Question: Currently, the phrase “corporate culture,” has become very fashionable. Companies even hire managers who specialize in corporate culture. Can one person form a culture? What does culture mean in general?

Answer: Culture is a level of mutual friendly relations between people.

When do we consider a person to be uncultured? It is when he does not want to be in good contact with others. And, on the contrary, we call a person cultured when he is pleasant in his interactions; we evaluate it based on both the outer and the inner characteristics. It is quite possible that, in reality, he is not that way, but this is how he positions himself. In general, corporate culture means a level of proper, friendly interaction within a group of people.
[100752]
From KabTV’s “Professional Secrets,” 2/7/13

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Question: Can we measure the desire of the group?

Answer: Yes, if it’s really a group, meaning that it has a formed system in which you see the ten Sefirot. After all, a real group is something that exists on its own, a spiritual mechanism, a spiritual structure, a spiritual body.

Question: What stands between us and such a group now?

Answer: A lack of connection. We need to establish a correct relationship between us that is infused with dedication, unity, and support. We need to feel that there is no alternative, that this is our duty; otherwise, we will not achieve the property of bestowal and will not bring contentment to the Creator through the friends and teacher. We will not advance without connection, we will not be able to save the world, and will not be able to delight the Creator.

Moreover, without strengthening our mutual connection, we bring damage, like someone who drills a hole in a common boat. Baal HaSulam writes in his article “The Peace,” that society punishes theft, but if a person does not add his efforts, there is no punishment. Meanwhile, he who “prays,” does so for himself and he damages society. After all, the real prayer can be produced only by a community of people who want to bring contentment to the Creator by mutual bestowal.

Alone, none of us is capable because I do not have that “place,” that desire, from which I could address Him. There is no Creator without the unity of created beings who want to mutually bestow upon each other, thus giving Him a “place” to be revealed between them and to enjoy. Once and for all I have to understand that I have no “place” to be filled, no force that will help me to bestow; there is nothing. Everything is only in the connection between us.
[102759]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/3/13, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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All the cycles of time, except for the week, are related to cosmic systems: the new moon, morning, daytime, evening, etc. The week seems to have been born from the human mind.

The fact is that we are inside a very interesting system: We depend on both the moon and the sun. That’s why calendars have a double nature: The Muslim calendar is based on the cycle of the moon; the Christians’ is contingent on phases of the sun, and the Judaic calendar combines both solar and lunar cycles.

This is why Muslim holidays are not rigidly tied to concrete dates and “wander” from winter to summer, from spring to autumn. Christian holidays are also inconstant. As for the Jewish calendar, it is stable since it is based on the middle line: It’s not tied to the right line (as is the Muslim calendar), nor to the left line (as in Christianity), but rather it is founded on a combination of two natural forces, that of receiving and that of bestowal. We depend on the sun and the moon, on the properties of receiving and giving. We are not stuck with one particular line. That’s why our calendar is consistent.

However, the Jewish calendar is not that simple! There are certain dates such as “shvita” and “Yovel,” every four years there is a leap year, and twice in 27 years there is a solar circuit, etc. But the calendar created several thousand years ago hasn’t changed.

Question: So according to this calendar we can accurately figure out what will happen in the future?

Answer: The fact that it’s linked to two natural forces means that we follow nature and use its powers in a harmonious way. This calendar is based on both solar and lunar cycles and it exemplifies this idea.

The moon shows us how the Earth relates to the sun. In other words, if I were the Earth, the moon would show me my screen by allowing me to watch the altering phases from full moon to complete diminishment (new moon) and waxing and waning again. They would display whether I relate to the Creator and to the Light correctly and whether I change at each particular phase starting at a completely diminished state and going to the full moon, and repeating these phases again and again.

The approximate four weeks that separate the waxing and waning moon comprise a full cycle that is similar to one day: “And there was evening, and there was morning—one day.” In other words, we wake up at sunrise; the sun influences us in a way that our egoism increases, thus creating the left line which leads the sun to the end of the day and eventually giving birth to the night and the moon.

Lunar phases appear in different constellations and create an integral and yet simple picture; the more we explore this picture, the more we have a feeling of an absolute harmony.

This is like a musician who perceives a melody deep in his heart and says: “It’s a lovely chord, a beautiful instrumentation, but it lacks one note that has to be played by a trumpet!” That one additional note by the trumpet allows us to experience the sensation of harmony.

It’s overwhelming and thrilling. That’s why it’s said that the attainment of the Creator is perfection.
[102495]
From KabTV’s “The Mysteries of the Eternal Book” 2/4/13

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Question: Taking into account the role of Germany in the European Union, what is the correct role of the German group in the European Kli (vessel)?

Answer: There are several groups in Europe, although there could have been many more and more strong groups, but what can you do? This is what we have today. We must try to bring all these groups into a single entity so that they will help each other in dissemination, studies, and mutual support. If they study all together at the same time—desirably, together with us—then a connection will develop between them.

I hope very much that they will understand this. It is not in vain that Europe was selected as an upper management in the capacity of that part of world civilization on which so much depends, and thus, we need to understand that much can depend on our European groups—in particular, on the German group that is organizing the upcoming convention—and can set an example for all the other groups as the center of Europe.

I very much hope that, through this convention, we give a serious beginning to a united European group.
[103159]
From the Virtual Lesson 3/17/13

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Question: How can we rise above the language barriers and unite at the upcoming European Convention?

Answer: I do not think that the problem is with languages. The fact is that we do not have to talk to each other much, but we need to think about each other and try to feel each other; language is not to blame. For example, many of you have pets that cannot talk, but you feel them and they feel you. So, what kind of language can we speak here? It is sign language, body language. A language is not speech, but the transfer of emotions. So, I do not think the problem is in different languages.

The problem is that we do not think about each other because we do not feel the importance of this. We have not realized, yet, the need for each other for spiritual attainment and do not feel dependent on each other in the spiritual ascent.

There are hundreds of my friends in front of me. If I understood that just by approaching them an inch, I rise up an inch. If I felt this clearly inside of me, I definitely would try to do that and think about how to be closer to them. However, since I do not have this confidence—the feeling that moving upward means moving toward them, and not even upward, but just inside the group, in its consolidation, unity—then I do not do that. I still do not understand that it is precisely internal compression between us that will create that pressure in which the Light will kindle.
[103156]
From the Virtual Lesson 3/17/13

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And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed, and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands were heavy, and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon, and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side, and his hands were steady until the setting of the sun.

And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword (The Torah, Exodus, “BeShalach,” 17:11 – 17:13).

Moses discovered the attribute of Bina, the attribute of bestowal in a person. The outstretched hands reaching above allegorically symbolize the connection with the Creator. This is the raising of MAN (request), the connection of the lower Partzuf with the upper.

When Moses raised his hands, which means when the attribute of Bina feeds from Keter (Crown), from the upper attribute of bestowal, then Israel wins. This means that these are the attributes of a man who tries to escape Amalek and rise above. He rises above Amalek and thus wins over him.

Amalek is the foundation of the world, the foundation of the ego. However, it’s not always clearly revealed. Ordinary people don’t think that they are egoists. They think of themselves as regular citizens, who give and take. Whereas those attributes that appear later in those people with the point in the heart who discover their nature as being completely egoistic, this is already Haman, Amalek, Balaam, and Balak.

It’s impossible to win over Amalek because the means and forces in a person to connect with the Creator are limited. Thus the act itself, the war with Amalek, continues from generation to generation. This means that by your rising to each spiritual level, you are always in war with him.

Thus it continues until you completely destroy Amalek by the force of the Creator. It happens when a person who already corrects himself grasps his corrected attributes and doesn’t ask for anything at all for himself. Then the Creator corrects in him his last egoistic attribute all at once.

This means that as long as subconsciously there is a grain of ego in me, since it is within me as my foundation, then it’s impossible for me to work when I am not connected to the action and its outcome. That is Amalek, like a snake, which in any case is slithering somewhere. Thus the war with it is never ending.

Only the special attributes in a person fight with him, and the others don’t since it’s impossible to put them to war against Amalek. They would fall. They would not be able to stand up to the request of your having only bestowal. Thus only a few attributes wage war. At this level, the attributes of bestowal win, meaning faith, which is the attribute of bestowal and love, and continue onwards.

Question: It’s said, “…and his hands were steady until the setting of the sun.” What is this state that is called, “until the setting of the sun?’’

Answer: As long as the upper Light is attracted to Moses, as long as there is the connection between Moses and Keter (between Bina and Keter), then there is force to oppose Amalek. And then afterward, everything disappears. This level is concealed and the next level is revealed since the day begins with the evening.
[102746]
From KabTV’s “Secrets of the Eternal Book” 2/4/13

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Question: How can I serve the friends with my thoughts? How can my thoughts support the convention participants in Germany?

Answer: What happens when you worry about someone you care about? All your thoughts are focused on his success, on his getting well and on his succeeding in his mission. Your heart aches for him since it is as if you are acting with him, in his place.

This concern is enough even if we don’t know the mechanisms it operates. The friends all over the world should prepare in advance for mirror conventions so that we will not only be spectators but will actually support the general connection. Here we have to exhibit determination and concern in unity, in genuine exceptional concern. By that we connect to the convention in desperate concern for its success on a global scale.

If we all connect around this convention, then all of humanity will feel a special force of connection and this will change reality. Then our method of connection will be accepted all over the world, and it will be as if we “change rails” so that the train we are all riding will move from the path of suffering to the path of the Torah.
[103091]
From the 4^th part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/18/13, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”

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Question: What is the difference between spiritual shame and the shame that we feel in our daily life?

Answer: Corporeal shame is egoistic shame since I don’t want my pride hurt. Spiritual shame occurs after the restriction, when I don’t worry about myself and am not ashamed of my natural attributes anymore. I worry about something that is totally different.

I must feel shame! I actually look for it in my spiritual growth since it gives me great powers. If you were ashamed now, just imagine how enthusiastic you would become, and what powers it would give to move. You would not sit so calmly and doze in your seat like you do now. You would start moving until this shame subsides. You would continue worrying about this shame for a week before you finally calmed down.

You would be ready to do anything just to neutralize the reason for the shame and would not calm down until everything got back to the way it was before. If a certain person shames you, you would do anything to get revenge. Some people are more hot-tempered and some less, but everyone experiences the same emotions more or less.

The question is whether I will be able to attain a state that will not affect me personally, but one in which I will feel shame because I don’t contribute to the society, don’t participate in it, and don’t add what I have to add or even more. This is the only thing of which I am ashamed.

If we say to someone, “Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” it’s as if we showed him that he is inconsiderate of others. This is the point where I begin my correction.

So my personal attributes are totally irrelevant because they are part of my animal character. Have you even seen an animal that is ashamed of anything? Have you ever met a cat that blushed because it stole some cream and got caught?

An animal has nothing to be ashamed of. But the human being in us that we begin to build feels shame. The shame is related to him, to the person who worries whether he gives to others, adds for the benefit of others, and fulfills his duty in the general system.
[103039]
From the 1^st part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/18/13, “Matan Torah (The Giving of the Torah)”

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Question: What should I do if, during the study of TES, I feel despair because I don’t fully understand what it says?

Answer: There is no reason to despair. We study about actions that are performed by a person who has already received the power to realize himself. He can be totally independent of himself and doesn’t succumb to the temptation to do something for his own good instead of for the good of others; he cannot make such a decision.

Then he examines and assesses himself. He can feel the needs of others, something that we cannot do at our current state. After all, checking the needs of the other has to be done neutrally and objectively in order to find out what is for his good.

It isn’t what a person actually wants; perhaps he wants a gun to shoot himself. Rather, we should check just as we check what is good for a small child. If we give a child whatever he wants, it will harm him. We have to give him exactly what is good for him and this decision has to be totally detached from my feelings and from his feelings.

In order to do that, I need to see what the goal of Creation is, what the revelation of the Creator and adhesion with Him in the current state is, and help the other advance in this precise direction. After all, this is the most important progress that he can make only with my help. By helping him, I also advance in such a way that I reach adhesion with the Creator, an equivalence of form with Him.

If I am incorporated in the group and help the friends advance a little, it means that I treat them like the Creator does. The only difference is that He (the Creator) cannot move them in the right direction, but I can.

He allows me to do so; so this means I am incorporated in the Creator’s work.
[103032]
From the 3^rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 3/18/13, The Study of the Ten Sefirot

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