Live Kabbalah: Living from the Soul

Sefer Yetzira tells us that the Creator created the world with "a book, a story, and an author." Are we the authors of our stories or are we passive and reactive players? The joy of the last day of the festive holiday of Succot is called Hoshana Raba or "great salvation." The entire holiday of Succot is associated with a particular joy of water. What is this joy and how is it different than the joy of wine? Furthermore, the day of Hoshana Rabba has four unique customs. What is the significance of these customs and what can we internalize from this day into our year?

Sefer Yetzira tells us that the Creator created the world with "a book, a story, and an author." Are we the authors of our stories or are we passive and reactive players?

The joy of the last day of the festive holiday of Succot is called Hoshana Raba or "great salvation." The entire holiday of Succot is associated with a particular joy of water.

What is this joy and how is it different than the joy of wine? Furthermore, the day of Hoshana Rabba has four unique customs. What is the significance of these customs and what can we internalize from this day into our year?

Nothing is more powerful than the feeling of the loving embrace of the Creator. The truth is that we are ALWAYS lovingly embraced and held. We are often distracted, worried, and confused, as well as many other emotions that prevent us from feeling this constant loving truth. 

The holiday of Succot is celebrated after Yom Kippur when we let go of our cumbersome, emotionally charged packages. At this point, we are clean, clear, and intention-filled to bring who and what we are into the new year. 

The Zohar says that entering the Succah is likened to entering a six-sided cube of the Divine emanations- the Sefirot, while WE are in the center representing Malchut- kingship and the here and now. 

As we transition from the days of Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur, we come to the "10 days of Teshuva- repentance." While Teshuva-repentance sounds like a daunting word for many, in truth it is the most natural and harmonious state in which we can be.

There are many levels of Teshuva discussed by the sages. What is the return to the body? While we may believe that Teshuva entails running away from ourselves, including our bodies, real Teshuva is as the word actively translates return to purpose and embodied self.

How much presence vs. distractions do you have in your life? How about gratitude and positivity vs. seeing the negative?  

Rosh Hashana- the Jewish New Year is not only a celebration for the start of new beginnings; it is called "Yom Hadin," the day of judgment.  

Kabbalah and Chassidut explain that the judgment of Rosh Hashana is on the extent of how much we brought Hashem- God, into our lives.   

Much like a physical king has dominion over every vicinity of his kingdom, Hashem's kingship is manifested by the extent of his dominion over every area of our lives.

Parshat Nitzavim consistently precedes Rosh Hashana in our yearly reading cycle. It emphasizes the incredible strength found in unity.  

According to the teachings of the Ba'al Shem Tov, the secret to ushering in a sweet new year lies in the concept of unity encapsulated in this portion. This unity is not external but begins from deep within us.  Throughout the year, we encounter both successes and challenges.

By discovering this inner unity, we can connect with the unity that exists in the world around us.  As we approach the final 12 days of Elul, we are infused with a heightened sense of inspiration to learn from our past, regroup, and embrace the immense possibilities that await us in the coming year.

In the Torah portion of Ki Tavo, we learn about the first fruit, Bikurim. This special Mitzvah emphasizes the power of gratitude and recounts our successes in our year. 

The Sages teach us that the recipe for joy lies in our perspective of gratitude.

This class will delve into the various levels of joy and how joy is the quintessential factor for true spiritual growth.

As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, let us take an opportunity to be grateful for the growth and blessings in our lives. This awareness allows us to enter the new year with true inner joy and be written and sealed for a sweet new year.

In the Torah portion of Ki Teitzei, the narrative starts with the theme of going out to war.

Renowned commentator Rashi imparts a fascinating perspective—he dubs this conflict a "war of permission." What does that mean? Essentially, it signifies that this battle isn't your standard mandatory defense of national borders.

On a spiritual level, "permission" refers to a higher level of spiritual attainment. This attainment is achieved through the challenge- i.e., war.

Join Rabbi Amichai as we delve into this profound teaching.

The month of Elul is the last month of the Jewish calendar. It is a month of spiritual account where we consider the things which have worked and those which need improvement.

In this class, we delve into the earthy nature of Elul-Virgo ♍️ as well as seemingly contradictory aspects of the month taught in Sefer Yetzirah- The Book of Formation.

Earth has the power to regenerate, cultivate and create. Great Sages, such as the Arizal, the Ba'al Shem Tov, and the Alter Rebbe (born during this month), emphasize the importance of going out into nature.

The Alter Rebbe famously teaches that "the king is in the field."

Ultimately we are earth as well as co-creators who can shift our mindset and expand our possibilities.

Listen until the end for a closing meditation 🙏

Chodesh Tov!

What is the secret of the Star or Maggen David?In this class, we delve into the spiritual significance of the Star of David. Kabbalah teaches that the world was created in six days or via the six Sefirot. The six corners of the Star of David represent the six Sefirot and angles of human consciousness and our ability to enter into the center of the matrix.Our Sages teach us that there are six daily "remembrances" that one should contemplate upon. The Shulchan Aruch equates these remembrances to the six cities of refuge. In our weekly Torah reading, Re'eh- (See), there are six levels of the ascension of the rung of connection "1. You shall follow the Lord, your God, 2. fear Him, 3. keep His commandments, 4. heed His voice, 5. worship Him, and 6. cleave to Him."

There is a custom that the Ba'al Shem Tov heard from his great master, the prophet Ahiya Hashiloni that after the new moon of the month of Av -Tu B'Av to start wishing each other a "Ktiva V'chatima Tova- A good and sweet year."

#KabbalahWisdom #TuBAvCustom #PositiveEnergy #EikevParsha #SpiritualTransition #NewYearPreparations #UnlockingBlessings #InnerVibeClass #TransformYourMind #EmbraceTheJourney #BaalShemTov #ProphetAhiyaHashiloni #KtivaVchatimaTova #BlessingsAhead #TorahTeachings #DivineWisdom #SpiritualGrowth #TimeToReflect #NewYearNewBeginnings