The transcript has been transcribed and edited from English simultaneous interpretation, thus there may be potential semantic inaccuracies within it.
Daily Lesson (Morning) January 22, 2025.
Part 1: Baal HaSulam. The Arvut (Mutual Guarantee). #19.
Reader: Hello, we are studying from the writings of Baal HaSulam, in Hebrew page 393, studying “The Arvut” article, we’re on Item 19. You can find this article and all of our study materials on our website, on Sviva Tova, and in the Arvut system. You can also send us questions there live.
Reader: Writings of Baal HaSulam article the Arvut, Item 19.
Reading: (00:33) The Arvut [Mutual Guarantee]. 19) Rabbi Elazar, son of Rashbi, clarifies the matter of Arvut even further. It is not enough for him that all of Israel be responsible for one another, but the whole world is included in the Arvut. Indeed, there is no dispute here, for everyone admits that initially, it is enough to begin with one nation for the observance of the Torah, meaning for the beginning of the correction of the world, as it was impossible to begin with all the nations at once. It is as they said that the Creator went with the Torah to every nation and tongue, and they would not receive it. In other words, they were immersed in the filth of self-love up to their necks, some in adultery, some in robbery and murder and so on, until it was impossible to even conceive, in those days, to even ask if they agreed to retire from self-love.
Therefore, the Creator did not find a nation, or a tongue qualified to receive the Torah, except for the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, whose ancestral merit reflected upon them, as our sages said, “The fathers observed the whole Torah even before it was given.” This means that because of the exaltedness of their souls, they could attain all the ways of the Creator with respect to the spirituality of the Torah, which stems from their Dvekut with Him without first needing the ladder of the practical part of the Torah, which they had no possibility of observing at all, as written in “Matan Torah,” Item 16.
Undoubtedly, both the physical purity and the mental exaltedness of our holy fathers greatly influenced their sons and their sons’ sons, and their righteousness reflected upon that generation, whose members all assumed that sublime work, and each and every one stated clearly, “We will do, and we will hear.” Because of this, we were chosen, out of necessity, to be a chosen people from among all nations. Hence, only the members of the Israeli nation were admitted into the required Arvut, and not the nations of the world at all, since they did not participate in it. This is the plain reality, so how could Rabbi Elazar dispute it?
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (04:57) Just to clarify a little bit, what does it mean, the physical purity and what is the mental exaltedness?
M. Laitman: The purification of the body means that the desires in one's body are drawn to fulfillment – to the fulfillment according to their desire; that has to do with purification of the body. The loftiness of the soul has to do with how high or lofty one's soul already is. Therefore, he feels his demand for these attainments of the soul. Question (Petah Tikva Center): (06:35) Is this what allows us to keep the Torah, even before we received it, to observe the Torah?
M. Laitman: Where do we get a part of these attainments of the body and soul? It's something that we've received by inheritance.
Student: How, actually, is it possible to observe the Torah before we receive it? I mean, the whole matter is about the Arvut, “we shall do, and we shall hear”. How do we realize it without, first, receiving it even?
M. Laitman: This has to do with how it happens in the Nation. Meaning, to the extent that we can connect together, those that according to their point of origin, they belong to a single nation.
Student: What exactly is the ability to connect in which we're different from other nations? We have this special ability to connect?
M. Laitman: The ability to connect comes to us from our action of entrance into a single nation. If you have Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, our three lines that exist in our souls, and therefore, they can connect.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (08:51) What is this inheritance within a nation, what is this concept?
M. Laitman: Inheritance means that if we connect, then we achieve this shared point, all of us, in our longing for the Creator.
Student: Who is this “we”, “us”? There is one soul that was created and, suddenly, a part of it agrees to accept it, other parts do not agree. What is this phenomenon of this part that does agree to accept it, to receive it? And later on, this quality is passed on by inheritance? It's not clear at all.
M. Laitman: In each and every person, there is a part that he acquires from his ancestors. And in the people of Israel, this is a very important part because it determines their direction of development in coming to a connection like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Student: Humanity comes from a single soul?
M. Laitman: Humanity comes from the animate degree and beyond the animate degree, when they wish to fulfill themselves, then they have the possibility to achieve the speaking degree.
Student: Here, he describes in a pictorial way that the Creator turned to each, and every nation and they refused to receive it. Those who were immersed in adultery or in robbing, and suddenly, one part of humanity says, “yes, I agree”. What is this phenomenon? It seems completely unnatural.
M. Laitman: Yes, truly so. It seems unnatural but that's what happens from the root.
Student: Even more than that, after this part receives it, this quality is even passed on by inheritance. Or, seemingly, genetically from one generation to another.
M. Laitman: Yes, we see this happens in groups of people in that they connect; and, suddenly, a friend from some other direction comes and starts manipulating them towards something.
Student: We say that if the people of Israel perform their actions, they're rewarded with success and everyone also loves them, otherwise, everybody hates them. Nevertheless, there is some sort of an influence between this group that took it upon themselves and the other groups in the world.
M. Laitman: Yes, that's actually a sign that they either understand each other or they don't understand and move away from each other.
Student: What is in the other groups that did not receive the Torah, accept the Torah? It says, some of these are in adultery, some in robbery, how do they see or relate to this phenomenon? Apparently, there's also something of that in them.
M. Laitman: Yes, there is. That the corporeal reality encompasses them more than other nations.
Student: Rabbi Elazar is speaking about a state where everyone will be like the people of Israel.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: This potential exists in the whole of humanity, not only in this small group.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, why, when this potential is not realized, there is hatred, there is repulsion from this group?
M. Laitman: It's a matter of the degree of development, that if all groups, nations develop more or less on the same degree, on the same ladder. Then they understand each other and agree, or even if they don't agree, they understand that's how it is. However, if a certain group develops differently – opposite to the other groups – then this already awakens questions. Who are they, what are they for, what do we need them for and so forth. That's something we see that the people of Israel from the moment they become separate from other nations, back in their beginning. It already awakened questions and hatred that can't exactly be explained but that's how it is. Therefore, they also have, afterwards, a specific, unique methodology for how to develop the Torah. And these things are big differences between the other groups in human society, the human species, and this specific group.
Student: Now, in this group, this quality of the need to connect in order to discover the Creator is passed on from Abraham until now, this is the main quality? So, what is this hereditary quality? How does it happen, what develops here?
M. Laitman: Desires, what we call Mitzvot, special relationships between people, and that's how they develop. They submit themselves to specific, unique, laws of nature, other laws of nature.
Student: The clothing changes each time, one time it's Abraham, then they receive the Torah, then there’s the Temple—the clothing changes. What can we say that truly develops inside this group?
M. Laitman: In that group develops a desire of love of others, an inclination to connect with the others. This is what doesn't exist in other peoples, other nations; and that's what's unique about the people of Israel.
Student: Why do we say it develops, it's a quality that is passed on?
M. Laitman: No, no, it actually develops, it evolves. The quality that becomes revealed in all the nation and the nation then reveals that quality. And according to that quality, they begin to tie to it their inclinations, desires, intentions. And it's something that doesn't exist in the other nations, it's very strange.
Student: What is passed on from generation to generation?
M. Laitman: From generation to generation, what passes through is exactly that quality that ties them together. And based on that quality, they're referred to as a unique nation and according to that relation between them, they determine for themselves more and more laws in their lives that separate them from other nations.
Student: How is it possible for us to know that indeed we're keeping these laws, let's say, in our generation?
M. Laitman: In our generation, it's already a problem. We have to take these laws in a way that they began to appear in us. And then try to join them, to add them, or carry them out, these laws. Well, how to put it – to add these laws and carry these laws, carry out these laws so as to show the point of development of humanity in a correct way. To ultimately become as one man and one heart. Those who agree with that, great; those who don't - then we should open up to them the method of the existence for all nations and all of humanity and advance that way.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (21:26) Where do we see that the desire for love of others develops in the people of Israel?
M. Laitman: That's difficult. We are in competitions, and everyone wants to reach the highest place in something. So, we see that the same root still exists in our nation, but we have to try and carry out this root on the condition that we are all connected.
Student: We see with our own eyes a state of deterioration of Israel, not a state where love is developing.
M. Laitman: Right.
Student: What exactly is developing? In our eyes, at least we can't see it, I don't see something like that developing?
M. Laitman: The will to receive.
Student: Is it different or distinguished from all the other nations? What is unique about the people of Israel so that you can see that they are actually developing from generation to generation?
M. Laitman: The will to receive indeed evolves from generation to generation and elevates each one above the others in what they think and feel. But along with it, we have the Torah, which talks about the opposite of embracing everyone with love and helping the others and see from the Torah itself how the text discusses connection, love and, mutual aid. That's what we learn also from our history, that the more we were connected, the more we succeeded in being above our wild neighbors. And that gives us direction for the future.
Student: Does the Torah belong to us, or can anyone today approach it and realize it?
M. Laitman: The Torah doesn't belong to anyone but the Creator. The Creator gives it to the human species through a single group of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We, therefore, have to study the Torah and try to sort it out.
Student: When he writes that the mental exaltedness of our holy fathers greatly influenced their sons, and their sons' sons, etc. How does this purification work on the sons? How come spirituality is passed on by inheritance, hereditary?
M. Laitman: Spirituality is an illumination from above which works on mankind, all of mankind, together. Then it relates to humanity according to the inner qualities that exist in each and every part of humanity. And that creates differences in development and character and everything that we're capable of adding to humanity.
Student: Again, what exactly did I receive from my fathers, my parents, that will help my children? What spiritual quality is there in this nation that is passed on and it is unique?
M. Laitman: You received something from your parents that they received from their parents, and their parents received from their parents, and so forth. That's how, from one generation to the next, qualities, unique qualities of that nation are transmitted.
Student: What is the special quality that is in the nation?
M. Laitman: In the Israeli nation, there is an inner desire to connect with their peers to the natural qualities that exist in each one, in everyone. And thus, connect all of them to a single group called “the people of Israel”.
Student: When we say that spirituality is not passed on in a hereditary manner, how does that coincide?
M. Laitman: When those people receive some awakening from within, coming from their ancestors. So those people are drawn to the internality of the Torah and carrying out the Torah in a unique way.
Student: What does it depend that this quality will awaken in me and operate in the right way or maybe not? It will just remain dormant?
M. Laitman: It's not up to you, that still depends on those souls that this soul goes through.
Student: What is demanded of the people of Israel? What kind of state of Arvut do they expect them to reach that they will care for the whole of humanity?
M. Laitman: After the connection between the groups in the nation becomes revealed, we see that each and every nation becomes revealed in its true, natural form. Then, each one of those nations are drawn according to their program.
Student: Arvut [mutual responsibility] in the people of Israel will come as a result of this spiritual quality, it will start awakening in the nation. The Creator will awaken it in them.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So, the Creator is responsible for this situation. To awaken these people and through them the whole of humanity.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: If so, with what kind of complaints can you come to the people of Israel, saying they don't care for the whole of humanity. That there are troubles in the whole of humanity because of the lack of connection? The Creator actually hasn't awakened these people?
M. Laitman: That's how the Creator awakens all nations in a natural way and the solution to the problems of development of all nations are found in the nation of Israel. If the people of Israel understand the inner power that exists in all the nations, then it follows that the world advances in an equal way. And each and every nation has a place in the development and that's how they all develop.
Student: Who is at fault of the state of the world? Is it the people of Israel or is it the Creator?
M. Laitman: The Creator, certainly.
Student: Why do people point at Israel as being responsible for all of the illnesses of the world?
M. Laitman: The Creator created the world based on His thought and plan. Israel, within the nations of the world, are able to accept the final form, or initial form, however you want to look at it. He wants, Israel wants to begin with, to bring all nations to the maximum development. And, therefore, it goes forward and necessitates the will to receive in each and every nation to grow. And when the will to receive in every nation grows, that brings about wars, competitions, and all of that. Therefore, it is felt in every nation that Israel is somehow, seemingly, the reason for everyone being in a competition.
Student: So, Israel – their role in the system – is to reach Arvut in order to care for the whole of humanity, to pass the light through them to all of the nations, as we learned. That's their role in the system.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: So long as the Operator of the system doesn't turn on this button – doesn't push the button – it won't happen to Israel? It won't come to them by themselves, you can't expect anything from them or blame them?
M. Laitman: In the meantime, there is development according to the will to receive of the human species. Therefore, to the extent this will to receive keeps growing and growing, every group in mankind is developing. And that's why we see that nations are developing.
Student: What are the people of Israel capable of doing before the Creator awakens in them this special quality? What are they capable of doing?
M. Laitman: If the nation doesn't feel that they have a special quality, and that they're a special nation and special group and so forth, then there is no one to talk to. After the period of the forefathers and so on, then we can question and research what's going on.
Student: When we speak about all of the entire nation of Israel, now, are you talking about the corporeal people of Israel? Or are you talking about us, the world Kli as Israel?
M. Laitman: On what we just discussed?
Student: Yes?
M. Laitman: We discussed the group which does not exist the way we are, the way we were used to. Meaning, that there is a place and a method, and a study, and a progress, and there's no such thing. We, in the meantime, are in a time of advancement.
Student: Do you define the world Kli as Israel? Are they already considered as Israel?
M. Laitman: The world Kli?
Student: Yes, us, all of the students of Kabbalah who are now sitting and listening to you?
M. Laitman: We do belong to Israel.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (37:09) I heard that we need to understand our inner force, what does it mean?
M. Laitman: To understand, to connect with this force that comes down to us from the higher degree and it operates within us. And it turns us in however we advance.
Student: What is actually that force that comes from above that descends on us and does what it needs to do? What depends on us in giving, in allowing that force to work on us?
M. Laitman: I cannot explain it. It's an upper force without any form but rather it pushes us to develop, that's it.
Question (Tel Aviv 1): (38:43) He writes here that the ancestors – the forefathers – carried out the Torah before it was given. So, he describes this non-mediated approach, direct approach, to the Creator. How does that happen without the light of Torah, that’s straight to the Creator? What is this quality that allows direct connection without the ladder of all the actions of the Torah? How can we use such a quality? Does it exist in us, as well? What does it mean to connect to the Creator directly like that?
M. Laitman: I didn't quite understand his question.
Reader: I'll help. The friend is asking about the forefathers, that they connected to the Creator even before the Torah was given. So, he's asking, what quality enabled them to connect directly to the Creator, even without the Torah being given; and can we also use such a quality?
M. Laitman: The forefathers, this means a special quality that develops in the human species so that those who feel those forefathers, they're drawn to the connection between them to increase the connection between them. In such a way, more and more, to see ahead of them the path of development. And they, therefore, develop faster, more directly, and this is how it happens until this very day, actually. That's it, I have nothing more to add.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (41:24) How is it possible to describe the preparations that were embedded in us by our forefathers?
M. Laitman: To discover and to join the preparations that our forefathers imprinted in us; we can do it only through the Torah.
Student: How is it possible to depict that to ourselves, these preparations?
M. Laitman: We have some beginning of an inclination towards connection and towards opening our hearts to some extent towards each other. And this stems, not as we think, from the good heart that each one of us has. But because we have negative pressure from all the nations of the world, and this is how we advance.
Student: Why did the Creator have to look for a nation that agreed to the laws of Arvut if He had the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to begin with?
M. Laitman: I cannot explain it. It seems to me that the evolution is not like the evolution of animals. But according to the theory of the Torah, of the evolution of the souls. This is why it's hard to explain one within the other.
Student: The speaking degree includes all humanity or only the souls of Israel?
M. Laitman: The speaking degree includes only those who feel that they are drawn to a connection, they are drawn to a connection between people. That's it.
Student: Will everyone belong to the speaking degree? Or only unique souls, souls of Israel?
M. Laitman: Ultimately, we will reach a state where all of us are drawn to this relation of human beings.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (45:11) We read, and you also said, that there's a difference between the nations and Israel regarding their inner development. Also, within Israel, you said there are different groups. What's the difference between different groups in Israel?
M. Laitman: The groups within Israel, actually, have uniqueness between one and the other much more than what there is in the groups in humanity. This is why; we still cannot direct the form of human evolution. We cannot direct ourselves according to the evolution of the general society. This is the only thing that I can say; but the time will come when we will discover what is called, the Sixth Millennia and how we can develop in a much faster way.
Student: In terms of the Arvut, it's suddenly not so clear. If each group, let's say in a Ten, everyone brings something unique, then it can be shared. But in Arvut, one is not concerned about himself. So how do groups, and you said that each group develops differently and the difference between one person and another could also be very qualitative. So, one who, say, is more developed qualitatively, he has to receive something that only he can create. How do you take care of his needs? To put it simply, one, let's say, can create food and the other one can only create water. If he doesn't care about bringing water to himself, who will bring him water? What I mean is, spiritually speaking, are there different levels of development? If there's different levels of development in a nation, or in a group, who will take care of the needs of the more developed ones?
M. Laitman: Of course, it is the Creator, in what form it will be? I can say that in a form where their desire grows and swallows. So, in that, each one of them also feels the unique form of filling for himself. And, therefore, that form governs each and every one; this is what, for the time being, distinguishes between us.
Student: But the feeling has to be that one feels that he receives it from the friends, meaning from the rest of the nation. Or he feels that he receives it from the Creator. According to what I understand, in Arvut, the members of the nation take care of each other's needs, so I should feel or everyone should feel, that he receives what he needs from the friends. That they give it to him through prayer, through something but they understand his feeling, his need, and can give him what he lacks.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: How do I say, who can't feel the loftiness of the friend, how can I fulfill his needs? Who will take care of him?
M. Laitman: This is why this is considered mutual, general, mutual responsibility or guarantee that everyone is participating together. And this is how they fill each other.
Student: If there's a difference between one and his friend, qualitatively, how will the more developed one receive? From whom will he receive what he needs to receive?
M. Laitman: The most developed one will receive from the Creator; it will be as reflected light from everyone. This is how we build above us our Arvut so from there, everyone receives.
Student: According to what I hear, the person feels that he receives from the Creator and not from the friends?
M. Laitman: Yes?
Student: On the other hand, the Arvut is that each one cares for his friend. It feels like it's something that happens between the friends. But we hear that true fulfillment comes from the Creator, that's how it's felt.
M. Laitman: Yes. We will dig more in this point. It is very important.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (52:23) This division of Israel and the nations of the world, can be found also inside the Ten?
M. Laitman: No, it's the opposite, we have to reach an equal connection.
Student: Meaning, that in the Ten there's only room for what's called, Israel?
M. Laitman: Yes.
Question (Women PT 25): (52:56) Can we see in our life, today, progress in the world's ability to embrace the idea of Arvut?
M. Laitman: Yes. It's a very nice question, a very relevant question! And we are advancing, mostly in the development of the world, towards discovering the Arvut in the world Kli.
Question (Women MAK): (53:33) What is the Arvut we need to give to each other?
M. Laitman: For the time being, we can try to establish the connection between us so that we form a single vessel among everyone and advance in such a way. That's it.
Question (Israel): (54:18) Today, the people of Israel is divided to two different approaches in terms of values and tradition. The question is how can we bridge the gaps for the sake of connection?
M. Laitman: If we are all drawn to a single upper force, then this inclination of ours, already, reaches such a connection between us, that we feel as one man in one heart.
Question (Latin 6): (55:33) In order to clarify the matter of the giving of the Torah, if we can say. When there's, can we say that in terms of the giver, that's one thing. But in terms of the receiver, there's no Kli until there's a Ten and the light can be received only once there's a vessel, which is a Ten.
M. Laitman: Yes, yes. It is true.
Question (Women Turkiye 7): (56:30) I heard that the special quality that needs to be in the nation is the inner desire for connection. The question is whether the inner desire for connection was always in me? Because, until I came to Bnei Baruch, I didn't have that kind of desire, I think I absorbed it from the society. Is it something that always existed in us, is it something we absorb from the environment?
M. Laitman: Also, for us in our society, it is still not so clear. What is it that we receive through connection, unity, Arvut? Seemingly, all of these actions, and similar ones, only have to do with some kind of gathering. However, we should work in that and distinguish what is the relation between the inner force and the external force. And, in such a way, we will advance towards the special correction.
Question (MAK 12): (58:04) How to rise above the savage nations?
M. Laitman: How to rise above all the nations? Through the qualities – which one is higher, which one is lower? As much as the group is higher in its bestowal, this is how it determines its place. In that, the competition is legitimate.
Question (Petah Tikva Center): (59:02) Still, what differentiates humanity from the animal level?
M. Laitman: From the animate degree, we're distinguished only through our inclination towards connection on the speaking degree.
Student: I'm not talking about Israel, but about all of humanity, what separates them from animals?
M. Laitman: Humanity cannot be above the animate degree.
Student: Still, what separates a human from other animals? If they don't have the preparations of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, why do we still call them humans versus other animals?
M. Laitman: This is according to the height of the development.
Student: What exists in humanity with respect to Godliness? What is their importance?
M. Laitman: The importance of Godliness with respect to humanity is that in Godliness we have love of others.
Student: I'm asking why is humanity important with respect to Godliness, attaining Godliness?
M. Laitman: Because it's a special vessel.
Student: What's special about it?
M. Laitman: That, there, people begin to clarify, to scrutinize how do they relate to others, love or hatred; in what percentage.
Student: Can they scrutinize that even if they don't have the preparations of the souls of Israel? The souls of Israel went through a special preparation. You called it three lines and so forth.
M. Laitman: Yes.
Student: Can humanity attain godliness without these preparations? How will they do it?
M. Laitman: Humanity cannot attain it, but they can feel that they lack these vessels.
Student: And then how will they receive it?
M. Laitman: Through prayer – through revealing the deficiency, let's say it like that, prayer that may confuse us. So, by revealing a deficiency that if they reveal it in the right way, in a true manner, then they receive the knowledge how to actualize this deficiency and how to receive a feeling for it.
Song: (01:02:10)