Had my people heeded me in this generation, when heresy is increasing, they would have studied The Book of Zohar and contemplated it with nine-year-old children. … By this they would revoke all the harsh sentences and would extend abundance and Light.
– Rav Yitzhak Yehudah Yehiel of Komarno, Keeping Mercy, Chapter 4, Teaching 20

There are no limitations on studying The Zohar. Hafetz Chaim used to evoke everyone to study The Zohar, even unmarried men.
– Rabbi Yosef Ben Shlomo of Pojin, Yosef’s Building Supplements

The Book of Zohar does not say anything about this world, but speaks only of the Upper Worlds where there is no time as in the material world. Spiritual time is a change in qualities.
– The Book of Zohar, Chapter “VaYetze,” Item 62

The Book of Zohar (The Book of Radiance) was named thus because it radiates the Light of the highest Source. Those who study The Book of Zohar are influenced by this Light and receive revelation of the highest knowledge and the secrets of the Torah.
– Rav Moshe Cordovero (RAMAK), Know the God of Thy Father, Item 2

Prior to the coming of the Messiah, heresy and Epicureanism will increase in the world. The advice for it is to meticulously study The Zohar every day, even if one does not understand what one is saying, since studying The Zohar can cleanse the heart.
– The Light of the Upright, Clear Myrrh

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The Book of Zohar – Selections, Chapter “Tazria (When A Woman Delivers),” Item 122
The most important thing to do during the study of The Zohar is to ask myself what state I have to be in for the revelation to occur.
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“Preface to the Wisdom of Kabbalah,” Item 170, Lesson 67
Malchut is simply a point which “expands” and gains volume when the souls elevate within it.
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“Introduction to the Book of Zohar,” Item 41, Lesson 19
Only when we elevate above pleasure can we begin to understand what true independence and freedom are.
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A question I received: When I read The Zohar I can’t help but materialize the images. What can I do about it?

My Answer: Those who start connecting with The Zohar feel its special power. However, a person needs to go through a period of preparation first. This is why we didn’t start studying The Zohar right away. We have gone through a lot and taken several years to prepare. This preparation helps us to have the right attitude toward The Zohar so it will influence us in a different manner. People who are just now joining our Zohar studies without this preparation need to connect to us and annul themselves better. Then, they will receive the same kind of preparation that we have gone through.

When reading The Zohar, people usually feel deeper inner examinations than they would when thinking about the corporal world of food, sex, family, money, power, and knowledge. The Zohar has a much stronger and deeper effect than that. However, some people simply lack a connection with us. Those who are really prepared can also experience the same disturbances. However, because they are already “sinners,” meaning that they revealed “sins” for the purpose of correction, they will be able to quickly deal with these disturbances.

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A question I received: Do we attract evil forces upon ourselves if we read about them in The Zohar?

My Answer: When a person reads about all the wicked people or forces described in the Torah, such as Haman and Amalek, he should understand that all of them are within him. When he corrects these qualities within himself, he also corrects their manifestations that seem to exist in the outside world.

Then, he won’t experience any problems, but on the contrary, he will attract the Light instead of having to be awakened by suffering. If a person aspires to correct himself by making efforts in uniting and studying, then he awakens the evil within him and corrects it, similar to how one catches a snake that has crawled out of hiding.

Our work is to remain in the right line and be ready for the awakening of the left line as much as possible in order to ascend by using it. If we don’t reveal the left line – the snake that has many names and shapes, then we won’t be able to advance.

You should cling to the right line with all your strength because then, regardless of how much the left line is revealed, it will be for your benefit. And the most important thing is not to be afraid of anything. You are treading a very narrow bridge — the revelation of the Light of Hassadim in the Light of Hochma. The bridge from Malchut to Bina is a very narrow line.

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We have to keep in mind that we are all in one “boat” and part of one common soul. Everyone has to understand that the gathering that will take place at the forthcoming The Zohar Convention 2010 , like all gatherings of a large number of people who aspire to spirituality, is a gift from the heavens.

The Creator has given me an opportunity to take part in this special event where parts of my own soul come closer to me. If I relate to them in this way, with the understanding that I have been placed in an assembly of souls closest to me that are willing to unite with me, and if every individual as well as all of us together think this way, then it won’t be difficult at all.

Everything depends on preparation. During the ten days that are left before the Congress, I have to constantly prepare and attune myself to think, act, and feel precisely this way when I am there. It doesn’t matter when it will happen, today over here, or tomorrow over there. Time and place don’t mean anything. It’s an exercise for me to deliberately think today about what will happen tomorrow; this will help me later on, during the Congress, when all the conditions come together for attaining the required common effort.

This is very important and it determines everything. Later on it will get easier. It’s like preparing for war. If everything is ready and you are willing to do anything for spirituality, then you will see how everything will come together and happen exactly as you had hoped. If you made great efforts from the bottom of your heart, then everything will happen as you wish. There won’t be any unpleasant surprises. Everything will be good.

Imagine how a gang of thieves prepares in the darkness to go on a dangerous operation to rob a bank. Each of them feels that he depends on the rest, and thus he takes care of the rest. There’s a lot for us to learn from this example. The only difference is the goal. If the goal is egoistic and obvious, then it’s very easy and simple to unite. But if the goal is to attain bestowal, which lies above the individual egoistic desires of every person, then it is not easy at all.

Even the examples of our world demonstrate how useful unity can be. The only problem is that nothing can sustain unity besides the Upper Light. Unity can be sustained only by love.

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A question I received: How come problems do not go away even when you understand the cause?

My Answer: This means that you lack the understanding, meaning, the attainment of the cause and the source. Where do these problems come from? They come from my egoism. Why do they come? They come because I am opposite to the Creator. What do I need to do? I need to demand help from the Surrounding Light so I will acquire the quality of bestowal and attain a connection with the Creator; these are my initial goals.

Basically, I need to go through several stages. The ten Sefirot of the Direct Light awaken the ten Sefirot of the Reflected Light within us, causing us to feel pain starting with the first Sefira (Malchut). After the first nine Sefirot, I feel the evil as a stab or a blow when the Light comes from Above and collides with Malchut. And then I must turn this evil into a proper reaction – the nine Sefirot of the Reflected Light.

In other words, I need to understand that this evil did not come from the Creator, but from my egoistic desire, which is opposite to Him. But why am I opposite to Him? Didn’t He create me this way? I need to understand why I was created this way and what I need to do. I have to rise above my egoism, unite with others, and attain the form of Bina. I rise from Malchut to Bina to acquire the quality of bestowal to the full extent, so that Malchut will be included in Bina and the quality of bestowal will influence and fulfill me.

I remain in it, but that’s not all. After that I’ll need to rise even higher – from Bina to Keter. I rise to Keter in order to attain reception for the sake of bestowal, until I unite with the Creator completely. This is the goal, and the reason why I am now receiving the first blow in Malchut, which I perceive as pain. It’s so that I will be able to attain Keter. The entire process must occur inside me inside Malchut of the Direct Light, or stated differently, inside Keter of the Reflected Light. It must take place within the creature’s initial reaction to the Creator. I need to examine all of this, comprehend it, and solve it, so that as a result, a prayer will emerge inside me where I ask, “Give me the strength to ask”! Because I don’t even have that yet.

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A question I received: Why is the upcoming The Zohar Convention 2010 called “Zohar for the Nation?” It’s kind of a loud name, isn’t it?

My Answer: The Zohar is the greatest Light that comes to us from the system of Arich Anpin. It is the Light that corrects us. “For the Nation” means that we want to unite together. It is written, “I dwell inside my nation,” meaning, the Creator dwells inside those who unite into a single whole. The Creator is Light, Love, and Bestowal, and He is revealed inside this unification.

That is why the Congress is named accordingly. Like disconnected pieces, we are trying to draw closer and come together. The Light will change us and weld us together. Like glue, it will enter between us. Thus, the Light of The Zohar changes the nation and so the Congress is called “Zohar for the Nation.” There is nothing mystical about it.

The matter in question is the correction of man, of society, and of the world. I doubt anyone could put up an argument against this. Kabbalah only reveals the good and useful things for humankind.

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A question I received: If you weighed the big Kabbalistic The Zohar Convention 2010 in February dedicated to The Book of Zohar, how many years of study does it substitute on the spiritual scale?

My Answer: I’ll be able to answer that after the Congress, when I can evaluate it. At this point, I don’t know. Everything depends on you, on how much everyone unites and the strength of our unity. The power of our desire to unite will define everyone’s desire to rise above their egoism. Our correction will depend on this. There are no limitations from Above. All the limitations come from us.

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A question I received: Ever since we began studying The Zohar, I feel stronger than before. Could it be that The Zohar grants me strength?

My Answer: The Zohar grants you strength, confidence, and the sensation that you are engaged in the right study process. In addition, changes come quickly when you are studying The Zohar.

It gives you a different inner foundation. You begin to feel a connection to something great, exalted, above our world. The Zohar gives you that sensation, and this is the truth of the matter.

Therefore, we must not only try to read The Zohar as much as possible, but also discern the text within ourselves.

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Two questions I received on study of The Zohar:

Question: If I don’t understand some of the words written in The Zohar, should I look them up in the dictionary?

My Answer: Absolutely not! What for? What could the dictionary possibly tell you?

Question: Should I listen to The Zohar in the language I’m used to speaking?

My Answer: Yes, it’s best to listen to The Zohar in a language you understand. This makes it more difficult. If you are hearing a stream of unknown words, it’s no problem at all – you immediately think about the spiritual world. But this requires no effort on your part.

Suppose you read about the Pharaoh passing through a field of cows, meeting with Moses, and then walking together with him. Is it better to understand this story or not?

If you don’t understand it, you will immediately begin to try and delve into its inner meaning – what does it mean in the spiritual sense, which desires, Lights, screens, and Partzufim are being described, what is happening to them, and is it talking about actions of reception or bestowal?

On the other hand, if you understand the story, it confuses you, making you think you’re reading about occurrences in this world, whereas our task is to read about these occurrences and through them to try to see the spiritual picture. Overcoming the gap between these two pictures is the effort that brings us to spirituality.

A baby doesn’t know what his mother is saying or why the world looks the way it does. A baby doesn’t know what is expected of him, but his efforts to understand help him to grow and become an adult.

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