Ohr Makif

I’m happy to announce that the web site of Kabbalah Institute of America - Ohr Pnimi (Inner Light in Hebrew) is up and running.

What you will find on the site:

- General Information about the Institute

- Recorded lessons on Kabbalistic texts (updated weekly!)

- Kabbalistic insight on weekly parsha based on Zohar (updated weekly!)

- Using the site you can ask Rav questions directly

- Discussion Forum will be also available shortly

Address: http://ohrpnimi.com/

I found this explanation interesting and wanted to share it with you:

Once, a Russian prince asked Rabbi Itzaleh of Volozhin why non-Jews
will be expected to praise G-d for His kindness to Israel. Rabbi
Itzaleh replied “The princes of the nations constantly plot our
annihilation, but our merciful G-d foils your plans. You keep your
plots so secret that we Jews don’t even realize in how many ways you
have tried to harm us and in how many ways G-d has saved us. Only you,
the nations of the non-Jewish world, truly see the extent of G-d’s
kindness to us, and therefore only you can praise Him adequately.

- Source: Based on an idea heard from Rabbi Reuven Subar

The following question was posted on the blog “Felix, thank you for this clear explanation. Just a question: I thought that Shame only appeared in Stage 4 and led to the first restriction of the light. In stage 2, I understood that what pushes the Kli to give to the creator is more a desire for imitation rather than shame. Like a child wants to imitate his father, but finds he cannot because he has not the required skills or strength. Is this correct?”

The question reflect the 4 stages of direct light, which is the essence of the whole creation. Let’s quickly review the stages to ensure that the answer understood.

• Stage 0 - Shoresh (Keter/Kutzo shel Yod) - The thought of the Creation. Since there is no time & space in spiritual, once Hashem “thought” about the creation, it immediately appeared as can be seen from Stage 1

• Stage 1 - Bhina Aleph (Hochma/Yod) - A vessel (not yet a kli, as it’s still very close to Hashem) appears filled with Divine Light

• Stage 2 - Bhina Beth (Bina/Hey) - Just as cup with hotliquid warms due to the heat of the liquid inside it, the vessel starts to attain the qualities of light. It doesn’t feel shame per se, but it wants to emitate the light, i.e. to give rather than receive, and thus it decides to excpel the light as act of bestowal

• Stage 3 - Bhina Gimel (Z”A/Vav) -Since light is what sustains the vessel, the vessel can’t be without it. It also feels that it doesn’t fullfil the desire of Hashem and thus decides to Receive some light as well as give it back

• Stage 4 - Bhina Dalet (Malchut/Hey) - The vessel has some light in it, but not all of it. It feels the desire to receive it all, and thus opens up completely without restriction. Thus this stage is called Malchut - Kingdom in Hebrew - Kingdom of desires, i.e. the lowest of places where our desires rule over us

The natual question is - what’s the difference between stage 2 and stage 4?

The difference is very subtle, but the most important one. In stage 2 the vessel was driven by light, and thus decided to excepl it due to the qualities that it obtained from it. In stage 4, the vessel makes its own decision, i.e. this whole process was made for only one, and the most important factor - to create freedom of choice.

Only after the vessel became KLI and made the choice to be filled with light, the worlds and restrictions (tzimzumim were made). Thus if you want to know where you’re in the “spiritual geography” the answer is - you’re in the Malchut of World Asiya.

Hope it helps.

Page with information about Kabbalistic group in Tri-State area was added today.

Click on “OurRav” to get details about our group, that studies with Rav Okowita - student and follower of Rav Baruch Shalom Ashlag, firstborn son of great sage Yehuda Ashlag, known as Baal HaSulam for his world recognized commentaries on Zohar called HaSulam - the Ladder.

Out of all famous Kabbalists, I have been always fascinated the most with the character of Rabi Akiva. I can’t say exactly why, but from the moment that I heard his story - the story of someone who started to study Torah at age 45, became the greatest of his generation with over 25,000 students - the story of true love between man and woman, the story of personal sacrifices and dedication to find the truth and attain the Creator, made great impression on me.

I therefore was shocked when I heard that some entities firmly state that Rabbi Akiva was not Jewish, and use this as excuse to push Kabbalah to masses. I bought a book that clarified the history of Rabbi Akiva, who’s grandfather converted to Judaism and thus Rabbi Akiva was 100% Jewish. I highly recommend the book, and even though it’s narrated in easy language it paints a vivid picture of the life of his truly amazing character. LINK TO BOOK 

My Rav was also surprised to hear such statement, but unlike me he pointed to exact sources that talk about the history of Rabbi Akiva. Here is what he wrote to me on this topic

“ *Regarding the  absurd idea that Rebbe Akiva was a goy; In the middle of a discussion in the Gemarah Mesechtas Brachos daf chaf zion amud bais (page 27b) it says regarding Rebbe Akiva “deles ley zchoos avos” “that he doesn’t have the merit of Forefathers” . One of the Meforshim on that page of Gemorah, Rav Nissim Gaon, explains that this comment is in conjunction with a different Gemorah were it says that “there are   from the children’s children of Sisrah (a non-Jew),that studied Torah in Jerusalem” which is referring to Rebbe Akiva. We see then that rebbe Akiva was the descendent of a convert and that is why he is lacking the merit of Forefathers. The Rambam states that it was actually Rebbe Akivas Father who converted to become a Jew. In any case it is quite clear that our Teacher the Holy Rebbe Akiva was Jewish !!”

I hope this clarifies the topic a bit. At any rate, if you have anything interesting to add - I’m always hungry to learn more about Rabbi Akiva.

One of my students wrote me a message that contained the following assertion:

… “Love your neighbor as yourself” statement (by the way, this statement was never mentioned in Torah but it became a cornerstone of New Testament  with some rabbies saying it first came from  Hillel).

Frankly saying I was always curious to find the precise spot where this quote came from, and thus decided to ask my Rav. Here is his answer:

“ As for your students remarks, I’m sure they are all good intended people,but they really are missing the basics!  In the Torah in Sefer Vayikrah Perek Yud Tes (19) Pasuk Yud Ches (18) (Parshas Kedoshim) it says clearly “Veahavtah Leraiacha Kemocha” “Love you neighbor as yourself”!!! And yes the Gemorah Shabbos Daf Lamed Alef (31) discusses how Hillel quoted the Aramaic version of this saying to a Ger.    “

It’s common misconception to believe that there is only one school that studies according to Baal-HaSulam method.

During my reseach I found  many good and reliable places that follow Sulam methodology - most of them are on advanced levels, yet they won’t reject anyone that has true desire to learn.

I hope that links below will be helpful:

http://www.obshalom.org/    -Rav Gotlib. Studied over 20 years with Rabash, one of the closest students of Rebe. Author of famous book “HaSulam”. On the site, you’ll find many recorded lessons as well as ability to watch daily lessons live from the bes-medrash. Rav Gotlib build yeshiva and established community that operates according to vision of Ball-HaSulam

http://www.hasulam.co.il/     -Rav Sinai. Studied with Rabash, now teaches according to Baal-HaSulam methods. Many recorded lessons on site. Ability to watch live lessons and ask Rav questions

http://www.ashlag.com/       - followers of Baal-HaSulam (only site - no materials)

http://www.ashlagbaroch.org/   - authentic materials from Rabash. Many interesting photos

http://mudaut.co.il/                  - another school that studies according to Baal-HaSulam. Many materials and recorded lessons

http://www.mysefer.com/      - great book store, where you’ll find authentic Kabbalistic books without outside modifications

It’s said by sages - “HaAdam lomed eifo she-libo hafetz” (person trully studies where his heart is comfortable), and I therefore urge everyone to explore the possibilities!

Best of luck,

Felix

My dear friends,

It has been awhile since I spoke with most of you, and I wanted to share few things before the routine speed of life overwhelms us after the congress…

During the feast in Meron, to honor Baal-HaSulam for the completion of Zohar commentary, our great teacher made his famous speech for his students and followers. His message pivtos on the one and only goal that essentially captures the whole wisdom of Kabbalah — “Dvikut Be-Boreh” (Adherence to the Creator), and the inner work to get us to this state.

I’ve learned a lot with my friends from NY group, but at some point I felt that I’m not advancing anymore. I spent quite some time trying to figure out what I’m doing wrong, until I came to reazlization that with so many activities in such highly paced environment - one thing was constantly missing, and this is the thing that Baal-HaSulam talked about in his speach- the inner work, the work that one has to perform every single day, every hour, every moment - work without which all our actions become nothing but external dressings, to which Rabash once reffered to as “Body without soul”.

Unfortuntaly Bnei Baruch is structured in such way that one has no opportunity to ask himself these questions, as well seek guidance from the group, I therefore tried to find how students of Rabash dealt with such situations. During my research I stubmled upon one group, led by Rabash student, then discovered one more, and then another, and in such order found people that were directly connected to Rebe and studied with him in the past. I do have to confess that it wasn’t easy to find them nor get the opportunity to talk to them, but at the end I did have chance to speak with some of them. Unlike all the warnings we heard from our Rav, they all strictly follow Sulam and Rabash teachings, whith only one “slight” difference from us that was common to absolutely all the groups that follow Sulam methodology - their focus on the inner work.

Needless to say how misarable I felt when I realized that I couldn’t join these groups as most of them study in Israel. I kept calling more and more people only to get the same answer - “we would love to help you, but we don’t have anyone in your area”. Only one group left on my list, which I kept pushing aside as their Rabbi looked a bit scary on the photo. Yeah, I know it sounds funny - but imagine you meeting Rabash or Sulam on the street without knowing who they are. Look closely to their photo, and I’m sure you would be staying away from such folks if you were to bump into them on a street. :))) Anyhow, I did call this number, and instead of the typical answer they gave me a phone of someone and I quote “who lives in the US, and knows very well the material and method of Baal HaSulam”.

To make this story short: this “someone” apperntly was studying with Rabash for quite awhile. He was in the group before Rav Laitman came and was there during this time as well. He left Israel before the death of the Rebbe but was maintaing tight contact with him and the group. He now lives in NJ - one hour away from my home.

I have been studying with him for a few weeks now…

As much as I want to share what I feel, I can’t find the words to describe it. The closest I can get is probably to compare watching movie on B&W vs. color TV - same movie, same material, same articles by Sulam, but the depth, the granularity, the taste - simply can’t be compared.

I asked whether the Rav would be open to teaching more people and he gladly agreed. Knowing BB standards I questioned what would be required from students and got the following answer - “only one thing: desire to learn and continually grow in observance of Torah and Mitzvot”. He doesn’t put any pre-conditions and demands such as maaser, dissemination, etc - as long as one has desire to attain, he is welcome to join and study. Of course there is always the option of “connecting virutally for dissemination while ensuring that maaser is payed on time, and once a week meeting in someone’s living room with a bottle of beer to watch yeshivat haverinm” vs. studying Talmud Eser HaSefirot and Zohar , but that’s the beauty of this world - we always have choices to make.

Anyhow, I wanted to thank you for the time we had spent together and to wish you all the best. If you want to learn more about the studies feel free to drop me a note at any time.

With love,

Felix.

Still believe in it? Well, then it’s a must read article:

BLOOMBERG

Yes, I know that I’m so notoriously late with new posts, but I’ve been so busy with new events that I didn’t have a moment for you, my dear readers.  That all said, I truly want to share my excitement with you on several events that we’re planning in the group:

1. North American Kabbalah Congress - yes, it happens and it happens NOW. Continuing our congress in Israel, we’re happy to present Kabbalah Congress in the US that will take place on May 30th - June 1st 2008 in Ellenville, NY. It’s your chance to meet the greatest Kabbalists of our generation including our one and only - Rav Laitman - with lessons that you will never forget and that will change your life forever.
Dateline: New York, Toronto, St Louis, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, LA and all points east & west on the continent.
The Preparation for the North American May Congress is well under way. The new level of connection and mutual involvement of the American groups in building all the parts of this event, is unlike anything we’ve worked on together here. It is as though we are building a new creature as we discover new ways to work with each other and the world kli. The New Blog for this historic event, is now open. There, in English, Russian, Hebrew and Spanish, you will find preparation materials, inspirational messages about the friend’s desires for goal, video clips, new songs, information and plans.

You can find out about the theme of the congress, all the information for cultural programs and details of registration.  We can’t wait to be together with you again!

www.kabbalahcongress.org

2. Purim - we’re working with our Haverim from Stamford on grand event to celebrate Purim. A few hundred people are expected to arrive from multiple states. This is going to be THE Kabbahlistic celebration of this special holiday that the US has ever seen!!!

3. Fliers - we’re printing 4,000 fliers that will be distributed in New York City as advertisement of our free new course in English that will start soon in Manhattan. Interested in registering?

4. NYC event - meet the NYC Kabbalistic group. Over 200 people that either heard about Kabbalah or attended a course voted YES on our survey that was aimed to identify people who would like to enlist in our continued education. We’re currently looking for a space in the city that can accommodate us for this incredible event and will announce where and when it will happen shortly.

5. Pesach - yes, we’re preparing for Purim, but we’re also planning to host major meal for all Israelies in the area. Let them hear the true story of battle between ego and light, and how Creator lead us from slavery of ego into freedom of bestowal.

If you’re interested to learn more about any of these events, leave me a comment with your contact information, and I’ll get back to you shortly.