Entries in the 'Israel Today' Category

Memorial Day and Israel Independence Day

963.4Why is Memorial Day observed right before Independence Day? Everything emanates from the upper roots, and in the spiritual work, it is impossible to come to unity, to good spiritual force without rising above the force of evil, overcoming difficulties, problems, and the burdening of the heart.

The advantage of light is only attained from darkness. If we want to advance toward truth, then we must be prepared for the revelation of darkness. Then “there will be evening,” there will be night, and after “there will be morning—one day.”

Evening, night, darkness with all its inherent attributes are inseparable parts of the day. Therefore, Memorial Day is traditionally observed right before Israel Independence Day.

Independence Day symbolizes the coming of the light and the great correction. But before that, we have to uncover in what darkness we exist amidst evil and war, and we are obligated to fight and win this battle in order to come to Independence Day.

“Love covers all crimes.” Since we as created beings attain everything only from the opposite, there must be Memorial Day before Independence Day. Everything we have been through was intentionally sent from above, and all sufferings have a purpose and explanation; therefore, we must perceive them as necessary.

But if through our unity we reveal this necessity in a positive way, then we do not even need to suffer from darkness, misfortunes, and woes. If we are ready for darkness, we accelerate it and can pass through the darkness as a necessary part of our development so that evening and morning become one day, meaning night and darkness are included in the day, in the light.

Kabbalists understand that everything that happens is a part of the development process and therefore justify it as sent by the one upper force that brings us good in every state.

If we try, we will discover that there is only good and no evil. The Angel of Death will turn into a holy angel. With correct preparation, we can go through all difficulties with understanding and agree with them because in both darkness and light we will reveal the Creator’s good attitude toward us.

There are no days of mourning or states of sorrow because everything comes together at the end of correction: all the darkness, misfortunes, and woes, along with the emerging light above them in common unity and love.

If we ourselves seek deficiencies, broken desires, as necessary tools for revealing the Creator in order to bring Him contentment even before problems and woes are revealed, then we rejoice in the revealed sinners.

After all, concealed sinners certainly exist as a result of complete shattering, and we therefore rejoice in all identified shortcomings and regret that we have not yet revealed them all.

If we uncover evil in the light of day, then “darkness shines as light.” Therefore, there is no darkness; everything depends on my attitude.

If I uncover discrepancies between myself and my friend in order to eliminate this discrepancy by uniting above it and covering it with love, then I rejoice in the manifestation of shortcomings no less than in their correction. All work depends on the correct preparation in the group.

Memorial Day is a mournful day. But from the bitter experiences of the past, we need to understand that we can prepare ourselves for the revelation of evil in such a way that we will not see evil! Evil will only be revealed internally as a deficiency in our connection, and not as evil in this world, war, and the hatred of enemies. As it is said: “Cast your eye on them, they become a pile of bones.”

We need to understand that our enemies have power, and they can cause us a lot of trouble. After all, through them, the Creator acts and pushes us toward correction. We will have to seek the path of correction, and it lies only in our unity within the people of Israel through whom the light will flow into the world.

Let’s try, even if just for a month, let’s declare a “truce” within the state of Israel: let’s not quarrel with each other, let’s not hate one another, let’s try to become closer to each other. The love of Israel will protect us from enemies.

Let’s try to establish this love among us, let’s remember what our mothers told us: “Be good children, stop quarreling, be friends with each other!”

Let’s see what happens after a month of such an experiment. Then it will be easier for us to continue because habit will become second nature. Let’s try and see how the world’s attitude toward Israel changes, how our stocks rise on the stock exchange, how our army strengthens, how our children become better, how the number of accidents on the roads decreases and the number of divorces decreases—everything will start to improve.

Let’s declare a month of unity and then check the statistics: what happens to the people of Israel when they are not in internal discord.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/7/19, “Memorial Day & Independence Day”

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We Should Celebrate Independence

294.2Mark writes:

I want to ask about Israel Independence Day. Today, there is so much negativity said about Israel, and there is so much pessimism, doubt, bitterness, and tragedy in the country. Dear Michael, say something encouraging, something uplifting on our Independence Day. People will listen to you, many listen to you.

My Response: I hope that those who listen to me and hear me, hear my approval of our celebration of Independence Day. It does not matter how it was established even though there are many questions here.

I believe it is a necessary holiday. No one can cancel it. There are many who do not welcome it because it is not a religious holiday.

Comment: But it is known that your teacher, Baal HaSulam, the teacher of teachers, a great Kabbalist, celebrated this day. He even raised the “holy” knife on Shabbat that he used to cut the Shabbat Challah, and on it was written: Medinat Yisrael, which means the State of Israel. This was a challenge for Orthodox Jews. He did it. So, did he recognize and fully support this holiday?

My Response: Yes.

Question: How should it be preserved?

Answer: We do not need to preserve it. We just need to constantly restore it. Because as long as we exist, we are obliged to fight to celebrate this day once a year precisely because the people decided that this is their independence and it must be marked.

Question: You said the word “fight.” Does that mean we have to fight for it? Can it be that we finally reach a point where this day…?

Answer: No, that cannot be.

Question: Will it always be through a struggle?

Answer: As long as our world is opposed to the spiritual world.

Question: In your opinion, what does Israel Independence Day mean for the world? For us, it is like our security, our freedom. But for the world, what is it?

Answer: For the world, Israel’s independence is a fundamental date marking the transformation of the world from the ancient world to the modern world, and from a world where Jews existed as oppressed, persecuted, and pressured people to a world where we can exist proudly in our own country.

Question: You just said that this is supposed to be for the Jews. Or did you actually say that it is a holiday for the world too?

Answer: It means a lot to the world too because it is precisely thanks to the Jews, thanks to Israel, and thanks to our independence that we can continue our existence in a way that allows the world to exist.

Question: So do we give something to the world?

Answer: It is not that we give something; we hold the world upon us.

Question: Does this tiny dot that is barely visible, like a pinhole, hold the world on itself and is the center of the world?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Why do you say this so confidently?

Answer: Because it symbolizes that piece of the world that strives to strengthen this world, to make everyone equal and worthy.

Question: And is this Israel?

Answer: This is Israel, of course. Its goal is to make the world for everyone.

Question: The existence of Israel is intended specifically for the world?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Then will this be accepted by the world?

Answer: Then the world will accept this.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 5/6/24

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The Task of the People of Israel

269Question: What is the function of the nations of the world when the people of Israel fulfill their correction?

Answer: In relation to the nations of the world, the people of Israel are like the first nine Sefirot in relation to Malchut.
That is, they work with each other, connect, and internally correct themselves, but their main task is to prepare everything for working with the last Sefira Malchut. The nations of the world at this time are practically not correcting anything.

I am not talking about our movement, about those who join it. There were people who came from the Greeks, from the Macedonians, from nations very distant from Judaism and Kabbalah. They made a huge contribution to the dissemination and study of Kabbalah.

There are even people who lived two or three thousand years ago mentioned in our sources as great Kabbalists.
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From the 2nd part of  the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 5/6/24, “The Holocaust Remembrance Day“

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Why Did Iran Really Attack Israel?

294.2Question: Persians are an ancient people, Iranians. Why do they always want to destroy us? We have a long and varied history with them.

It started with King Cyrus, who released the people from captivity in Babylon and said, “Go to your homeland and build the Temple.” Everything was fine after that, but now we are constantly on the brink of a major war with them. Mostly, they instigate, but don’t especially take direct actions. Apart from these recent events: they launched drones, missiles at us. There was a lot, and mostly, thank God, they didn’t reach their target. Do they really want to destroy us or not?

Answer: What they want doesn’t really matter. Many want that. Everyone wants it! I don’t think they seriously hope to win a conflict with us. It’s more for show.

Question: Who wants it more, the ayatollahs or the people? If we can divide it like that.

Answer: I think the leadership.

Question: So you believe the people don’t have a deep, intense hatred?

Answer: No.

Question: What is your personal attitude toward Iranians? How do you feel about them?

Answer: Friendly.

Comment: In general, our relations with them have always developed differently, but in many ways they were very good in the 50s, 60s, even in the early 70s.

My Response: Yes.

Question: We built oil bases and cities there. They came here. Ben-Gurion went there, to Tehran. But at some point, almost eveyrones’ relationship with us starts deteriorating.

What is the turning point, this upheaval?

Answer: I believe it is from above, it is not our or their psychology’s fault. I believe it is from above. The Creator just needs to push us toward an upper goal.

Question: So He orchestrates these conflicts?

Answer: Yes.

Question: So you see it all as the Creator’s play?

Answer: Of course.

Question: In everything?

Answer: Absolutely!

Question: In everything that happens in the Middle East?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Toward us? His game?

Answer: Of course, to correct us, to make us correct ourselves. That is what we must do, and I think we are obligated and will do it.

Comment: It seems that until we come to the point of what we need to correct in ourselves, He won’t be satisfied. It will continue.

My Response: Naturally!

Question: So will it get stronger and stronger, more and more?

Answer: There is no need to even discuss that, it must happen.

Question: How are we not correct in His eyes? What makes us bad in His eyes?

Answer: In the eyes of the whole world we are not corrected, and we are not right, and everyone has some special claim against us.

In principle, if we speak at a higher level, we do not reach the level necessary for our development.

Comment: But we don’t know what that is. We’re like children it seems.

My Response: That does not matter. That does not absolve a person from duty, responsibility.

Question: So we need to first understand what we need to correct within ourselves. Right? And agree to it?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Who will tell us about this?

Answer: The Creator.

Question: And how does He do that—by speaking? Right now He only sends enemies against us, so to speak.

Answer: He wants us to become His people.

Question: What does that mean?

Answer: It means doing what He desires.

Question: What does He desire?

Answer: He wants us to show an example to all nations of the world of how everyone should be.

Question: How should that be?

Answer: With open hearts, love, and embracing everyone. Show everyone what the Creator expects from us and from creation in general. We must do all this ourselves and now.

Question: Is this our task? The task of this nation?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Can others do this without us?

Answer: No, no one! This is all entrusted to us.

Question: Then will it start spreading along the chain to the world and so on?

Answer: Let’s see how it goes. Yes.

Question: What if we don’t hear this? Naturally our nature is egoistic after all. So if I have a bad relationship with someone, if I don’t love someone, I push someone away. And you say: “You must love them, open your heart to them.” What if I continue to fight with my neighbor? Then will the war continue?

Answer: Yes it will until I am convinced that I need to seek another way of interacting with others. We are guilty before the world for holding the secret of creation, the secret of correction, within us.

Question: Which is this connection with others, with neighbors?

Answer: Yes.

Question: This simple formula—my connection with my neighbor—is the secret of creation? Is that what you’re saying? Open your heart and love them, despite everything.

Answer: Yes.

Question: I see. And are we constantly being pushed toward this?

Answer: We ourselves say that this is what the Creator desires. So if He desires it, let’s do it. Well! It doesn’t work.

Question: Why doesn’t it work? In principle, it sounds very beautiful.

Answer: It doesn’t work because we don’t want to turn to Him to teach us, to help, to push.

Comment: Right now, our natural response to all our enemies is to strengthen our army, the country’s security, and so on. And you say we need to…

My Response: We need to strengthen the connection between us and show the world that this is the path to a good future. And then all these games won’t make sense at all.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 4/15/24

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963.5

Comment: I have a friend. He is 40 years younger than me, but is a very close friend of mine. He is currently fighting in Gaza—he is a paratrooper. From time to time he listens to our broadcasts. He left me a message on WhatsApp and asked me to ask you a question. Generally, his feeling is close to the feeling of all those who are at war.

Here is what he says: “We have become different, there has been a shift in thinking. There are 300,000 of us who have fought and are fighting, and we do not just talk about national unity, we really want it.

Whoever has not experienced what unity is like will not understand. It is when your brothers are next to you, and you can calmly give your life for them. We are all different, and we are brothers.

Then we come back to civilian life and nothing has changed there. Nothing! The same false patriotism in the Knesset, on television, the same shouts in the streets, in traffic jams. And it turns out that we are returning to the same country as it was before October 7th before the war.

There are many of us, a million with our families, those who really want unity. We are a force! This is happening for the first time ever. This cannot be missed! What to do?”

These are indeed a million people who are completely involved in this. It is like a call to some movement.

My Response: This should be a socio-political movement specifically of those who have fought.

Question: Specifically those who have felt what unity is like?

Answer: Yes, typically, such people are the ones who create new movements.

Question: What advice do you have about where to start? Something step by step. They have this desire, they are all passionate about it. The war is still going on. It is still unknown how long it will last. And they do not want to see this disorder, the instability that is here. They want to feel unity. They have felt what it is like and they want to live like that!

Answer: They want to live like that because there is a lack of an idea in our life.

Comment: Exactly! They have been captivated by this idea of unity. He feels brothers! He knows what mutual guarantee is. From the heart, not just with words.

My Response: My hands drop when I look at what is happening and when I think about them.

Comment: This is the country’s gold reserve. Probably the most precious thing that has been created during the entire existence of the State of Israel! How can we not squander this precious thing? If you could hear how he talks! He says this choking. He left a voice message on WhatsApp.

My Response: I believe that the only thing we have is to create a new Israel from these guys. That is all. Exactly from them.

Question: So must there be some will from the politicians to meet the guys like that? Or should there be the will of the people for these guys to replace all the old folks, replace all the politicians?

Answer: I think we would find all this among these guys.

Question: Would we find both politicians and everyone else among them?

Answer: Yes, we should not bring anyone from the old guard, from the outside. We must not. Look at what they babble on television!

Question: Yes, that is why there is this outrage among these guys that you come back home and it is like you are returning to pre-war times with demonstrations and everything. So do we need to build a new country from them?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Who will let them into this structure? Or should they themselves create such a movement; what do you think?

Answer: They should create such a movement themselves, socially and politically. They all need to come together and outline a clear plan of action.

Question: Do they have the mind for this?

Answer: I do not know, it is very difficult. Because they have to stand up to our “wise” politicians.

Question: Yes, and they are very wise to just take and play everything like that. Under the carpet, as they say.

So, is all this wisdom of a politician and wisdom of an economist largely unnecessary? The wisdom of a Knesset member…

Answer: No, only mutual connection is needed.

Question: And then wisdom will come?

Answer: Then everything will come.

Question: So if they carry this flag of unity further and further, then specialists in economics, diplomacy, and politics will be born here, right? From their movement, they will be able to put forward such guys?

Answer: Yes.

Question: And professionalism, years, experience is not important here?

Answer: Nothing.

Question: Do you attach such importance to simply this state of unity, which is the basis for everything?Can the country be built on this foundation?

Answer: Yes.

Question: One more question. We always talk about the higher power, about the Creator. Where is the Creator in all this?

Answer: The Creator is in people.

Question: So this desire for unity…

Answer: This is the Creator within them.

Question: Then it will happen that trouble will recede, sooner or later peaceful times will come, etc. Do you think they will be able to maintain this state?

Answer: No one knows. No one knows if they will achieve anything let alone maintain it.

Question: Is this unity in the face of an enemy? Is this unity against someone?

Answer: Yes.

Question: You always talk about unity, which is above egoism, above everything. Not just against someone, but unity for the unity of the country, for peace. Can this combat unity evolve into the unity you are talking about?

Answer: No, I don’t think so. They will not have the foundation for that.

Question: What foundation should there be?

Answer: The foundation should be that they strive in their unity to rise to a spiritual level. Otherwise, they will not sustain this unity.

Question: Does this come with the will of the Creator?

Answer: This is the will of the Creator, but for this, they must be able to understand it, join it, and accept it. It is possible! And it is with us, somewhere nearby, within these guys. But can we realize it?

Question: Should this fear be constant? Right now, as you speak, I feel a tremor, hoping that this will happen to them, that they can!

Answer: I don’t know. We need leaders, serious leaders, who can uplift them.

Question: Those who know that there will be conflicts and how to rise above them, and so on?

Answer: Yes, wise leaders are needed for this, leaders who will come and work with these guys.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/19/24

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What Is Jewish Uniqueness?

222Question: What makes us unique?

Answer: Our uniqueness lies in the fact that we show humanity the right path forward, and if we do not show it, then humanity will simply perish in civil strife, in wars, in anything.

Now nature is putting pressure on us to make ourselves ready for peace, friendship, and mutual understanding so that we give up many of our goals, including completely unnecessary ones, and exist only for the love of our neighbor.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/12

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The Last Generation of the Renaissance

592.03Question: Many adults in Israel, particularly parents, are distressed and sad that children these days are immersed in mobile phones, computer games, and artificial intelligence and don’t pay attention to the older generation. This generation has even been called the lost generation.

And suddenly now, that war has come to Israel, the children went to fight, and suddenly they are so concerned about their parents, about each other, about the future of the country, about the unity of the people! We read their letters; these are lofty letters addressed to us! We begin to understand that it is not them, but us that are the lost generation. Us! They are 19 years old and older and are living by the ideology of unity, while we (their parents) are still embroiled in political disputes, insisting on our own, believing we are right. It is impossible to root out this spirit of being right from us.

So, the question is: Do you think that some sort of revolution suddenly took place?

Answer: I believe this generation will take matters into their own hands regarding human relationships and nature. They will force nature to change.

Question: Will they not drown in us, in our so-called “wisdom”?

Answer: No, I think they will be able to break free from this swamp in which people have languished for millennia.

Comment: But look, in our politics, for example, it is mainly the older generation that are confident in themselves, with political and military experience, and they seem to rule.

My Response: That does not mean anything.

Question: Does the country need the experience of such a politician or the experience of a nineteen-year-old who has felt what unity is?

Answer: The country needs a person who evaluates the life of the nation by its assembly, union, bonding, and connection. There have not been many such leaders throughout the entire Jewish history. I hope that such a leader will emerge among the people like Ben-Gurion and Baal HaSulam combined in one person.

Question: So, does this war help give birth to such a leader?

Answer: Yes, I think it has to happen.

Question: Do we need to make room for this?

Answer: This space will be freed up by squeezing out everything else from people, and only this desire for unity will occupy the space.

Question: Are you now talking about a leader, regardless of age or experience?

Answer: I think it does not matter.

Question: Will this combat experience of unity be instilled in this person?

Answer: Yes, I think this is how it should be. It is a kind of revolution in each person, and we are approaching it.

Comment: So, you feel that the generation…

My Response: Is not lost.

Question: Could it be that they might be wiser than us?

Answer: Yes, we live in the generation of the true exodus from Egypt. Let’s hope that Moses will appear among us and will lead the entire nation.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/12/24

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Israel on the Future of the World

417Question: What state does Israel ideally need to achieve in its relationship with the world?

Answer: The world should realize, based on our actions, that we can truly bring peace to the world and that we cannot be broken, persuaded, or pressured into agreeing to anything.

The world should know that we have an historical, I would say, mission, and we are obligated to fulfill it. The world should change in such a way that it will wholeheartedly assist us in this.

Question: Does this depend on us?

Answer: This depends on us. This is the future of the world. It lies in assisting Israel restoring itself, and then there will be peace in the whole world.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/12/24

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What Should Israelis Acquire?

294.2Question: What new property, what new addition, should appear in every Israeli?
After all, we are going through completely new states. What else should be added to Israelis?

Answer: Israelis should develop added awareness of their mission in the history of humanity and awareness of their uniqueness in history.

Question: Do you believe that this is absent now?

Answer: Yes, and now, precisely in order to affirm this theses, we must unite and definitely win this war.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/12/24

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We Must Move Ahead as If on The Edge of a Knife

963.5Question: There is a war going on in Israel right now. It feels like everything is breaking apart.

On the one hand, there are hostages. Hamas detains hostages whose parents and relatives say: “We love our children more than we hate Hamas.” This is natural.

On the other hand, the parents of the dead soldiers urge those who are fighting to fight to the end. They write: “Our eyes are filled with tears, but our hearts are boiling, we stand up straight and say: “Continue bravely to victory! Eliminate the threat to our homes and protect our children.”

How should a decision be made in such cases?

Answer: We need to do what is best for the country. And what is best for the country, of course, is to destroy these animals. Because any weakness will later turn into tragedy later. We can already see this.

Question: So if you stand by this firmly as a leader, have decided, and are rigidly pursuing this policy, do you think that sooner or later…?

Answer: I do not know when “sooner or later” or what will happen, but I believe we simply have no other choice! Especially after we have just seen what they have prepared for and how they are preparing. Aside from Gaza, it is everywhere. This is in the north and the south, up to Iran and Yemen, and so on.

There are haters everywhere, and we must stand up and find a solution to the problem that is acceptable to us! Not to them. For them, we just need to be brought to a state where we are ready for anything. But we are not ready for everything. We must be ready for anything to give nothing away!

Question: Us means a country, a nation, and that’s it?

Answer: Yes.

Comment: The fact that this will divide the country is for you as a leader…

My Response: I don’t think it will divide us. I think in the end we need exactly this internal breakdown that will convince people there is no other way.

Question: Is this not a discussion, it is just a decision?

Answer: It is a decision. This decision may be bloody, but it must be such.

Question: Do you think any weakness will only lead to more and more victims?

Answer: Of course, naturally. There is no doubt about it.

Comment: After all, it was easier for King David. He seemed to be in full contact with the upper force.

My Response: I don’t think his state was easier, after all he fought for 40 years. So, it couldn’t have been easier.

Question: In order to make such a decision, do we have to somehow consider that we are in the holy land, that this is the land of our ancestors?

Answer: Yes.

Question: Should these exalted words be voiced?

Answer: All these exalted words should be voiced. We must use them every time, even though they do not come so much from our hearts. But we must get past this state where we are no longer visitors from foreign lands, but live here on our land long enough to know what we are fighting for.

Question: If we repeat even, as you say, mechanically: “This is our land, and we will not give up an inch of this land,” does it enter your heart in a while?

Answer: Yes, absolutely.

Question: What system is at work here? For example, a person does not feel it.

Answer: Self-persuasion.

Question: And the heart accepts, and that’s how I live. Does the decision become clear then?

Answer: Yes.

Question: It turns out that the way out of this is always to keep going along this line?

Answer: If you go forward boldly, like on the edge of a knife, you gain confidence, strength, and victory.

Question: What needs to be done to feel that the upper force is with us, that the Creator is with us?

Answer: To do this, first of all, we need to take a step toward the Creator and demand for Him to be revealed to us and the whole world.

Question: Is it a step toward the Creator to say, “You brought us here, and we stand for this land”?

Answer: Yes.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 2/26/24

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