Entries in the 'Nations of the World' Category

Russian Jews in Israel: True Self-Fulfillment

laitman_291Question: When we speak about the general system we are faced with the question of why this system has brought a million Russian Jews to Israel. What are they supposed to do here? Did they come here only in order to contribute to the development of advanced technologies, medicine, etc?

Answer: Even if it were for this purpose, it is impossible to detach the physical, cultural, and technological development from spiritual development. It is all the revelation of the one motion forward towards the goal of creation. On the one hand, the Russian Jews assimilated in the Israeli society and have integrated in every area, occupying high positions in the Israeli society. On the other hand, a person cannot develop spiritually if he doesn’t feel the support of the society, and today our society is undergoing an inner revolution, an inner confrontation, an inner liberation. It is for this reason that I believe that the Russian part of Israeli society that has come here and spread all over our small state has not fulfilled itself.

Comment: Although the Jews from Russia express themselves in family life, in certain occupations, and even in politics, they feel a complete lack of inner self-fulfillment: They have come to this country and it is as if they live and don’t live. Depression and drug abuse are common among their young and there is a feeling that they lack a real solid basis.

Answer: This situation is not only typical of the Jews from Russia but also of people who came here from other countries. It resonates within everyone who lives here. There is a feeling of lack of self-fulfillment, lack of values, and a feeling that everything is temporary. It all stems from our spiritual root because only the nation of Israel can exist in this country only in the format according to which we can be called a nation. It has to be united, connected, and people have to feel that they are internally united like one family.

The world is frozen today at a low point because we are not receiving the spiritual nourishment that we need. We are to blame for that. This is the root of anti-Semitism because we are not bringing the world what it has needed for a long time and what it wants to receive. The Jews don’t know what their role is. This is the reason that Kabbalists have to tell them the cause of all their problems. People have to accept the method of unity and to find out that this is actually what they need in order to establish a nation and a state and to bring ourselves to a level at which the whole world will receive our ideology, philosophy, science, and culture.

When people find out that they are offered levers for managing the world, they will realize that this is who they are and will understand that they don’t exist in order to be doctors, professors, or engineers. To the extent that people will ascend above their nature and reorganize it correctly according to their understanding and their perspective, their inner emptiness will be filled with the eternal spiritual work that is infinite and whole. This is the true fulfillment of the nation of Israel. But if we don’t discover this option of fulfillment and our obligation to ourselves and to the world, we will reach a state of internal confrontation and darkness and will sink into drugs, even greater mutual hatred, division, and separation, and will become easy prey for the predators that are on our borders.

I hope that the critical mass of our nation will realize that the wisdom of Kabbalah reveals the true system of creation to a person. The main thing is that it gives him the levers for managing creation. At the same time, the lack of inner fulfillment that a person feels, although he works and studies, receives a filling here, because on the one hand, he discovers the system that governs our world, and on the other hand, he enters this system and can actively participate in it. It is actually thanks to this that a person discovers that he can solve all our problems this way, including the global problems, which as we can see have no solution on the level of our world.

We have to enter this system and to participate in it, since it is only with the help of man in our world and the upper system that governs the world that we can balance all of creation.
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From KabTV’s “About Our Life” 5/7/15

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Democracy And Monarchy

laitman_556The four legions match four legions of angels. The legion of Judah represented the celestial legion that is led by the angel Gabriel.

The angels are the forces of nature. If, for example, we let go of a glass of water in the air, it will fall to the ground, which means that there is an angel that pulls this glass to the ground.

When we integrate everything according to what the Torah commands we can reveal the four forces that sustain a person in the right integration between them. The result of the right connection of all the 12 tribes of the Israel nation is the revelation of the four major forces: Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin, and Malchut, the four angels, the four pillars, that hold everything together and lead us forward in a rigid but just manner.

This is tremendous pressure since everything is aimed at our precise development. Spiritual laws are not democratic at all. Their revelation obligates a person to exert himself to a certain measure; therefore, every law is accompanied by a tough force and at the same time by correction. There is no democracy here. Democracy is a concept that was invented in order to get rid of the imperial dominion. But a monarchy, propped up by Kabbalists is the best and most reliable.

The spiritual worlds were created so that there is only one force from above, the king of the world and everything else is subordinate to Him. It should be the same in the corporeal world. I don’t see any positive changes in the world since the monarchs have disappeared. A king is responsible for his state and for his people. They are his subjects so he thinks and cares about them. In a democracy, however, it is just about looting the state where every politician pulls the blanket to his side, wanting to bury all the others.

In the time of monarchies, both the leadership and the state treasury were more efficient. If the king had the support of the sages, everything was aimed at the benefit of the state. All the kings of Judea had a council of sages by their side, the Sanhedrin. Besides, there were always prophets that blessed them and the state. We can read about this in the “Book of Kings.”

When we speak about spiritual roots that are fulfilled in our world, we should mention that the king had to keep certain laws, because the Creator was above him. The daily routine of a king was clearly performed according to his spiritual level. It is a lot of work!

King David describes his attainments in the Psalms and King Solomon in the Song of Songs. The Song of Songs is the most holy book, which is about the unity, the complete love between the created beings and the Creator. These are the high spiritual levels that the kings, the judges, and the prophets were on.

Despite the rigid hierarchy, people who were not priests or Levites could also be members of the Sanhedrin. They all had to arrive at one decision, not by a democratic vote but by mutual concessions, which is a totally different attitude towards the world.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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Symbols On The Banners Of Israel

laitman_742_03The emblems embroidered on the four major banners conform to four terrestrial creatures that surrounded the Throne of Heavenly Glory:

1. The human image at the foot of the Throne corresponds to the Reuben banner embroidered with plants that have roots that bear external resemblance with a human being;

2. The exterior of a lion under the Throne replicates Yehuda’s flag with a lion depicted on it;

3. Ephraim’s banner embroidered with a bull corresponds to the heavenly image of the bull;

4. The eagle embroidered on Dan’s flag is similar to the image of the eagle at the Throne.

Spirituality is a world of forces. Therefore, the four emblems on the banners symbolize spiritual qualities: Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet, and Yesod.

When these forces interact and affect the ego, each force demonstrates its certain properties. Egoism per se has no shape, nor does it desire anything but receiving. Whereas, when the quality of bestowal and love influences it, the ego manifests its selfish impulses.

Therefore, the image of a lion or the face of an eagle, etc., signify the states that one can achieve if one is ready to become a tool of manifesting the Creator’s properties. This denotes a very high qualitative level because the face of the animal turns into the face of a human—Adam (one who is similar with the Creator).

The face of man, as the face of the sun, emanates energy when it reaches the state of bestowal.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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The Twelve Tribes Of The Common Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanThe Light emanates from the East, for there the sun rises. From there comes the eastern wind, the most harmful of all winds. From the west comes snow, hail, heat, frost, and heavy rains.

The South, a source of blessing of dew and rain. is the source of the blessed dew and rain. From the North is sent “darkness” and malicious forces.

(The Torah, “Bamidbar”)

The location of the banners of the camps of the Jews corresponds to the four sides of the Light.

A unified system called the common soul consists of twelve parts (the twelve tribes) that relate to and are connected with each other in accordance with the four sides of the world that signify the four parts – Hochma, Bina, Zeir Anpin and Malchut.

And the banners must stand against each other:

Bina – Hochma

Malchut – Zeir Anpin

Each part consists of 3 lines, a total of 12 parts (12 tribes). Their location represents the pairing of the vessel of the common soul.

The Torah specifies which banner they have to be under. The banner symbolizes the private purpose of each camp that has its own characteristics and properties. Therefore, the one common goal is expressed in them in a slightly different focus, from a different angle.

As an example, a human body consists of various organs. Each in their own way senses the body’s movements, supports, etc. In the same way, thanks to the variety of properties and the way they connect among each other, the properties of the general force, the Creator are shown.

The property of bestowal shows up as a result of huge egoistic differences. Bestowal is as absolute like a mother’s love: Do whatever you want; I still love you.
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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The Hierarchy Of The Collective Soul

Dr. Michael LaitmanQuestion: Who in the spiritual hierarchy can obtain the closest proximity to the property of bestowal?

Answer: Spirituality is the world of forces. Everything there is about forces.

The closest to the property of bestowal are Cohens (priests) who represent the most internal part of the general soul; then come Levites who gather around the Cohens, and then the people of Israel follows.

Erev Rav (the mixed multitude) is behind the Cloud of Glory (the Surrounding Light). Even though they make all efforts to grab as much as they can for their own sake, they cannot get inside it because they do not accept the property of bestowal, to work for the Creator’s sake, for the benefit of others.

This is a quantitative and qualitative balance of forces in a single system called “the common soul.”
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From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 12/24/14

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French Attempt To Combat Anti-Semitism And Racism

Laitman_727In the News (from www.unian.net): “France will spend 100 million Euros in a fight against racism and anti-Semitism. This was announced by Prime Minister Manuel Valls. ‘Racism, anti-Semitism, hatred towards Muslims, foreigners and homophobia are increasing unimaginably,’ he said.

“One of the proposals to combat these phenomena is to make racism and anti-Semitism as an aggravating circumstance of any crime or offense.

“Other proposals relate primarily to the Internet – through the creation of a state body that will monitor the language of hatred, as well as specific educational activities in schools.”

My Comment: The manifestation of hatred will force a struggle against this phenomenon, but to no avail. Because the problem is not in the eradication of hatred; it cannot be eliminated, but in building a level of respect and unity above it towards real love, according to the principle, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” “Love covers all transgressions.”

Evil will not disappear; rather overcoming it is done through even greater connection. We build such an attitude gradually, together, through the Upper Light, the Surrounding Light. The wisdom of Kabbalah explains how this will be realized. All the other attempts will fail.
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The Difference Between The Secular And Religious Approach

Laitman_631_4Question: What is the difference between the religious and secular approach to life? For example, I consider myself a secular person, but I always have an internal conflict, and it is difficult to figure out where in me the secular person ends and the religious one begins. The same division exists in the entire Israeli society.

According to the latest poll: 50% of the [Israeli] population are completely secular, 17% observe the traditions but do not consider themselves religious, 13% observe traditions and consider themselves religious, 12% are religious and 8% are Orthodox religious.

Answer: Secular people believe that the world is governed by laws of nature and there is nothing else except what we see and discover through science. The secular approach to life means that the world should be taken such as it is, according to one’s feelings, without relying on any upper forces, destiny, life after death. Any unsolved phenomena are no more than a figment of our imagination and fantasy.

The secular approach is the real approach. Inside it are many varieties that define man’s relationship to himself and society, but they are not to the level of the difference between the religious and secular approach.

The religious approach is based on the belief in the upper force that created the world and puts us in the conditions that we have to perform. If we fulfill all the wishes of the upper force, we deserve the award, if we do not fulfill them, we will be punished.

There are different kinds of relationships with the upper force, of attitudes to reward and punishment, to a person’s participation in this and one’s freedom of choice. But the point is that religious people take into account the existence of the upper force, a higher design, program, the purpose of creation. Thus, the center of creation is no longer the human being, but the Upper Force, the Creator.

Because people believe that the Creator arranges and organizes everything in response to one’s behavior, they have to continuously relate their lives to the Upper Force. That is, they think that one is dependent not on the laws of blind nature, but on the Upper will. Therefore, it is necessary to pray to the Upper, ask, be ashamed, repent for one’s past actions.

Many different religions and beliefs once existed and vanished or are still existing today Religion has a great influence on the world and on humanity. During the past two thousand years, humanity has evolved under the influence of religion, first after the destruction of the Second Temple Judaism arose, and then from it came Christianity and Islam.

All these religions are fighting among themselves, and there are very complex relationships between them. Each religion has many movements: Catholics, Protestants, and Orthodox Christianity, Shiite and Sunni in Islam, and many streams of Judaism.

Every synagogue in Israel is somehow different from the rest. Not to mention the conflict between the secular and religious who are not able to organize their lives so as not to interfere with each other but want to impose their own view on others.

I do not want to judge who is right and who is wrong. But such a conflict exists only in Israel. For example, in the US or in Europe there is no conflict between religious and secular people. If you are a Jew, no one cares whether you attend the synagogue on Saturdays or only on major holidays.

The Jews abroad feel they belong to one nation. In Israel, there is a conflict, because religion is not separated from the state and is involved in a power struggle. Thus, it appears into the area of general interest, where our desires clash. Over the years, this conflict increases because everyone believes that the opposite side wants to grab a piece from it.

This confrontation in society is gaining strength, leading to such hatred and division, which had never existed among the people of Israel. And I do not think that it is the result of a different approach to the world. It’s just a struggle for power in our lives—desires of some to control others and the state so that it serves their interests, be that of the secular or religious community.

The struggle is for the state, for power, for the state treasury, and using it for their own benefit.
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From KabTV’s “A New Life” 5/21/15

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Israel: From The First Settlers To The Present Day

laitman_742_02Question: Why did the first settlers in Israel lose their main internal essence of the mutual relations between them and just accepted socialism with all its implications and mistakes?

Answer: The fact is that in Israel there was mutual exclusion between Kabbalists and traditional Judaism, between Rav Kook and the religious people. Rav Kook called for unity, for the Light that is reflected in his writings, while the other Jewish leaders continued to educate their followers according to the principles laid down in exile.

They didn’t welcome the spiritual revival of the nation according to the principle of “love thy neighbor as thyself.” So far this condition has not been met because they are awaiting the arrival of the Messiah, that is, some force, some special circumstances, that will reveal the love of others in us. They don’t realize that this is only possible due to our own internal work, as the wisdom of Kabbalah tells us. From the Kabbalistic perspective it is totally wrong to tie the fulfillment of the law of “love thy neighbor as thyself” to some upper illumination or to a certain person or leader.

After the first wave of settlers in Israel, there was a delimitation between Kabbalah and Judaism. After all, the masses that came to Israel totally rejected religion, or clung to its ordinary corporeal frameworks. The number of Kabbalists among them, was very small and no one listened to them. Moreover, they were afraid to speak in public, afraid they would create a situation that would force them to leave the country.

It soon became clear who belonged to which camp among the settlers that caused the division among society according to political, economic, spiritual, and physical principles. This led to great problems. None of the famous Kabbalists who lived here were able to speak openly about spiritual correction. Rav Kook for example, used a language that could not be understood; therefore, everyone regarded him as an ordinary ideologue, not a Kabbalist.

The great Kabbalist, Baal HaSulam tried to publish a paper to reach the people, but he wasn’t able to achieve anything; the paper was shut down under the accusation of pro-communist ideas. After all, if you pursue the principle of love thy neighbor as thyself, it is perceived as a communistic principle.

Thus a quarter of a century after the first Zionist congress in Basel, the situation in Israel is that we have to revive everything all over again today. There are many people and movements opposed to the Kabbalistic approach of creating one nation since each one is trying to grab a “piece” for himself to become a tiny king in his own community.

We see how divided and torn apart modern Judaism is; a huge confrontation exists between the religious and non-religious factions of society. The entire nation is divided into many sectors.

I think that today we can speak openly about the wisdom of Kabbalah and with an appeal for the love of others, as a consequence of the deep frustration people are now beginning to feel and realize as a result of the cumulative experience gained over 150 years of development.

Therefore, we have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of the first settlers and the founders of the country to call for practical actions based on our internal constitution of love thy neighbor as thyself.
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From KabTV’s “About Our Life” 5/7/15

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Who Has A Soul?

laitman_572_03Question: Does every person have a soul, and is it eternal?

Answer: Only a person who builds his soul has one. Building a soul means attaining the level of love of others. To the extent that I attain the love of others, I feel the love of others in my corrected desire, a feeling that is called the Upper Light. The desire with the Light inside it that is absolutely aimed at bestowal and love of others is called a soul.

The Light is the feeling of the upper force, of the Creator, inside the desire. The desire that is aimed at love of others and the Light that fills it, which means what I feel in my desire by aiming at love of others is called a soul. The vessel of the soul is the desire and the filling of the desire is the Upper Light. This is how we discover the soul. Thus it is clear that initially no one has a soul, but everyone can acquire it if he corrects his attitude to others. Our life is arranged so that eventually everyone will attain his soul no matter what.

If we speak about the nation that will attain it first, the nation of Israel is intended to reach the attainment of the soul first. Now in our generation everyone can do it. This is the reason that the wisdom of Kabbalah is revealed, the method that tells us how to attain the soul out of the egoistic desire, how to change the desire for the benefit of others according to the principle “love thy friend as thyself.” When the whole Israeli nation begins to engage in it and attains that level, the state that is called a soul, all the nations of the world will be able to do the same too. Whatever the Israeli nation attains will also flow unto them. All the problems and the corruption that have lately been revealed in Israel are because we should have started to correct our soul long ago but we are lagging behind.
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From the Israeli Radio Program 103FM, 5/10/15

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We Must Not Allow Nazism To Take Over The World!

Laitman_200_01Baal HaSulam, “The Last Generation”: It is a wonder of nature—what happened to the Germans who were considered one of the most civilized nations and suddenly turned into savages, the worst of most primitive peoples that ever existed. Moreover, Hitler was elected by a majority.

The process of human evolution is not consistent with our rational logic. The German people were the most developed nation in Europe and actually in the whole world; they were considered the most highly educated nation that brought the world enlightened kings, advanced technology, industry, classical music, science, and philosophy.

All this came from Germany and it was actually this highly developed nation that instead of highly cultured people turned into barbaric savages that burned books and only wanted power. This nation changed so dramatically.

The world mistakenly thinks that Nazism was solely a product of Germany; whereas, it is the result of democracy and socialism that remained without religion, morality, and a world court. In fact, all the nations are thus equal and there is no hope that the Nazis will die out with the victory of the allies because tomorrow the Anglo-Saxons, for example, will adopt Nazism because they too live in the world of the democrats and the Nazis.

The Nazi regime is one of the egoistic evolutionary phases of humanity that we cannot prevent. If we continue to develop egoistically, there will certainly be fascist regimes in each country, in every nation according to its level of development.

Although the French suffered greatly due to the Germans during the war, there could be a fascist regime in France too. We already see that the leaders of the extremist right nationalist parties like Mary la Pen are already part of the government.

The same thing happens everywhere, no matter which country or nation. Nazism we definitely be one of the social structures if we don’t start working on the unity of our nation in order to reach adhesion with the Creator. This is the only way we can prevent the uprise of fascist Nazi regimes in all countries.

If we don’t, fascism will take over everywhere. There is no way of preventing it. Countries greatly affected by Nazi Germany will become even the same or even worse!

“Fascio” means unity, a bundle. If we don’t want the fascist regime to follow capitalism as we witnessed in Germany, we have to make sure that the unity they are aiming at will not be egoistic, but rather for the force of bestowal. We only need to change the direction.

It is clear that nations are yearning for internal unity. We will soon see how fascist regimes are taking over the world if we don’t manage to bring them the Light that Reforms through our dissemination, which will immediately change this process.

Thanks to this we can prevent the process that leads to the victory of Nazism in the world and to a third and even a fourth world war. Instead we can rise directly to unity and correction.
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From the 4th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 4/28/14, Lesson on Topic: Holocaust Memorial Day

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