Entries in the 'Israel Today' Category

The Drawn Sword for the Future

293And besides the blows we suffer today, we must also consider the drawn sword for the future. The right conclusion must be drawn—that nature will ultimately defeat us and we will all be compelled to join hands in following its Mitzvot with all the measure required of us (Baal HaSulam, The Peace).

Question: How do we teach ourselves and other people to be afraid of the “drawn sword”? After all, a person is not afraid of anything, not the criminal code, the commandments, or the Creator. People do what they want.

Answer: Yes, we are approaching a state of humanity where people are not afraid of anything at all, and they do not want to take anything into account. There are no restrictions and decrees for them. And if there is, then come what may, the main thing is that I feel good now, and then what will happen will happen.

In principle, this is very close to the governance of the Creator. But a person perceives it incorrectly.

Question: We have established the fact that people are not afraid of anything, and then it will be even worse. So, what to do?

Answer: Consciously follow the instructions of the Creator. Is it really not clear?

Question: I, who have been studying Kabbalah for 20 years, understand this. But how can we explain it to people?

Answer: This is a problem. I have been doing this for 40 years and, you might say, with the same results. But later we will find out from the Creator how He evaluates our work, efforts, and our life in general.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/30/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Peace”

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The Advantage of the Accelerated Path

760.4It turns out that there are two authorities here acting in the above-mentioned conduct of development: One is the authority of heaven, which is sure to turn anything harmful and evil to good and useful, but it will come in its time, in its own way, heavily, and after a long time. Then there is the authority of the earth. When the “evolving object” is a living, feeling being, it suffers horrendous torments and pains while under the “press of development” which carves its way ruthlessly.

The “authority of the earth,” however, consists of people who have taken this above-mentioned law of development under their own government and can free themselves entirely from the chains of time, and who greatly accelerate time, namely the completion of the ripeness and correction of the object, which is the end of its development (Baal HaSulam, “Peace in the World“).

Question: What are we accelerating every moment?

Answer: Our development. If we attract light from above, it affects us and develops us.

At the same time, the order of development does not change; the speed changes because if we go in the same direction as the whole general process, then we become involved in it and develop faster. This is called Achishena (accelerated path).

And if we don’t go with it, we still develop, but against our will. And it’s called Beito when everything has its time.

Question: At every moment something happens to us and this leads a person to correction. And what are we speeding up here? Compressing the course of events?

Answer: That’s right. We are speeding up time.

Question: Then do these events take place in some other plane?

Answer: These events can pass quickly, change us, and put us in a new state every time, and sometimes they can delay us. In general they help us realize where we are and what we need to do next.

It depends on us how correctly we will react to what the Creator does to us. If we reacted correctly to an event, and it shrank to a single moment, then we were able to understand, realize, and include in ourselves all the changes that the Creator wants to make in us.

Question: How do we figure it out? He doesn’t give instructions.

Answer: The Creator gave us a complete instruction, and the simplest one. He says that if you connect with each other, then you move forward on the right road. That is all. What is not clear here?

Question: And how is the fact that we connect in a group, in a ten, connected with the event that is happening?

Answer: When we connect with each other, we bring the light of the Creator through us to all mankind, especially to those desires and properties that are far from the right creation. And it turns out that the whole world is moving forward.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/20/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Peace in the World”

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“What Are the Main Challenges That Israel Faces Today?” (Times of Israel)

Michael Laitman, on the Times of Israel: “What Are the Main Challenges That Israel Faces Today?
Several Kabbalistic sources emphasize the need for the people of Israel to unite like a family. Especially on tragic days, the truth of this message becomes apparent, and it is important to clarify that the family is not one of blood relations, but a family that transcends blood ties. It is about everyone coming to feel that the person standing beside them is part of the same family.

We all need to sense that we are parts of a single unified entity. When we achieve such unity, we not only overcome our apparent enemies outside of us, but more significantly, we rise over our internal enemy: the egoistic desires within us that constantly pull in the direction of detaching from others and using everyone and everything outside of us for the sake of personal benefit.

The idea of uniting above our egos when we are all individuals with different backgrounds, personalities and worldviews—including many that oppose and resist the others—can seem like an impossible task. However, we need to raise awareness that we can be victorious in bringing about a harmonious and peaceful life for all solely through the achievement of such unity. If we set aside our contradictions and differences, recognizing that we are one interconnected whole, then we can overcome our internal struggles, and by doing so, we will find that we have no more enemies outside of us.

A key stage in the development of the people of Israel was when we accepted upon ourselves the pact to stand “as one man with one heart” at the foot of Mount Sinai. We were faced with a life-and-death choice: “Either unite now or face dire consequences.” Today, we once again face a challenge of immense magnitude, and it is imperative for us to understand that we need to unite above all else.

We need to recognize that we play host to an egoistic inclination that constantly makes us want our own opinion to override everyone else’s. While this ego is indeed a problem, we should not try to subdue or eliminate it, because it is our very nature. On the contrary, together with recognizing its determinant force in drawing inwardly to ourselves, we need to develop a supportive and encouraging atmosphere around us where we raise the need to unite above our egoistic inclination as being of much greater importance, i.e., as a matter of life and death. If we fail to unite above our egoistic inclination and simply drift away with its divisive views and opinions, then we are bound to find ourselves again in situations where we suddenly awaken to an onslaught of enemies outside of us, similar to what we experienced in the tragic events of October 7, 2023.

Therefore, now that we are in the midst of a severe state of war, we need to deal with the situation at hand and also raise awareness of what can prevent such extreme states from materializing in the future. It all points to our need to unite above our divisions.

What steps should each of us take to achieve this unity? Simply put, we should each shift our focus away from ourselves and onto others. For instance, today there are several stories of selflessness that emerge from the frontlines, where people risk their own lives for the sake of other people. These acts demonstrate the inclination to rise above ourselves. When we hold a strong sense of the need to be there for one another in such a way, then we can unite and succeed. True success comes when we unite “as one man with one heart” above our divisive egoistic drives.
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If We Are at War with Each Other

547.03Question: When we are united, the Creator is in the connection between us. But how can we ask Him to hear us when we are at war with each other?

Answer: We have repeatedly said that everything depends only on our connection, first of all between Jews so that they become like one man with one heart.

Then, we will want to bring all people in the world closer to this, and through this connection; we will avoid all the troubles that are arising now and that keep approaching all of humanity.
[320250]
From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 11/2/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Call Upon Him When He Is Near“

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What Are We Correcting?

963.4Question: Where does suffering come from? What is its root? In Kabbalah, we study the light, the vessel, and the descent of light—the Creator’s desire to delight the creatures.

Answer: If you take part in the spiritual process, you take part in these pleasures. If not, the lack of pleasure drives you to participate in it. Look at yourself, the way you are spinning around in the world.

Question: Yes, I am driven by suffering. And the world? We can see where all this is leading it. Will people really understand anything based on the current events?

Answer: I do not know if they will understand or not. At the same time, the Creator gives the solution, He corrects the conditions of the problem. Then, it is even more difficult to reach a solution.

Question: We have learned that in the past, the Temples were destroyed as a consequence of breaking some degrees in the spiritual worlds. What are we correcting now?

Answer: Now we are correcting people. We must show them the way to the right state, then we will stop engaging the bad forces of nature, they will not crush or destroy us because we will act correctly. This way we will quickly come to a correction.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/20/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Peace in the World”

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We Are Together and We Are One Family

275Question: Many Kabbalistic sources say that we should become a family. On such tragic days, it suddenly feels very true. It is clear that we are not talking about family ties.

What kind of family are we talking about?

Answer: This is about making everyone feel the person standing next to them so that we all feel that we are one family, that we are together. Only in this case will we not only defeat our external enemy, but also, most importantly, our internal enemy, our egoism. And then we are not afraid of anything!

Family is when we are all as one.

Question: Explain this, please, “as one whole.” We are different families, we are different people, different characters, different views, even left and right. How is a family built out of all this? Is it possible to build a family or want to build one?

Answer: It is possible. To do this, we only need to understand that victory can only be in this case and that in general we should leave all the contradictions between us and feel like one common whole. Only in this case can we defeat our internal enemy, and the external one is no longer a problem.

Question: Once, when we called ourselves the nation at Mount Sinai, there was such a proposal: “Either you will unite now, or this will be your burial place.” Do you think it is very similar to what is happening today?

Answer: Of course!

Question: Meaning, we can say that now we have been challenged, the Creator has set such a condition. And it’s as sharp as you say. Are we connecting above everything?

Answer: Above everything, yes. And of course, we should understand it that way.

Comment: But it’s no secret that we are egoistic.

My Response: We are the most egoistic and the worst, it is what leads us to unite and we see there is no other way.

Question: The force of this blow, which we have now felt, can it lead to such a decision, to prayer?

Answer: Yes. It can.

Question: The goal is clear. What do we all need to do for this?

Answer: Everyone should forget about themselves and think about others. I have to think about all the people who are obliged to survive this state and win.

Comment: You know, when these stories are being told, which are now happening at our frontline, there are a lot of cases when people forget about themselves. They tell about a soldier who falls on a mine and saves all his friends with it. About a woman, her name is Tali, who, while terrorists are shooting around, transports 13 wounded from the frontline, goes back and forth. An elderly woman, she has six children.

My Response: This is solidarity. And only from this can victory be born.

Question: Does each of us have to exist like this?

Answer: Exactly so. Everyone, as much as he can, must give himself for victory. Victory is when we unite above our egoism and act together.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr Michael Laitman” 10/16/23

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Working with Primary Sources

165Question: What should we learn from the blows we are currently receiving?

Answer: We must get closer to each other despite all manifestations of hatred between us. That is love above hatred, faith above reason. We must do it.

Question: If hatred flares up within us and we study the primary sources, does the reforming light pull us out of egoism?

Answer: Yes, this is only done through the source called the Torah. In principle, this source is present in all nations. We just need to understand how to work with it.
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From the 2nd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/17/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “Expulsion and Redemption”

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If They Came to Kill You

200.02Question: You have been talking about the law of love, bestowal, and mercy for many years. You said that this is the basis of our nation, the basis of the law within which we exist, and the whole world exists. Is this what we should follow?

Answer: Yes.

Question: This is on one hand. On the other hand, it is written by our sages in the Babylonian Talmud: If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first. What does this mean for you?

Answer: If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first means that we must forestall the enemy. And we are obliged to do this because this is the Creator’s covenant.

Comment: Then there is the law of love, bestowal, and mercy.

My Response: It depends in relation to whom and how. But if someone comes to kill you, then you must first rise and defend yourself so as to destroy the one who came to kill you.

Comment: Can you, please, explain the law of love, bestowal, and mercy at the moment when you are going to fight and kill the enemy.

Answer: This does not apply to enemies. No. There can be no love for someone who hates you and wishes for your death

Question: Can any kind of revolution ever happen so that we will suddenly look at our biggest haters with different eyes? Will anything happen?

Answer: Only after we get rid of them can there be a completely different attitude toward them. We should get rid of the haters. And then we can negotiate with those who remain.

Comment: All the laws are kind of revolving around mercy. And this one is very sharp!

My Response: It is not sharp, it is just straight. I do not see anything drastic or anything out of the ordinary in it.

Question: Why does it not say: “Try to make peace, try…”?

Answer: Any attempt is out of the question! After all, he came to kill you!
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/16/23

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222Question: What do you see as our future, and what is it like?

Answer: I see the future as getting rid of the haters, understanding who is next to us, and making sure they understand who is next to them. We need to secure our borders and create conditions for us to peacefully exist and unite.

Question: Unity is more or less understandable to people, like the unity we have now. What are you talking about? After the war, after victory.

Answer: There is no “after the war.” In principle, we are in a state of constant war.

Question: Why?

Answer: Because the enemy wants it that way. So, we must not weaken ourselves and not act as we did before this attack.

Question: You are talking about an external enemy. What about our internal enemy?

Answer: The internal enemy needs to be convinced that we have no other way.

Question: Who is the internal enemy?

Answer: We are. Between us. I think we need to undergo very serious re-education here. There should be friendship and support among us.

Question: How do we achieve that?

Answer: By explaining that without it we will not survive.

Question: It is clear now that we are currently united by adversity. But in the future, for example when we are on the crest of victory, there will likely be disputes about what happened, why, and how. Various scenarios are possible. How do you shape the country? How do you build the future of the people?

Answer: Only through unity! We must talk about it constantly. We must promote unity from a very young age and continue to do so throughout life.

Comment: You keep talking about uniting above oneself.

My Response: Because we are egoistic, unique egoists, the biggest in the world. That is why we need to unite above our egoism.

Question: This work is endless. So it will never end. We cannot eliminate this enemy, can we?

Answer: No, and we should not. It is great that we have it. The Creator intentionally created this egoism within us so that we constantly work on it and elevate ourselves higher and higher toward Him. That is our main work.

Question: What if we falter? What if we start quarreling again?

Answer: Then the external enemy reminds us of that.

Question: That is, we must make it very clear that our disputes and their level provoke an equal level of hatred toward us from the whole world. Is that the right formula?

Answer: Absolutely from the entire world!

Question: If this fear enters us—that at the moment we start wars between each other, wars come to unite us but at an external level—if this formula exists in us, do you think it is normal to live with this fear?

Answer: It is normal. It is thanks to this fear that we can move toward unity.
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From KabTV’s “News with Dr. Michael Laitman” 10/16/23

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Soldiers of the Creator’s Army

933The people of Israel are going through very difficult times today. But, on the other hand, this can lead us to very good changes, as it is written in the prophets.  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob‘s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it (Jeremiah, 30:7). It is precisely from the worst states we can get up, rise, grow, become strong, and achieve success.

After all, we understand that we have no choice; we must rise and succeed, and the Creator will be with us. Many people already realize that we need to correct ourselves, correct the force of separation between us. I hope this recognition of evil will help us rise and build ourselves.

I do not feel like we are hopeless. Our weapon is our unity, and we have not used it. If, out of desperation, we nevertheless take it and begin to use the force of our connection, no one will resist us. We will project this force of unity to the whole world, and the world will listen to us.

We must not give up because we have not even started this war yet. We must move forward and achieve success, we have no other choice. The Creator will still nevertheless obligate us either by the easy way or the hard way.

This is a war against our egoism. We cannot refuse to fight, because we are fighting not for ourselves, and not for our lives, but for the Creator. We are soldiers of the Creator’s army, and the Creator will win, the force of bestowal must win! It will be so.

The force of bestowal is the force of the Creator. If we dress in this force of bestowal, we will win. We must always remember that our success depends only on our internal unity, on the connection of our hearts. The force of unity is our main weapon.
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From the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 10/27/23, Writings of Baal HaSulam “The Most Important Is to Want Only to Bestow“

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