Deuteronomy, 32:1-32:52
This Week’s Torah Portion | Sep 12 – Sep 18, 2021 – 6 Tishri – 12 Tishri, 5782

In A Nutshell

The portion, Haazinu (Give Ear), deals with the entrance to the land of Israel. Moses begins with a song that serves as a reminder to the people when they abandon the work of the Creator in the future. The song praises the guidance of the Creator and His choice of the people of Israel, and presents the people of Israel as stiff-necked and one that has turned to idol worship.

Afterward there is an explanation of the punishment in the case of committing idolatry, and a statement that the Creator will not help Israel against their enemies in such a case. However, to the extent that Israel repents, the Creator will save them from all their enemies.

When Moses concludes reading his song, the Creator commands him to climb up Mount Nevo and look from there at the land of Israel. He tells Moses that he will die and will not be awarded entrance to the land of Israel.

 Commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman

The Torah contains all the secrets of the world. The Torah means instruction; it guides us on how we should conduct ourselves in order to advance. The Torah speaks of the whole of creation; it helps us cope with difficulties and shows us what to do.

The big question is why the Torah ends before the entrance to the land of Israel. In truth, the struggles, problems, the great dilemmas, and the difficulties of coping with all that awaits the people henceforth— especially in this portion,—are already in us.

The people has reached a state where it is ready to advance and enter the land of Israel, to cope with all the problems, and to rise above them. It is precisely through this war that the people acquires the land of Israel. The story speaks of our desires, our forces, which have become corrected through the light, through everything that we have done and went through in the desert in order to be ready to enter the land of Israel.

The song, Haazinu, praises the Creator, the force of bestowal. It stresses that we must always remember to interpret what is happening accurately, and extol the force of bestowal, the value of love of others, which is the great rule of the Torah, and for which we do all that we do. “Love your neighbor as yourself” is more just than a maxim; it is the purpose of each and every action, a rule that includes all our efforts. Read the rest of this entry »

Deuteronomy, 29:9-30:20; 31:1-31:30
This Week’s Torah Portion | Sep 05 – Sep 11, 2021 – 28 Elul – 5 Tishri, 5781

In A Nutshell

The portion, Nitzavim (Standing), deals with Moses’ speech regarding the covenant between Israel and the Creator. Moses makes it clear that the Torah applies to the whole of the people of Israel, to every single one, and was given to posterity. Moses stresses the principle of choice: should a person worship other gods, he will be exiled from the land. But if he wishes to be reformed, the path is through repentance. The Creator allows the people to choose between life and death, but commands them, “Therefore choose life” (Deuteronomy, 30:19).

In the portion, VaYelech (Moses Went), Moses gives his final speech before the people’s entrance to the land of Israel. He reinforces the people so they will not fear fighting for the land because the Creator is with them, and he officially hands over the leadership to Joshua, son of Nun. Moses writes the Torah and instructs the people of Israel to assemble once every seven years to read the Torah. The Creator reveals to Moses that in the future, the people of Israel will sin, and commands him to write a song through which the people will remember the Creator.

Commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman

It may seem as though portions repeat themselves, but any repetition is at a new degree. The whole Torah deals only with the correction of the soul. It is as if the soul is cut into slices according to the degrees of the great will to receive, which is why it appears to be the same.

Similarly, each day in our lives seems to resemble the next, yet each day feels different, and life consists of many days joined together. The special thing about this process is that it is not about the people of Israel or the desert, but about an individual going through the stages of one’s spiritual development.

The spiritual development is done in two stages. The first is the preparation in Babylon, in the Bilbul (confusion). The second stage is in Egypt. In this world, a person tries to do as one sees fit, but gives up because this world is leading us into a state where we are not achieving good results in life. The result is a crisis, similar to the one the world is in today.

And yet, we do not seek the meaning of life, but money, power, respect, pleasures, freedom, vacations, and we are beginning to understand that it is impossible to have them. Whether due to personal crises or because of the global crisis, we finally come to the fundamental question, “What is the meaning of my life?” We seek satisfaction in life but we cannot find it anywhere, and without satisfaction we feel like Prophet Jonah, who said, “It is better for me to die than to live” (Jonah, 4:3).

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Let’s get this started with a quote by a wise man, a student at KabU:

“I wish each of you could just reach in and take out some of this heat, and even fire, and I’m sure you all have that same kind of feeling.”

If you watch the 2 min. video, “Get a Taste of the KabU Retreat,” then you’ll hear these words stated by the KabU student, at the peak period of a retreat, when everyone is by the campfire after hours of lessons, workshops, meals, and other activities together.

What makes us wise is our choice of environment.

Simply by getting his tickets to the KabU Kabbalah Retreat and letting the environment of the retreat do its work, the KabU student came to understand and feel much greater depths of wisdom and sensation than if he didn’t take that step.

That’s why we at KabU put so much into the Kabbalah Retreat—it’s an opportunity like no other to immensely advance the spirituality of everyone who attends.

So put the world and your worries aside for 3 days, and immerse yourself in this environment made to attract the spiritual forces of love, bestowal, and connection as optimally as possible.

Just get your tickets, and we’ll take care of the rest 🙂

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– In-Person: Iroquois Springs, Catskills Mountains, NY
– Virtual: From the Comfort of Your Own Home
– October 1-3

See you soon!

Would you pass up the opportunity to attain over a year’s worth of spiritual advancement in just 3 days?

That’s exactly what you have a chance to do at this year’s BIGGEST KabU event: the Kabbalah Retreat 2021!

You’re invited to gather in-person at the beautiful Iroquois Springs in Catskills Mountains, New York, or virtually from the comfort of your own home, for 3 days of applying the method of Kabbalah in practice, on October 1-3.

The 3 days are packed with lessons, workshops, and other activities, meticulously organized for your optimal spiritual advancement.

At the retreat, you’ll

• practically apply the wisdom of Kabbalah at a much faster pace than by studying alone,
• learn how to connect the study of Kabbalah to your everyday life,
• deepen your knowledge of Kabbalah through gaining a much deeper connection experience than in daily study, and you’ll also
• get to know your fellow Kabbalah students and instructors up close!

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See you there!

Deuteronomy, 26:1-29:8
This Week’s Torah Portion | Aug 22 – Aug 28, 2021 – 14 Elul – 20 Elul, 5781

In A Nutshell

The portion, Ki Tavo (When You Come), begins with the last part of Moses’ speech before the people prior to his death. Upon the entrance to the land of Israel, Moses orders the people to write the words on big, whitewashed stones, and to build from them an altar for the Creator.

Moses describes the blessing that will come to Israel if they keep the Mitzvot (commandments), and the cursing that will come to them if they do not. He describes the state of the blessing and the curse on Mount Eival, and on Mount Gerizim—who will stand on each side, what are curses and what are blessings, and how they should be said.

The portion also deals with the Mitzvot of the first fruit, and the tithing laws. At the end of the portion Moses summarizes the events through which the people went, the Creator’s help on every step, and the people’s commitment to keep the Mitzvot.

Commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman

Our soul consists of 613 Mitzvot (commandments). Initially, they are all as the evil inclination, meaning aiming to benefit ourselves. In each of our desires appears—in the best case scenario—concern for ourselves. In the worst case scenario appears how we lie, steal, and use others for our own benefit.

Even if we do not use others, we still feel that the worse off they are, the better off we are. By nature, we are built to compare ourselves to others.

And yet, there is no one to complain to about it because the Creator admits, “I have created the evil inclination.” It is a process that began in Egypt, where we received the big evil inclination, the will to receive.

We discovered it at Mount Sinai, where we agreed to be “as one man with one heart,” to bond. Although we were by a mountain of hate, we united around the mountain and expressed willingness to unite. Although we were unable to actualize it, we were prepared to go for it. That was enough to receive the force of correction called “Torah,” whose light reforms.

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