The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.

Daily Lesson (Morning) August 24, 2024.

Part 3: Lesson on the Topic of “Preparation for Convention.”

Question (Petah Tikva Center): We want to give a report about the congress, about the intentions we want to have at the congress, the study materials, the lessons, the shows, the meals, so we all become integrated in this, incorporated in it. So, first of all, and if possible, we will ask you questions in the process. So, the title of the congress is Getting Stronger in the Ten. We'll be sitting throughout the congress in permanent Tens. And in a talk we had with you, we heard that the goal, from your perspective, is to strengthen the connection in the hearts within the Tens. If you can say a few words about the goal of the congress.

M. Laitman: We hear from the Kabbalists, especially from Baal HaSulam, that the main thing is to reach connection. The connection has to happen between those people, that they are in one group, in the studies, and all kinds of, well, more systems around that. That's why the whole congress, we want to sit in Tens, each one in his Ten. And what else? 

Student: So, each one will be sitting in his Ten during the lessons with you, the meals, the social time, the cultural evenings. We'll go through the whole congress together. 

Reader: (02:07) Report on congress. 

Student: (15:47) Workshop. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (21:33) Now, we'll turn to questions to Rav about the congress. I want to ask the first question. In the congress, we're sitting in permanent Tens during the lessons, the meals, the cultural evenings, we're focusing on the permanent Tens, so I wanted to ask.

M. Laitman: I think that this is also what we're learning, this is what is needed of us in order to be in a more, an extra connection; each one in their Ten. 

Student: Where is the balance between my Ten and the group around, how do you see this combination? 

M. Laitman: All in all, we're all included, incorporated in the group. But each one emotionally belongs more to his Ten.

Student: How does their Ten influence the rest of the Tens in the world Kli? 

M. Laitman: They give an example. Obviously, it's something external, but they give an example. Except for that, we're connected because we have one topic, and we're all discussing it. 

Student: What example can one Ten give to other Tens when we're sitting together in a lesson and listening, what more can we give? 

M. Laitman: I don't know. What are we doing? How is this flowing? Not one lesson, the convention, how does it flow through? 

Student: We come to the lesson, we sit in the lesson together. Each Ten sits at its own table. In the meal, we also sit like that. In breaks, we mix, we mingle, we incorporate. And in social time, when we work on sources or excerpts or in workshops, we sit in our own Tens, that's the nature of the congress. So I'm trying to ask, what example can one Ten give to the other Tens, and what example can it receive from other Tens? 

M. Laitman: Just that external form? Except for that, we also need to understand that we are bestowing internally, every Ten to every other Ten but it's something we can't see, that's in thought and intention.

Student: What's this inner dissemination between the Tens? 

M. Laitman: That we want all the good in each Ten to bestow to everyone, and we will all incorporate in this bestowal, and this is how everyone behaves. 

Student: And where do the Tens unite into one thing toward the Creator? 

M. Laitman: That's already on a spiritual level. 

Student: At the congress, are we aspiring to come to such a state where all of us, all the Tens, the whole group, the whole Kli is in prayer to the Creator? 

M. Laitman: Well, we have such, I think, such connections, no? 

Student: I'm trying to understand the focus. The focus is inside my Ten, between the friends here. 

M. Laitman: Yes, in your Ten, with all the other Tens. There are, I don't know, how many will be there, hundreds of Tens? So in this way we all incorporate in the Tens, from the ones from overseas, the ones from Israel, all of us, except for the Tens that are before us in the hall of the convention. And this is what we need to implement it in a spiritual connection as much as we can.

Student: If other friends have more questions, please. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (26:16) Rav, we have questions from friends here. In the Ten Steps for the Preparation of the congress, in step number three we encouraged the whole World Kli to gather physically, wherever they are. Friends got organized, bought tickets, rented places. So should we still encourage friends to participate physically, because not the whole Ten can be in a physical place, or should friends stay virtual so they can be with their Ten the whole time? 

M. Laitman: If there's no choice, so connect virtually. But if you have the ability, obviously physically is better.

Student: But physically I won't be able to be with my Ten, I'll be with whoever is there physically. 

M. Laitman: Whoever is there.

Student: What should be the relation of those who are not flying? Let's say friends bought tickets and they're coming to Israel, and some are staying virtual from the same Ten. How should those who are staying virtual relate to those who can fly here? 

M. Laitman: It all depends on how the Tens are getting organized. Are they random Tens for that evening, for that day? 

Student: No, you instructed us to be in permanent Tens. Some of the Ten come here, and some don't, some stay virtual. So how should those who are staying there, to work among themselves in the virtual, how should they relate to those who will be here physically? 

M. Laitman: I don't know, it's not good that whoever is here physically will also be connected to whoever is there virtually. 

Student: So those who come should be here.

M. Laitman: With whoever is here, that's what I think. You tell me, according to your experience. How do you feel it? Was there something similar before this? 

Student: I can only say from my experience that when we sit with other friends who are very committed to the path and work wherever we are in the world, then you feel a very strong connection because we are committed to the same goal.

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Student: Another question, how to participate in a congress with permanent Tens and realize ourselves in the physical congresses? Well, it's pretty much the same. Does a Ten have the right to deny, to forbid a friend from going to a physical congress and by this disconnecting from them? 

M. Laitman: I think so. That a Ten can hold on to someone, not let him go, if they think that he's very essential. 

Student: Another question for me. If I've been sitting with these friends for three years in the screens, lessons, not everyone comes every day. Now, I have a chance to go and be physically with the greatest Kabbalist of the 21st century, to participate in duties, to be in a strong environment of another 1,500 or maybe 2,000 people. What's the right thing for me to do for my spiritual development? To go be with my teacher for the week that I'll be here, or to stay another two days in these screens, virtually? 

M. Laitman: I think that on behalf of spiritual advancement, it's more important that he stays with his Ten.

Student: Even though I've been with them for three years each day, and now I can be here physically with you, with the friends from all over the world? 

M. Laitman: I'll learn something from being here, of course, but it's more important to stay with the Ten. 

Student: Yes, okay, because we see that people who come here for a congress, the spirit that they get here sustains them for years, and when they stay in the Ten, many times people just dry out and drop out, and people who come here are given strength for years.

M. Laitman: I understand that, especially for beginners that, well ones that aren't in Lishma yet, yes? You're right, that's why I don't know how to determine to which direction. 

Student: Maybe friends in the world want to ask, because there are many, many questions. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (31:46) I wanted to ask about the stands we're going to have in the breaks, the bestowal stands. The whole congress will be sitting in the Ten and working deeply in the Ten. During the breaks, each Ten sets up a stand, there are all kinds of stands, glasses of bestowal. 

M. Laitman: That's not important. What? 

Student: Well all kinds, but we want to have an atmosphere that those who are walking about here, there'll be an atmosphere, and it's an opportunity to give an example, so I wanted to ask about this example. 

M. Laitman: I don't know. You need to prepare yourself.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (32:51) We have three weeks to prepare for the congress. I know that in the preparation, the Ten really unites, it has this intimacy, and also a big event forward. Now, at the congress, there's no intimacy that a Ten needs in order to really connect. There are many disturbances, and often the feeling is that the size of the event kind of dissolves the focus, the concentration that a Ten needs in order to really unite. So I don't know how to... 

M. Laitman: It all depends on the preparation. The preparation needs to be according to that. Talk more, as much as you need to be connected to the task, to the Ten, each one and what they are.

Student: The preparation, so that the congress doesn't dissipate us, but actually focuses us? 

M. Laitman: Yes. Guys, you're not included in the audience, that's why I don't want to ask you.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (34:12) I want to continue the friend's questions because it's very important. In the world Kli, there are many small groups with ten  maybe, or many people, but maybe only two or three come to the morning lessons regularly, and the atmosphere they have is such that is, well, when they get together, they talk about all kinds of stuff, sometimes not so serious, it's very light-headed. But some friends do yearn there for more internal relations, they want to come over to us in order to bring there the spirit. So how do you relate to it? Do you see it, if you see it from this perspective, how do you relate to it? 

M. Laitman: We need to understand why they're coming, and how we need to bestow upon them that they get the right impression, that will strengthen our groups overseas, it's very important.

Student: So if we look at it from this perspective, then is it preferable for them to come here in order to bring the spirit back there and strengthen the group? 

M. Laitman: If it didn't depend on money and on the organizations that could be tying them there, so I'd say to everyone to come, but what can you do? The time doesn't really support this. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (36:29) I wanted to ask regarding the congress, and permanent Tens, and this whole gathering that's happening. One of the beautiful things about congresses used to be that people come from all over the world, from Israel, and there is this general connection so to speak. Now, how should this be expressed if the focus of a person is only within his Ten all the time? 

M. Laitman: Not all the time, he also has to be mixed in all kinds of other things. 

Student: Yes, but what does it mean involved? Right now, throughout the congress, you're constantly in your Ten. So where are all the meetings, when are you with the rest of the friends? 

M. Laitman: Now you're not with everybody? 

Student: I am, but the bottom line is that I'm with my Ten 99% of life.

M. Laitman: And what do you want it to be? 

Student: What do we want? Well, I don't know, usually congresses… 

M. Laitman: All in all what, a 100 or 150 people coming? 

Student: Almost 200 right now. 

M. Laitman: So almost 200, even 200, so you see it's still, it’s a small quantity. 

Student: Yes, but I'm asking in principle, not just necessarily in terms of numbers. Some people also come from places in Israel. I want to ask about this principle. Usually in congresses, one of the things that would happen was this general incorporation that gave you strength, that carried you. And here in the congress, because everything was so kind of enthralling, was carrying you away, you didn't find yourself with a Ten. So the question is, well, maybe that was right for that time, and now it's not appropriate anymore? 

M. Laitman: I can't say. Now you're not sitting in Tens.

Student: Right now we are sitting in our Tens. 

M. Laitman: In your Tens. 

Student: Now, of course.

M. Laitman: I don't know, I do not know, I can't say. How to disconnect from your own group, each and every one, and to incorporate with strangers, well, strangers, you know, that you weren't in contact with. And to receive them all together in a connection and get positive bestowal, it's not simple.

Student: I hear what you're saying very sharply about the need to be inside the Ten. I'm just asking, out of this situation where you're constantly inside your own Ten, how should you relate to the rest of the friends, those from Israel, the rest of Israel, those from the world, or do you only concentrate on your Ten and everything will be okay? 

M. Laitman: They're all affecting me in a surrounding way, but actually I get the impression from the ones I'm working with in the congress. 

Student: Am I going to sit with the rest of the people, am I going to gather with them, am I going to have Yeshivat Haverim with them, drink with them, or do I completely or am I completely disconnected from them? There's a general impression, we have a general atmosphere and that's it, that's the end of it. 

M. Laitman: What do we need to do in order for after the congress to go back to our own Tens, each one to his own, and to enter in there with a true connection? So what do we need to do? Answer me. 

Student: I don't know. Right now, at no moment are we getting out of the Ten. Before the congress, during the congress, after the congress, I'm constantly in activities inside my Ten. I don't have, even during breaks, there are breaks, but they’re there, too. 

M. Laitman: So what do you recommend, I'm asking everybody. What to do? What should we vote? I don't know.

Student: I'm not doubting. I just want to ask how does this general thing, one, strengthen my connection within the Ten? I don't have a question about whether I should be inside the Ten or not. I'm asking how does this atmosphere strengthen my connection in the Ten, and what is my relation to this whole atmosphere? 

M. Laitman: So the atmosphere is a general atmosphere, like I said, surroundings, but inside, in the Ten, we’re there internally. And we need to strengthen, especially internally, each one in their own.  

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (42:04) This inclination to want to be, to want to incorporate with more friends, with friends who are not in my permanent Ten, is this a correct tendency, or is it avoiding the real work that needs to be done? 

M. Laitman: Can you incorporate with everybody now? 

Student: No, but I can sit with other friends and talk to them in a workshop, to mingle with them physically. I see we have this tendency to constantly want to connect with more friends, to come out of our little circles, and I hear you more and more sharply saying that the focus is precisely here. Try to renew yourself with the friends in the Ten, you don't lack anything here. What do I do with this drive that I have to be with more friends, to feel? 

M. Laitman: I don't think it's something you need. You have to search and find in your Ten all of those goals you want to attain in a more external connection.

Student: There is everything, the friends that I sit with in the Ten, I study with them, there is everything there.

M. Laitman: So what do you want? I’m with you.

Student: But I want to say something. I want to say that in the preparation for the congress, and we also spoke with you, at least in meals, like soon we're going to go to the morning Shabbat meal. We decided to sit all together in a permanent Ten, even during this meal now and in the hummus meal as well. I'm talking about the men who are getting together now. And in the community meals, we will mingle, sit wherever we want.

M. Laitman: Okay. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (44:11) I want to continue the scrutiny we just had. The focus of the Ten, there's a difference between studying together now in the Tens and together with the World Kli, or when we come to the congress as a Ten, and in the Ten, do we focus on the same things, or is there a difference at the congress? 

M. Laitman: Well, what do you feel?

Student: I don't know, I thought that maybe at the congress we should focus more on how we, as a Ten, influence everyone. Maybe how we connect with everyone as a Ten, not as one individual person searching to sit with someone, but how we, as a Ten, give strength to everyone, give to everyone, do the stand that we do, etc.. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: So there is a difference. 

M. Laitman: There is. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (45:35) The congress is a one-time opportunity for a Ten to connect in itself. 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Student: Because we constantly have our disturbances of life, and the congress is an opportunity to connect within itself, it gives people power to rise above the disturbances. It's such a powerful event that what we can't overcome in regular days, it gives us the strength to get consolidated. It doesn't cancel my desire to sit with him and him and him and her, but it's an opportunity for every Ten to connect. I don't see the problem, we're not using the power of the congress. 

M. Laitman: What do you want to tell us? 

Student: That it's great that we're sitting in permanent Tens, and to get strength with all my might, and it's not that it's not okay that I didn't do anything. 

M. Laitman: That's what we decided also before, it's just talking. Who else wants? 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (46:54) After all the questions and scrutinies of friends that we had now, the question is, in light of all this, what is the essence of our convention? 

M. Laitman: Without the connection, we don't attain the goal. That's it. Clear? So we were already in many congresses, now we want to try and do it in the Ten, each and every one. 

Student: The way I feel it, it seems like I'm going to, I don't know, envelop myself in my Ten and perform another, an additional act of connection in this congress. So what is this additional act of connection when I'm wrapped in my Ten? 

M. Laitman: So wrap with all the other Tens and together with them in the Shechina.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (48:17) In the last few days, we've focused on studying excerpts about love of friends. It's always relevant, but it really feels like it's daily work in the Tens. The congress is also in Tens. In love of friends, we already have experience, it's not something external, it's inner work. So what is the inner work in love of friends so we prepare ourselves this way toward the congress?

M. Laitman: Read articles about it, the articles of Rabash. What to demand of love of friends, all kinds of things. Don't ask me, it's just questions.

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (49:05) Is the best preparation to come to the congress, is it to raise the Shechina from the dust and with fear? That's what we should focus on? 

M. Laitman: Yes, and it's done by the connection between us. That we’ll implement love of your friend as yourself between us. 

Student: This is called raising the Shechina from the dust? 

M. Laitman: These aren’t questions, where are we pointing? So, that's it, if by this all questions end for now? 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (49:59) What's the problem if someone comes to the congress physically and with his phone he's still with his Ten? Or let's say he comes here, let's say a friend from Latin America comes, there's a table of Spanish speakers, but each one with his own phone is connected with his Ten? 

M. Laitman: So, then he's like, he's actually there? 

Student: He's there because that's the Ten he works with. Is it a problem? Although he's here in Petah Tikva with everyone, but his work is with the Ten and not with those who he's meeting here. 

M. Laitman: What does it mean that he's there and he's here? 

Student: He is here. Let's say if there are workshops, he'll do it via phone with his own Ten, if there are workshops. If there's no workshop, he'll be watching his Ten through his phone, he'll be looking at them, he'll be working with them, he'll see that they are together with him even though he's here. The main thing is his Ten, not that he is here, he's just a representative here.

M. Laitman: What's a representative? We don't need representatives, we want to give a place for everyone who wants to incorporate and perform some spiritual work, specifically by connecting with a big audience. But if by being here and connecting to his Ten over there, for two and a half people let's say, I don't know even how many. So  that's a question, that's a question what he's doing it for. I wouldn't recommend that. 

Student: Will it disturb him? 

M. Laitman: For him and everyone. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (51:55) I hear that what is important is that if I have a strong permanent Ten that comes every day, I have to be with them. And if I'm only building myself in the beginning, as a beginner, then maybe I should come and be incorporated physically? 

M. Laitman: You said it, so... 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (52:25) If I may, our friend would like to ask, a friend from Chicago would like to ask.

Question (USA Midwest): (52:55) During the congress in Israel, there'll be many mirror congresses, and there's a situation in many Tens that some of the friends will be able to go to a mirror congress, and others will not be able to. If we approach it out of the principles we heard today, it turns out that it's preferable for either the whole Ten to  come to mirror congresses or the whole Ten stays virtual. And then it turns out that some of the congresses will dissolve, or they'll have much fewer friends. What should we do in such a state? 

M. Laitman: What do you recommend? 

Student: Well if the participation is a must to participate in the permanent Ten, then there's no choice here. Either the whole Ten is physically in one place, or the whole Ten is virtually in one place. We heard that if part of the Ten is physically in one place, then it's not supposed to be via phone or via laptop to connect with the friends who stayed virtual. 

M. Laitman: True. 

Student: Is this the right approach? That either the whole Ten comes physically to mirror congress, or to Israel, or the whole Ten stays virtual and participates in the congress? 

M. Laitman: What can I do? It depends on the means people have, their work. It depends on many reasons, hence I cannot say. Of course it's good, a person stays in his Ten, or he’ll be here with his Ten, or wherever he lives. I don't know what to do with it  though. 

Student: Who will help me make such a decision? 

M. Laitman: There cannot be a decision. Let's say there's 150, 200 people who can make it here. I don't even think it's that many, but let's say they will come here. But Tens in principle remain with their Tens.

Student: Should each Ten make its own decision about it? 

M. Laitman: In principle, yes. The Ten can solve all of its problems. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (56:30) From my personal experience, for 14 years I've been in congresses, I've always been playing in the musicians' Ten. I want to say that if we come to bestow into the congress, incorporating with other deficiencies that we're not with on a day-to-day basis, and in our hearts we want to connect to them because we want to bestow upon the Ten, so this actually gives a lot of strength because we come to bestow. We get new deficiencies, additional ones that usually we’re not with them, and we return to the Ten, it can be great. 

M. Laitman: Okay. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (57:16) Yes, similarly I think every time we go to a congress, not just in Israel, a mirror congress, and friends unite together, it gives a lot of strength, and afterwards we bring back this force. 

M. Laitman: Okay. 

Question (Petah Tikva Center): (57:35) Also from the World Kli, friends are writing that in their Tens they're actually happy that they're coming to represent the World Kli here in Petah Tikva. 

M. Laitman: Okay. What else do we have to do? 

Reader: (57:54) Announcements.