Morning Lesson December 11, 2023
Transcription is made from simultaneous translation, which leaves a possibility for differences in the audio.
Part 1:
Rabash. Article No. 12, 1990. Why Is the Torah Called “Middle Line” in the Work? - 1
1. Rav intro: Yes, this is a very important article so go ahead, please.
Reading: (00:41) “The Zohar writes, “Come and see, each day when…”
2. S. (33:18) In our study we go on the right, but the left line awakens, what awakens it?
R. It is awakened from above because it pertains to the purpose of creation.
S. What in our study specifically makes the left line awaken contrary to others that we read about they go on the right, but the left is not awakened?
R. If people are not connected to the purpose of creation, then the left line does not awaken in them.
S. Does it have to do with the teacher or the method of the study?
R. It has to do with a man's soul.
3. S. (34:26) It's not entirely clear, it doesn't mean that they extend Hochma, but they can't use it yet?
R. In order to use the Hochma you have to prepare the vessels first. This is why the light of Hochma when it comes, it proceeds itself and the person has to check whether he's capable of working with the light of Hochma in order to bestow, and this is why it doesn't come at once.
S. What was the miracle of Hanukkah? The right wasn't wholeness, they had the correction of creation in wholeness and with the extension of the light of Hochma, but they still couldn't use it.
R. No, we can’t use it, we just realized that there are vessels that have to be corrected but it is not yet the time this is only Hanukkah a pause, and we need to use it only for the purpose of preparation.
S. What is the miracle here?
R. The miracle of Hanukkah is that nevertheless, we can prepare the vessels for the light of Hassadim so the light of Hassadim will be revealed in these vessels and correct them. This is the correction of the vessels nevertheless, it's a great correction that the light of Hassadim dwells in all the vessels of reception, but how to make it so that later on the light of Hochma will be revealed, this is already the correction of Purim.
S. When he says that we don't look at the honor of the master and only the left line is called Torah. There’s no wholeness until the end of correction. It'll always be right in wholeness or left in wholeness, but it's not true wholeness?
R. No, it's not wholeness.
4. S. (37:34) Why is it the light of Hassadim called clothing?
R. It’s intended to clothe within it the light of Hochma, only in such a way is the light of Hochma received within the will to receive.
S. What should a person wear?
R. A person should wear the light of Hassadim and later on the light of Hochma.
S. What does it mean to wear the light of Hassadim?
R. All of his intentions will be in order to bestow, to bestow in order to bestow.
5. S. (38:23) Why is it that without the left line, you can't work in the wholeness of the right?
R. Because the right line is not used, it doesn't work with the left line.
6. S. (38:51) How to correctly keep the Torah and Mitzvot in practical actions in the spiritual work?
R. This is according to how we advance, and we discover greater and greater desires to receive and the lights that correct them, build them according to that we come closer to the purpose of creation.
7. S. (39:31) What does it mean that in Purim they extended the light of Hassadim to fasting and cries?
R. By special usage of the vessels of reception which are called fasting and crying out, we draw the lights that for the time being correct for us the vessels of reception.
8. S. (39:57) When we started to read the article, I immediately remembered the rest of what you told us about the state where you got the Shamati book from Rabash and one of the students of Rabash read it. Rabash prohibited you from giving it to them because he said he was missing the left line. People are whole, they feel corrected on their part, but you weren't allowed to give him the Shamati article. What does it mean that the left line is missing?
R. I cannot explain it. A person should open up by himself, his nature, and see in which direction, what is he is drawn to, and where does he belong to. It is forbidden, each one should discover it for himself. The most important is to be together with everyone. This is the safe trail that leads to the goal and whichever way it all comes together there, it will come together.
9. S. (41:44) He writes here that those who walk only on the right, which is the correction of creation certainly there's a principle of deficiency they've done everything, but the main thing is lacking, meaning the goal. How can they walk on the right and there's no goal?
R. They lack the complete adhesion to work with a vessel of bestowal also on the left line, the left side, in order to receive.
S. In order to reach a state where there's this correction of creation, won't you need to have the goal of the complete creation before you and that will lead you to correction?
R. Well, let’s say.
S. How can they be lacking the goal? How can it be that the goal is missing?
R. There’s no vessel for the revelation of the goal yet.
S. The correction of the right, there's no vessel for the revelation of the goal?
R. No, Hassadim can actually hide from you the goal, which is to use the vessels of reception.
S. What does Hassadim do in reality if they can conceal the correction?
R. They don't really conceal the correction, they give you an opportunity to participate in achieving the correction.
S. What is the purpose of the role of Hassadim?
R. The role of Hassadim is to complete, take part, and give the right approach to the correction.
S. What turns it into having a correction if Hassadim simply gave the correct attitude to the correction? How do you make it so there will be corrections?
R. You work with the two lines until we build the middle line.
S. Where do you bring that other line with Hassadim, as he writes, it's like a goal that's mostly what's lacking?
R. There are a few methods, we diminish the right, and there are a few methods. We will read about it.
10. S. (44:35) He writes that in Hanukkah they extended the purpose of creation, however, it is still forbidden to use its light. So, why did they extend it if there's no vessel for it?
R. They drew it to their vessels, but it was still forbidden to use it.
S. How can something be present in the vessel but if you're forbidden to use it? What does it mean?
R. Well they found let's say the vessel of the oil and they lit it up they did everything but still they didn't have the power to light up all the oils.
S. Can you maybe bring it closer; how did the light enter the vessel, or it didn't? What does it mean that it enters, and you can't use it?
R. There are two things here either the Creator gives that state, or he gives you a state, but the person sees that he is still incapable of working with it.
S. What was the action of the extension, what does he mean he extended it?
R. For themselves they do want to draw these lights, but from the side of the purpose of creation they realize that it's not yet for them, it's too early, it's still on Hanukkah.
11. S. (46:33) According to what I understand, in the entire article he relates to left and right that they are relative to your state. That's all of this article. The question is, in a state where a person is in, what is the Torah in each state, what is the middle line in each state, and what in general is the Torah?
R. The Torah is a method of how we add all of the vessels to the middle line in order to bestow, and the light in it, the light of the Torah, and what we do on Hanukkah is that we work with candles with a small light and on Purim it's already a flame, it’s already a great light.
S. You can consider the Torah as the Creator, that’s what connects both lines?
R. I didn't understand.
S. Is the Creator the Torah the light that connects both lines Hassadim and Hochma?
R. The Creator, yes, is the source of the light of Hochma and the light of Hassadim.
S. Can we attain them only at the end of correction or constantly along the path?
R. Along the way we do attain it in small parts.
12. S. (48:39) How to work correctly in the Ten with the left line?
R. In the Ten we are constantly drawn to the right line until we finish the work. This is how we light up the candles of Hanukkah, it's still a small light, a weak light, a candle. But, by it we light through this holiday we get closer to the future states.
13. S. (49:35) Do I understand correctly that the right line is the articles that we read, the lessons that you give us, and the left line is the analysis of what we're lacking in order to become what is described in the article?
R. Yes, you could say that.
S. This analysis of the left line, we need it in the group, what are we scrutinizing?
R. When we will need it, we will discover that we are on this left side.
14. S. (50:27) A person works on the right line because it's not to have any intentions for himself but only for the sake of bestowal, the Creator, and the friends. At what moment does he begin to understand that there is a state of wholeness to finish the work in it, and he can make some scrutiny to decide what am I lacking for the realization of the purpose of creation? At what point can we do it?
R. The person feels that. The person feels that. I thought he said in what moment it happens.
S. How to correctly make that scrutiny of that calculation? He writes here that the main thing is the realization of the purpose of creation. How to think about what's lacking, how to make this calculation?
R. What's lacking is a complete connection between the friends, then inside this connection, the Creator will be revealed.
S. This complete connection is lacking at any given moment?
R. Yes.
15. S. (51:51) What does it mean for a person to take the Torah upon himself and also what does it mean to delve into the Torah?
R. If a person has enough powers of bestowal he can approach the Torah, he can delve into it, he can live in it, and he can feel free in it, it all depends on the extent that the light of Hassadim that is required beforehand.
16. S. (52:40) I think I can somewhat understand creating a middle line through shifting from right to left and back to right, but how to combine those two qualities into one state at the same time, this seems to me a miracle?
R. That we do one then the other, and one in the other, and the right and the left, and the left and the right, and then we understand to what extent we can combine the two.
17. S. (53:31) What is in the exertion that is so important and without it we cannot attain spirituality?
R. Vessels, vessels without vessels you cannot attain spirituality.
S. Why do we truly have to exert in quantity and quality?
R. To exert, to labor means to bring the deficiencies in which you can feel the correct discernments.
18. S. (54:08) Do I understand it correctly that Hanukkah corresponds to Tzimtzum Aleph and Purim corresponds to Tzimtzum Bet?
R. Not exactly, but there's something to it.
S. Do I understand it correctly in Hanukkah we do not have a middle line, we do not get the middle line until Purim?
R. Yes.
S. Is that because in Hanukkah we still don't have the left line that we can work with like in Purim?
R. Yes.
19. S. (55:12) In order for the Ten to reach the goal all of the candles must connect into one candle. That is they will correct their vessels of bestowal?
R. Yes.
20. S. (55:46) Did the Creator create us in order to correct us? Does he decide about where we, if he decides about everything where are we in this equation?
R. Yes, only the Creator, we all depend on Him.
21. S. (56:25) What is lack of spiritual wholeness?
R. A lack of vessels in a person in order to attain the purpose of his development.
S. Can I correct this lack of wholeness and become worthy?
R. Through the connection with the friends.
22. S. (57:10) When the presence in the lessons diminishes does it mean that we cannot get corrections?
R. Our presence in the lesson goes down, it goes up again and then down again, that's how it should be so it should have been a descent and there are few, what can you do? We need to continue moving forward and more, and more people will come and join us, and all in all, he’ll make all the creatures in the world enter the circle of the end of correction.
S. How does it influence the state of the Ten, does the work become more difficult?
R. The work is not difficult, it is multifaceted and that is what creates the difficulty to discern, sort out, separate, and establish our efforts so they will push us toward correction.
23. S. (59:01) Please tell me, we made this, we had this pause in Hanukkah. This pause can be infinite, maybe we feel good in that state of pause so what do we do next in order to realize it's only a pause and we need to take a step forward?
R. With everything we have we need to look for ways to be even closer to one another.
24. S. (59:45) With your permission I’ll read the excerpt, then ask my question. “The Torah stands before them, and they do not exert in it. The Torah means the middle line, ZA, called ‘Torah,’ which unites the two lines with one another.” In other words, through the Torah, called “the middle line,” where there are two qualities together, meaning the purpose of creation, namely the revelation of His Godliness to the creatures, which is called “the glory of their Master,” and there is also the clothing of the correction of creation, called “light of Hassadim,” which is considered “right.” For this reason, when those two are separated, the purpose of creation cannot shine to the created beings. This is considered that they are “not observing the glory of their Master.” But once they delve in Torah, the purpose of creation shines. In the words of The Zohar, this is called “The Torah, and Israel, and the Creator are one.”
The question is, here Rabash describes a state that we have exactly in the Ten. On the one hand, if we respect the friends and we see their greatness. On the other hand, we try to love them, we have to connect with them, the connection in the Ten, is like ZA that he describes here. We need the help of the Creator there. Here it says it’s achieved by exerting in the Torah. How can we unite these two lines so we will reach ZA, what is called the Torah, Israel and Creator are One?
R. By constantly moving toward connection. There is nothing besides this work. Only connection.
S. That same transition from Hanukkah to Purim which are these two separate qualities here. We are obligated to feel this pause, this transition, or we can just work and ignore this pause? Stop or not to relate to this pause?
R. No, we must because we are changing, replacing the method seemingly.
25. S. (01:02:09) We need the light of Hassadim to receive Hochma. So, what does it mean that we have this extension of the purpose of creation, that more or less prevents the left line from being illuminated?
R. Again.
S. What does it mean that this extension of the purpose of creation is avoiding the left line to be illuminated?
R. Yes, the left can’t shine yet because there is no light of Hassadim yet. So, what’s the question? We have to first take care of the light of Hassadim so its presence will draw the light of Hochma.
S. I don’t understand this part. You need the light of Hassadim in order to receive Hochma correctly. But there also needs to be this extension of the purpose of creation. So, what is the function of this purpose of creation, this extra, this extension that prevents the left line from being illuminated?
R. The will to receive, we need, first of all, a correction to use it in order to bestow. To bestow in order to bestow. And then when we reach it the will to receive begins to shine with the light of Hassadim. These vessels of Hassadim, we call them shining with the light of Hassadim, then we can go to phase two and then receive the light of Hochma within Hassadim. Where is the difficulty here?
S. It says here, Ari says in the article that Hanukkah and Purim are both regarded as left line, but if we’re talking about Hanukkah being vessels of bestowal and Purim were talking about the correction of the vessels of reception.
R. Yes, Both the vessel of reception and the vessels of bestowal will require corrections. There are no vessels of bestowal, all the vessels are the will to receive and then we need to have the will to receive in different ways to transfer it to the will to bestow.
Reader reading quote: It follows that on Hanukkah when the ARI says that Hanukkah and Purim are both regarded as “left,” the Hanukkah candle is on the left. Although the right is called “wholeness” from the perspective of the vessels of bestowal, the fact that the left illuminated, meaning Hochma without Hassadim, and it is forbidden to use Hochma without Hassadim, but this in itself is a great thing, that they extended, drew the purpose of creation. However, it is still forbidden to use its light.
26. S. (01:07:23) What does it mean they already drew the purpose of creation? What is the expansion of the purpose of creation if there is no light of Hassadim and these lights can’t be used?
R. They don’t receive the light of Hochma because in truth to it there is no light of Hassadim, but it can receive them, cover them, and become a vessel for them. This is an intermediary state for them.
27. S. (01:07:52) Does it mean that there is no middle line in Hanukkah yet?
R. Certainly there is no middle line, the middle line comes from the Creator.
28. S. (01:08:11) Why is the reception of the light of Hassadim not considered receiving in order to bestow, but only bestowing in order to bestow?
R. The light of Hassadim can be received in order to bestow?
S. Well light appears in the vessel, right?
R. No.
S. But the action itself, you are receiving in order to bestow. You receive the light in order to bestow?
R. Light of Hassadim is not the kind of light you can receive; it shines in the vessel in order to prepare the vessel for reception of the light of Hochma. The purpose of creation entirely is the light of Hochma.
S. There is something that’s not quite clear here. Pleasure appears in the vessel it’s under restriction, it’s not receiving the pleasure for itself. it has to bestow it back to the Creator. Why is this not considered receiving in order to bestow?
R. What is he receiving?
S. Pleasure.
R. From what?
S. From the ability to bestow, the feeling of the Creator, the feeling of connection. Whatever is related to bestowal.
R. It’s like a baby.
S. Not like a baby, but the action itself.
R. The action itself is in bestowal, there’s no doubt, but it’s like a baby.
S. Is he truly receiving?
R. He’s receiving milk.
S. No, not milk.
R. Not milk.
S. I think I understand. But I’m trying to understand the difference between receiving Hassadim and receiving Hochma the state of falling. What’s lacking in the Hassadim of Hanukkah so we can receive Hochma in them?
R. In Hanukkah, there are not enough Hassadim in order to receive them without Hochma.
S. What is the connection between the vessels of reception and the evil inclination?
R. Vessels of reception are vessels of reception, and the evil inclination is the work with the vessels of reception with the intention to receive.
S. I was asking about the relations between them. It says here that there is a connection between them.
R. Of course. The evil inclination is the will to receive in order to receive, and just the will to receive, simply the will to receive that is not established in the vessels in order to receive.
S. When does the evil inclination become a vessel of reception?
R. When a person decides to use it this way for his own benefit.
S. This is outside of himself. When a person wants to use the vessel of reception not for himself?
R. Not for himself is in order to bestow.
S. Then the evil inclination becomes vessels of reception?
R. No, the vessels of holiness.
S. Sorry, I don’t understand these connections.
R. So, think about it.
29. S. (01:11:37) He writes, however only through actions of bestowal because with actions of bestowal, it’s easier to aim in order to bestow. It’s not so with actions of receiving pleasure not yet able to aim in order to bestow. What is this separation between actions of bestowal and actions of receiving pleasure?
R. Actions of bestowal are when you bestow to someone. Your intention to bring him contentment is going in that same direction. That’s why it’s called bestowing in order to bestow. Whereas actions of receiving in order to bestow. The intention is opposite so then it turns out the work is much more difficult. You are working with coarseness, that’s why it’s phase two of the actions of bestowal.
S. I believe that each one has actions that during the day he gets direct pleasure from them, immediate pleasure.
R. There are different degrees of reception.
S. So if I wanted with some effort, some inclination that I will succeed in these actions to try to aim them to be in order to bestow. I know it’s very far away, this inclination how hopefully I’m not confusing everyone, but I have this sport that I enjoy very much I would have liked to clothe in a direction of to do it in order to bestow, how to start to play with it?
R. Bring a tray of coffee to the friends with the intention to bestow. Why give such examples of sports and other things? You have an action of giving where you give to the friends. Try to insert into this coffee you are bringing, that you will do good from it and they feel love from you and with this desire you wish to enter their hearts and soften them up.
30. S. (01:14:54) What does it mean that they are not looking at the honor of the upper ones?
R. These are spiritual forces. Spiritual forces that don’t take into consideration the other ones that the Creator put in order to bestow to one another by them.
S. Do they attain only VAK of Hochma? It’s not clear this state is bestowing in order to bestow so what is the pressure for it to go to the stage of receiving in order to bestow? When does this transition happen?
R. The transition, meaning from the cause to the transition? It is the will to receive that is growing in a person and doesn’t give him rest.
31. S. (01:16:12) When working with two lines is there a middle line?
R. No.
S. So only working separately?
R. Yes.
S. So how do you determine?
R. It’s impossible.
32. S. (01:16:55) Prayer, the first gratitude is wholeness then comes the request, so is the third gratitude is it in order to put a prayer together from the middle line?
R. Yes.
33. S. (01:17:24) I want to understand why you put the Hanukkah candle on the left because we learned that there are the Greeks that disturb us, and we want to run from them. If I understand correctly, we reject them, we want to be in faith above reason on the right. Always on the right. What happens is we find a point where we can really hold onto on the right and this is Hanukkah, so why do you put it on the left?
R. Who knows the answer? No one! So, everyone writes down this question and until tomorrow we will scrutinize it.