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

Daily Lesson (Afternoon) November 24, 2024

Part 1 Rabash. Record 357. Abraham Begot Isaac

Hello, we're reading the book, the writings of the Rabash, Part 3. Article 357, Abraham Begot Isaac. The study materials you can find on our websites Sviva Tova and Arvut. You can ask questions in live broadcast.

Reading Article: (00:29) Abraham Begot Isaac

It is interpreted about the verse, “Abraham begot Isaac,” that Isaac’s features were similar to those of Abraham, and they all testified that Abraham begot Isaac.. 

We should ask, since the writing says, “These are the generations of Isaac son of Abraham,” and it does not detail who are the generations. Rather, the verse explains about the generations of Isaac that “Abraham begot Isaac.”

To explain the above-said, we should first present the Mishnah, “The world stands on three things: on the Torah, on work, and on doing Hassadim [mercies].” Abraham was called “a man of Hesed,” dedicating his strength to do Hesed [mercy/grace] to people. Isaac is called “the pillar of the work,” dedicating his soul to the altar. Jacob was called “the pillar of the Torah,” as it is written, “Let truth be given to Jacob.” The Torah is called “Torah of truth,” and as it is written, “a complete man, dwelling in tents,” and RASHI interpreted, “The tent of Shem and the tent of Ever, and engaging in the Torah.”

Every person should achieve these three pillars. Previously, these three pillars were revealed one at a time through our patriarchs, each of whom revealed one pillar. After those three pillars were revealed, we have the power to also walk by the same ways that our fathers had paved for us.

For this reason, we are called by the name “a nation of Segula [virtue/power/cure],” for we have the Segula from the inheritance of our fathers to keep the three pillars by which there is existence to the world, meaning that by them the world will exist and achieve the goal for which it was created.

Hence, when the verse comes to clarify the generations of Isaac, meaning which quality of pillars Isaac bequeathed to his sons, the verse interprets “Abraham begot Isaac.” That is, do not think that the generations of Isaac are only the quality of Isaac that he bequeathed to his sons, but rather also the quality of Abraham.

This is the meaning of the words, “These are the generations of Isaac,” meaning those two attributes he placed in Jacob. Hence, from Abraham, whose own quality was only Hesed, emerged Ishmael, and from Isaac, who had his own quality, as well as inclusion with Abraham, emerged Esau. But when he had the three pillars, his complete measure could emerge, to have twelve tribes.

Since our fathers have already bequeathed us with those three pillars, we can easily follow in their footsteps. If a person sees that it is difficult for him to follow in their footsteps, he should pray to the Creator to deliver him. This is not help above nature, since these qualities are already clothed in our fathers.

Precisely in matters that are above nature, it is impossible to pray, as The Zohar explains about why Abraham did not pray for Sarah, who was barren, while Isaac did pray. It explains that Isaac, too, did not pray for Rebecca. The verse makes a precision, “Isaac pleaded on behalf of his wife,” and not “on behalf of Rebecca,” “for she was barren,” since for a barren to have sons is above nature, and he did not pray for above nature, for the Creator to give him such big help.

It follows that once our fathers have extended these three pillars, we must do all that we can and pray to the Creator that we will also be rewarded with these three pillars, which are the existence of the world, meaning to achieve the goal for which the world was created.

Question (W MAK): (07:06) What can we add to the merit of the sacred forefathers in our generation? 

M. Laitman: What we feel, our questions. 

Student: What can our generation prepare for the next generation so that they could finish the correction? 

M. Laitman: We have to do what will be revealed to us as things that are not corrected, deficiencies in our vessels, in our Kelim and all these deficiencies, to leave to our roots all that is corrected. 

Student: What is the Kli of our generation that we can ask for the Creator to support these three pillars? 

M. Laitman: It's Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and here he speaks about what all of these mean, Hesed, Gevura, Tifferet. This we have to detect, identify and manifest in the world.

Question (W MAK 98): (09:08) Why can't I pray for the things that are above nature? And what are those things that are above nature?

M. Laitman: Above nature is the things we can't pray about because we don't reach there. This is above us, above our head, above our prayers.

Student: What do we have to do in order to use correctly what our forefathers have already attained? 

M. Laitman: We have to pray so that our actions are similar to the actions of our forefathers. 

Student: Can we do something wrong, or do we just have to try and we will hit in the right spot, or can we be mistaken? 

M. Laitman: Just try.

Question (Turkiye 2): (10:30) How can we activate these qualities that are hidden from us? 

M. Laitman: We ask for them to be revealed, and we through this revelation, will try to understand what we lack, and with these qualities we'll make a correction. 

Student: In the article it mentions three pillars, so what is the fourth pillar which we cannot see? 

M. Laitman: There are only three, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Question (W Heb 2): (12:02) It says in the Torah that Sarah was barren, and other another barren women are mentioned in the Torah, so what is their correction? Why are they righteous, specifically them? 

M. Laitman: Yes, exactly. The Torah speaks of the righteous women, that they are barren. It means a special correction to bring them to a state of fertility so they can give birth.

Question (W MAK 25): (13:08) How can we pray for the quality of bestowal that is above our nature in order for it not to be a jump above our head, but a true prayer? 

M. Laitman: We have to enter a state that explains the position the Kabbalist is in, that composes this prayer, explains this state. We have to enter this state and then we'll begin to understand and feel the prayer that a person needs in his state. It's as if we will complement his work, so to speak. 

Question (W Polish): (14:27) Why can't we pray for things that are above nature,  because the Creator can change it and He does it, so why can't we ask? 

M. Laitman: We can ask about everything.

Student: There were such things in the text that we cannot pray about things above nature, so it's not clear to me. 

M. Laitman: We can't have anything like this. 

Question (W Spain): (15:11) How can I understand that the prayer is considered above nature, meaning the prayer of Abraham and Sarah. 

M. Laitman: The prayer is above nature because we cannot attain what this prayer needs to pass on to us. That's why, all in all, we pray, and from this prayer, this force comes that helps us to unite, to adhere to each other, to embrace each other, to turn to the Creator and ask Him about correction.

Question (W MAK 43): (16:52) To understand it correctly, that interference of the Creator depends on the readiness of the Kli, and on the level of Abraham, the Kli is yet not ready to work with the restrictions, and on the level of Isaac the vessels are ready and it happens inside the laws of nature.

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (W MAK 51): (17:21) Through what prism do we have to perceive this article? Through the prism of our qualities that are revealed in each of us, or through the society of Israel? 

M. Laitman: Through our qualities. 

Student: The quality of desire to receive, hat has to bear fruit. What is the fruit? Is it desire to receive with the desire to bestow? 

M. Laitman: Yes. 

Question (Eng 1): (18:08) What characterizes the desire called Rebecca? 

M. Laitman: It's one of the qualities we have to reveal in our vessels, and then we'll receive from above, from the Creator, a reaction, the desire in response.

Question (W MAK): (18:58) In the Kli of the Ten, we are infinitely distanced from each other, and in the light we're so close, so how do we connect this Kli, this vessel, with the light? What are the sparks of the Ten that will accept the spark of the Creator? 

M. Laitman: It's too early to talk about that, but we will reach this very soon.

Question (W Heb 2): (19:33) Jacob that sits in a tent where there are two next to him, Shem and Ava, and the ability to give birth to twelve generations, do we already work inside of those twelve? We have three pillars, right? 

M. Laitman: No, we're not in this state yet. It's not for now, but soon we'll reach this state.

Question (W Kyiv 7): (20:22) What does it mean that we're chosen people, and how do you value it, and what do we do with it? 

M. Laitman: They are the souls that gather together and raise man to the Creator, so he brings down the MAD onto us. They unite through this light and receive in this light a portion of advancement.

Student: How do we believe this and how do we value it? 

M. Laitman: We have to do this; we learn this in each lesson. It's too early to think that we're at this, but we're close. 

Question (Hadera 1): (21:37) It is written about two things, that because of those things the world has died. Can you explain these things? 

M. Laitman: It speaks of this in many places, what is Hassadim [mercy], to what extent you can express mercy towards others. 

Student: A lot of organizations do this. What is the difference between the way we treat it, and theirs? 

M. Laitman: I don't know. Check it for yourself. Actually there are many people in the world that are getting close to be in Hafetz Hesed [delighted in mercy].

Question (Petah Tikva 6): (22:43) What is the quality of Abraham that has to be revealed inside of me? 

M. Laitman: Abraham is Hafetz Hesed. He wants to do good to others, to everyone. There isn't a man with a soul bigger than Abraham. 

Student: And then he begets Isaac. What is the quality that he begets this Isaac? 

M. Laitman: This is already smaller than his soul from Abraham, but he can correct the Kelim. That's what he can do, the ones that are lower. 

Student: They say that Isaac is the quality of Gevura.

M. Laitman: Gevura, or literally overcoming, is what can work against the desire to receive. 

Student: What is Yaakov, Jacob? 

M. Laitman: Yaakov, Jacob, means that he can unite the two, Abraham and Jacob. That's why he's considered the main one.

Student: He's called Tifferet. What does it mean? 

M. Laitman: Tifferet because he's beautiful. He shines, illuminates for everyone and everyone wants to be similar to him. 

Student: Why does he illuminate? What is inside of him? 

M. Laitman: This is the illumination. Tifferet, on the one hand, is the quality of Abraham.

On the other hand, the quality is of Isaac. So, according to the forces, the general force between them is called Tifferet. Tifferet, by itself, is what shines high and covers everything.

Student: Abraham is something we can understand, but what is Gevura of Isaac? 

M. Laitman: The Gevura of Isaac, we'll have to learn this. The Gevura of Isaac is that he wasn't afraid to go out against those that were against him. Eventually, he managed to overcome and brought the whole nation of Israel to correction. 

Question (W Turkiye 7): (26:37) In the text, it is said that there is no prayer for what's above nature. What is called above nature? Are there such states in our studies? 

M. Laitman: Also, in our study, there are states that are above nature, yes. 

Student: Why is the quality of Abraham so important? It is so important that it's considered a pillar. Why is this quality very important?

M. Laitman: The quality of Abraham is special because he is above everyone. His qualities, all the negative qualities, in the desire to receive.

Student: In the article, it says that only after we revealed these three qualities, we will get the strength to walk in the path of truth. Since I don't have these three qualities in me, how do I find strength to walk in this path of truth? And I don't want to walk within my ego either. What should I do? How do I find the strength to walk in the path of truth and not in the path of ego? 

M. Laitman: It’s all from the Creator, so that you relate to the Creator, and it’s very important that actually you’ll receive everything from the Creator.

Question (W Turkiye 7): (30:19) Sometimes when I look at the people, I feel very close to them. My heart feels so warm towards them. Why do I feel like this? Is it because of the Hesed quality in them? 

M. Laitman: Maybe yes, maybe no. This we will scrutinize. We learned a little bit about how to enter and scrutinize the qualities of Adam, of a person. 

Question (W Turkiye 10): (31:40) What are the qualities of three pillars we have to differentiate for these qualities to be manifested in this world? 

M. Laitman: Well, it's Abraham, it's Isaac and Jacob, or Hesed, Gevura, Tiffert, three pillars, three qualities. If we can identify them inside of ourselves, or in the forces that come to us, then we can combine those forces, connect them, and with their help, we can penetrate the spiritual field. 

Question (W Moscow 6): (32:28) What does it mean, how do we make up for the work of the Kabbalists? 

M. Laitman: This is a kind of question that I cannot answer. There is a whole myriad of all kinds of actions. 

Question (W Baden-W): (32:55) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob. These qualities are on each degree? Do I understand correctly? 

M. Laitman: No. 

Question (W MAK 23): (33:22) What is the quality of mercy? What does it mean to be merciful? 

M. Laitman: You don't know what this quality means in our world? 

Student: It means to be good to everyone, treat everyone with love. 

M. Laitman: Well, let's say it's the same. 

Student: Should we try to build the same in the Ten, to build the qualities of the Creator? Is mercy the quality of the Creator? 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (W MAK 98): (33:58) Should each person come to these three pillars separately? Is this individual work? 

M. Laitman: That's the personal work of every person. 

Student: And here it says that the forefathers revealed each one his own thing, and do we have to come to all three? 

M. Laitman: Yes.

Question (W Turkiye 5): (34:41) In the article, it is written that praying for a woman that is barren is above nature. Can we come to such a prayer that’s above nature?

M. Laitman: We can arrive, we can reach it faster. We don’t have a lot left in order to come close to the qualities that are above nature.

Question (W MAK 104): (35:09) Can we say that in the quality of Abraham, we direct all our efforts at the good of the other? In the quality of Isaac, we correct our desires for bestowal? And in the quality of Jacob, we walk in faith above reason? 

M. Laitman: Yes. For the time being, that's correct. 

Question (Lithuania 1): (35:45) The chosen nation is Israel?  Here it says that because we have the ability, the Segula, we inherited from the forefathers. Do you work in that when you study Kabbalah? 

M. Laitman: Yes, it's awakened in every person eventually. It doesn't matter who he is by birth.

Question (W Europe 1): (36:19) What are the qualities of Esau and Ishmael mentioned in this article?

M. Laitman: We will study it. Esau is the evil inclination inside of a person. Ishmael is a combination of evil inclination with the forces of the soul. We will study this.

Question (W Heb 2): (37:18) We speak a lot of the prayer. When I read the prayer book, I see many things that we have to speak, whisper. There are some things about how to read it. What is this? 

M. Laitman: We're not studying this and you also don't need this. I don't do this. 

Question (W Spain): (37:48) In the article it says that the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. What does it mean that they begot each other and the posterity of each one of them? 

M. Laitman: He mentions Isaac, the son of Abraham, in order to underline that Isaac has results of his father inside of him, of Abraham. 

Question (W MAK 114): (38:59) Can a person come to Kabbalah in Lishma straight away? 

M. Laitman: Never. Never.

Student: Another question. If you have the realization that you are a sinner, that I'm more dead than the dead, if I'm not only unhappy because of this, this life doesn't bring me joy, but also the future. How do we come to a state where we bring the whole world and myself to the scale of merit? 

M. Laitman: That's big work. 

Student: Prayer?

M. Laitman: Can I help you here in this? You have to figure it out yourselves. 

Question (W Italy): (39:56) Abraham is a great soul. He has a desire for all and includes all desires. How can we think big to correct ourselves big?

M. Laitman: Only through study and prayer.

Question (W French): (40:41) We still don't understand what is above nature about which you can't pray in a Ten. 

M. Laitman: We haven't come to this yet. We don't feel this yet. 

Student: Another question. You have explained that Rebecca is righteous on the one hand, on the other hand she is barren. How can it be that she is righteous but barren? 

M. Laitman: A righteous that is not corrected? Torah, on purpose, gives us this example so that we could learn how it all affects our qualities and how we can avoid this. 

Question (W Turkiye 7): (42:03) What do we have to do to reveal these qualities of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

M. Laitman: Study. Read the weekly portion and study what is written. Every time, more and more. 

Question (W Spain): (42:50) In the article it says that Abraham is Hesed, Isaac is pillar? and Jacob is Pillar.? What is the role of all these forefathers? 

M. Laitman: I cannot explain it to you at this time, but we will proceed and we will study this soon.

Question (W Baden-W): (43:33) Through these qualities of these forefathers we can enter the spiritual field and there is also this quality of the twelve tribes. How can this help us, all these qualities? How do we start our work? How can these qualities help us find the right direction? 

M. Laitman: We start from the point where we connect all together in one group, women separately and men separately. Everyone unites around the weekly portion. 

Student: All the spiritual is close. How can we see this in our society? Our spiritual field is Bnei Baruch. Through unity, how can we identify these qualities? 

M. Laitman: We will study it, but I am happy that you are asking each time about things like that. We are approaching them. 

Question (MAK 11): (45:07) Do These qualities of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob exist in each desire? 

M. Laitman: In every person. 

Student: And in each desire, should we not try and dissect it and find these qualities? 

M. Laitman: No.

Question (MAK 24): (45:37) Can we see this article in such a way that we can only work with the current degree we are on? And the one that is one higher when we take it as a goal for our prayer? 

M. Laitman: That is what we do. 

Student: So, not allowed means it is not possible? 

M. Laitman: No. Basically, everything is possible.

Question (W MAK 70): (46:15) What does the twelve tribes in the spiritual mean and how can we consider this in our work? 

M. Laitman: Inside of our soul, there are twelve steps, and we have to always choose three of them, Keter, Hochma, Bina, or Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And then three more, three more, three lower and three lower. And this is how we have three and three. Three multiplied by four equals twelve steps. 

Question (W Europe 1): (47:09) I’m not clear about this. The article says that Abraham could not pray for Sarah because she was barren, but Isaac prayed for Sarah. What does that mean? 

M. Laitman: We cannot say this here. Your questions are good, but this is higher than what we're studying right now. Wait for another month and we will study it. 

Question (W Kyiv 7): (48:06) Here it says how to gather all these twelve tribes, twelve qualities. What does it mean to gather them, to collect them? 

M. Laitman: We're jumping, we're far from that.

Student: You know, for dissemination, to understand this.

M. Laitman: No need to talk about this stuff. It's like a child.

We're talking about important things, what we want to attain, what our soul consists of. How do we manifest these qualities and work with them? And you're like a little girl. 

Student: How do I identify those qualities? Yes, I meant to have this in front of us as a direction.

M. Laitman: We will have direction, and we'll have basis for it. Then you will hear, and you will receive it. 

Question (W MAK 62): (49:19) What does it mean to feel these qualities, Abraham, Jacob, Isaac? Is this my sensory reaction? How do I know these qualities exist in me?

M. Laitman: Every one of us has them. 

Student: How do I work with them? 

M. Laitman: How do you work with them? We're going to be studying. For the time being, like this, approximately. 

Student: So, there are feelings when I read the sources and my reaction to this is that it's my blood. 

M. Laitman: Yes, let's say it's like this.

Re-Reading Article: (50:16) Abraham Begot Isaac

Announcements: (56:42)

Song: (57:11)