSulam writes that today, in a world where nuclear bombs exist, there is no other way to survive than to just start considering each other. We cannot openly use others anymore. Is this understanding not enough for us?

Answer: No, this requires consent and reshaping of each person and everyone together so that we all begin to move from an absolutely egoistic system of our world, our society, to an absolutely altruistic system.

In order for a person to begin to fight not with his own kind, but with his own ego, a great transformation must take place in him.

Question: Is it not enough for us to understand that our ego leads us nowhere?

Answer: No, that will not do anything. A person needs to realize the evil of his nature so much that he stops using it. Egoism must be revealed in him to such an extent that he sees that taking something from another is like death, thinking badly about another is like killing yourself.

Comment: But as I understand, nature itself or the upper mind cannot give us such a system; otherwise, we will not have freedom of choice and we will just be like robots.

My Response: Of course. Therefore, it will always be concealed.
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 5/9/24

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Question: Why were the people of Israel granted the Torah by the Creator?

Answer: Initially, the people of Israel are the most egoistic of all the nations of the world. They may not feel this, but by their internal nature, they are exactly that.

Therefore, they needed the Torah to correct themselves. Without the Torah, this is impossible to achieve. Thus, the people of Israel must come to correction first and thereby show the way to the rest of the nations of the world.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/26/24, Writings of Rabash “Concerning the Omer [Count]”

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After recognizing their egoistic nature, people come to the second stage: “That which you hate, do not do unto your friend.” This is already a qualitative change in a person when one understands that by harming another, one harms oneself.

Comment: We see that people in extreme situations, for example in war, can even give their lives for another let alone not do harm.

My Response: Yes, but these are still the first stages of getting out of egoism.

Question: Is it not enough to recognize the evil of our nature? Do we also need to understand that there must be some higher goal and higher values? What could they be? After all, there should always be two points.

Answer: The highest value lies in the absolute exit from egoism when everything a person does, he does for the sake of others and not for himself. This is one degree.

The second degree is his desire to become like the Creator. The Creator is an absolutely anti-egoistic system to which a person must rise, adhere, merge into it, and thus achieve his purpose: adhesion with the Creator.
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 5/9/24

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Question: The spiritual development of the State of Israel and the connection of the country of Israel with the whole world can be divided into five stages.

One of them is the awareness of the evil of our selfish nature. Do you think this is the first stage for further development?

Answer: Yes selfishness is our primordial nature, and we we cannot get out of it by ourselves. The only thing we can realize is its depravity, its doom for us, but nothing more.

Question: Baal HaSulam writes that our natural selfishness is the essence of every human being and it gives us a sense of self. As each develops their abilities, they are ready to enslave others, take over the whole world, and control it. Why did the Creator create mankind like this?

Answer: The Creator specially created humans this way so that in the end we would reveal our egoistic essence, want to change it, and start developing from selfishness to altruism consciously.

Therefore, our egoistic essence is the foundation from which we begin to grow. Thanks to it, we see who we are and do everything only for ourselves in our narrow animal egoism. From this point, we begin to rise.

There are several means by which we can rise a little above selfishness, explore it, and then change it.
We have been given the worst foundation, the worst condition on purpose, and we must rise to the opposite.
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 5/9/24

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Question: Baal HaSulam writes that a primitive person uses his egoistic nature without being ashamed of anything. A more developed person already feels some kind of shame and tries to use others in a veiled way.

But he gradually begins to realize that and is ashamed of his nature. He is looking for where he can somehow correct it until sparks of altruism appear in him.

Do you think that in our country, in Israel, we are already at a stage when people recognize the evil of their nature and understand that it separates us?

Answer: No way! This recognition can be reached only through the study of Kabbalistic sources and with their help a person can expose himself to the influence of the upper light located in them, i.e., under the influence of a special quality—the quality of bestowal, love, and connection with all humanity.

If a person works in order to attain these changes within him, then they occur in him. Then he begins to see that he cannot bear his present nature and is ready to rush into the future.
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From KabTV’s “Era of the Last Generation” 5/9/24

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Inna writes:

I cannot stand being disliked; I have been this way since childhood. I always do my best to be loved: I give gifts; I do everything I’m told. And here I see how my people are disliked. I have been living here for 30 years and I feel ready to give up everything just to be loved. But on the other hand, I understand perfectly well that you can’t buy love that way. So what should I do?

Answer: Look for ways to get closer to other people.

Question: They don’t want us to be here. What kind of heart do you want to open to them? They say, “Maybe we will love you, just so you are not here.”

Answer: No, we are not talking about that. We received this from the Creator, and we cannot give in.

Question: Then what actions can we make to be loved? If you and I both have that desire, what should we do?

Answer: Show them our love, and if they do not agree, we are ready for war.

Question: What does it mean to show them love without giving in?

Answer: That we love them in our hearts. But if they do not agree to reciprocate, then we will be forced to fight.

Comment: Hamas is still nearby, here next to us. There is Hezbollah.

My Response: We can show that we want peace, we want friendship. If you are strong, you can say that.

Question: Is this the law of the East?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So, we must be strong for this?

Answer: Yes! This comes first!

Question: Do we have to show them this strength, that we are strong?

Answer: Yes, we must.

Question: Once Jabotinsky wrote an article: “The Iron Wall.” He said then that they will not back down from getting us out of here unless we create an “iron wall.” They must understand that this is impossible.

Does this enter into a state of love for us? Is this the construction of an “iron wall” that makes it impossible to throw us out of here?

Answer: Yes, that is the priority. We need to understand that, on one hand, we must come to peace with them, to mutual understanding. And on the other hand, we must always think about our security and not giving them the opportunity to capture us, conquer us, and so on.

That is the psychology of our neighbors, and there is nothing difficult to figure out here. Whoever they are, if they are our neighbors, especially our neighbors, then they are always against us.

Question: And we must show our strength?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And at the same time show that we are ready for peace, for communication, and so on?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Are these two states even possible, that you show strength and the second, that you are ready for peace?

Answer: Of course.

Question: So what is our miscalculation? We even sent them money, supplied them with gas, and more.

Answer: None of that does anything.

Question: What will?

Answer: Only strength.

Question: And what about what you always say that we must internally love our neighbor as ourselves, and so on? Where do you attribute this: to strength or to some other part?

Answer: To strength.

Question: Is that strength?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/15/24

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Dear Michael Laitman,

I am 92 years old. I have been living in Israel for 34 years. I love this country, I love my people. My children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, all are here, no one has left.

Tell me, we have been celebrating Independence Day in Israel for 76 years. We have defended Israel in six wars. Today, we are at war again, and I see that beasts are against us. Hamas are beasts. In the north, there are Hezbollah terrorists. Iran will not leave us alone. There is such antisemitism all over the world! It is scary for a Jew to walk the streets. So many people want our country not to exist, and this worries me greatly.

Michael, tell me, will we be able to celebrate our independence in a year or in ten years? I am not thinking about myself when I ask you this question.

My Response: I understand you, and am very touched by your words. I think that we will still celebrate Israel Independence Day in such a way that it will be a holiday for the whole world. For the whole world!

We will achieve the point where the idea outlined in the Torah becomes the fundamental idea of the existence of humanity “love your neighbor as yourself” first and foremost.

Question: So are you saying that if the country lives by this law we will celebrate these holidays all the time?

Answer: Absolutely.

Comment: But tell me, is it possible that we could be expelled from here by force?

My Response: I do not think that we can be expelled from here. I do not think that difficult times lie ahead. Now we need to think not only about ourselves but also about the world: what we say to the world, what we need to show it, what we need to lead it to. This is how we will defend our independence.

Question: Should we also defend it militarily today?

Answer: Of course! Of course, we must.

Question: Have you no doubts about that?

Answer: No. For Israel, peace is a means to spread the idea of “love your neighbor as yourself” to humanity. We must not forget this and always behave in accordance with this principle.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/6/24

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Memorial Day and Independence Day follow right after each other because Memorial Day speaks about who we are and where these special people came from. It is said that the people of Israel do not belong to all other nations that arose naturally, but were created from a group that was gathered by one person, Abraham, the forefather.

These are people who have no other connection between them except their willingness to unite together for the sake of a common spiritual idea.

This idea is abstract, not material, and does not belong to this world, but we see that it holds the people of Israel together and does not allow them to dissolve among other nations. On the other hand, it opposes all the nations of the world and holds it more strongly than any other nation.

This idea is so strong that it gives the whole of humanity the foundations of culture, enlightenment, spirituality, and morality; it is such a strong influence that none of the most numerous nations could exert.

The influence of the nation of Israel continues to this day, and who knows how much more important it will become in the future. This phenomenon seems very strange and unique. And in fact, the people of Israel themselves and even more so the nations of the world do not know what they are really dealing with.

Memorial Day is not only in the memory of the people who gave their lives for the establishment of the State of Israel in our days. It is also dedicated to where these people and the state originated from, what the basis of its independence is, and why it is called a nation although it does not have the usual biological basis like all other nations.

We need to explore our roots based on their knowledge, realize our entire history, and honor the memory of the entire path we have gone through. We may understand what is happening to us today and where we are going.

Rambam writes in the book Yad Khazaka: “At the age of forty, Abraham knew the Creator and began to proclaim publicly to all the people that there is one Creator for the whole world, and in His name it is worth working. And he went and gathered people from city to city, from state to state, until he came to Eretz Canaan…

“And he informed each of them until they returned to the path of truth, and tens of thousands gathered around him. And these are the people of the house of Abraham. And he put this great principle into their hearts, and wrote books about it… And a people was formed in the world who knew the Creator.”

We see that a very special event happened: one man, forty years old, revealed the spiritual message and continued to spread it, and urged everyone who wanted to join him regardless of gender, race, nationality. Everyone who heard and accepted this idea joined Abraham’s group, and so “a nation was formed in the world who knew the Creator.”

This is the whole point of this idea: to bring together people who have a desire to know the Creator of the world. From this, we should understand our roots, our purpose, and the force that holds us together. It is on this basis that we unite as a nation.

Without attaining the Creator as the purpose of our existence, there is no need for the nation of Israel. In this case, we will not receive any opportunity from below in the material world nor permission and strength from above for existence, and we will not find any reason to be together.

Initially, the nation of Israel was formed on a spiritual basis, not on a biological commonality like all other nations who came from the same ancestral clan, one village, one territory. The nation of Israel unites completely different, opposite people. This has always been the case, and it will be so at the end of generations when everyone joins in this one goal of revealing the Creator.

These strange, unusual conditions relating to the nation of Israel are not like those under which any other nation exists. It is obvious that our history, laws, fate, and the forces acting on us must be completely different from all other nations. From this, we can understand what the reason for the emergence of the nation of Israel is, what its mission is, its basis, what forces are acting on us, and what our fate is.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/18/18, “Memorial Day & Independence Day”

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