Video-shiur "5772 Prophetic Forces"

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5772 Prophetic Forces

Teshuva is a prophetic force

In continuation of the shiur on “5772 Prophetic Forces”, I want to emphasize the concept of prophecy in our times revealed in the kol demama daka (“silent voice”) as the force of activating teshuva, to wit, all righteous thoughts and feelings a person may have and act upon in order to "align" himself to G-d through Torah. It is important to understand that nevuah is underlined by devekut, and devekut spurs from the pre-condition of righteousness, as it is written: “The L-rd requite to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness” (Shmuel I 26:23). Hence, we can understand that uncompromising statement made by Eliyahu HaNavi: “Be it man or woman, Jew or Gentile... all can receive ruach hakodesh, all in accordance to the individual’s proper deeds” (Tana D’vei Eliyahu, Eliya Raba 9). Thus, any righteous counsel from the heart is the stronghold of a prophetic force, which gains strength with righteous action as it raises mayin nukvim (“female waters”) – the “arousal from below” – eliciting ever higher degrees of Divine inspiration, the responsive mayin durchin (“masculine waters”).  We can conclude that spirtual ascent means the transformation of self-reception consciousness into other-reception consciousness, where this so called "other", is G-d Himself. Once the person sucessfully grows in the inverting of his ratzon to receive into the ratzon to give, he grows as a channel of G-d. The channeling per se is nevuah in whatever level the person can remain in devekut. And this is done through the constant process of seeking righteousness in absolute every aspect of your being, or simply, doing teshuva.

5772 and the spirit of prophecy

5772 is a year of prophecy for the Bnei Israel.

Note that 5772 = 481 x 12. Gematria 481 is found in Bamidbar 12:6, on the word אתודע (etvadah, "I will make Myself known"). And the pasuk continues: "to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream" (בחלום אדבר-בו, ba-chalom adaberbo). 

The multiplication factor (of 12) indicates "dimensions" or in the language of Kabbalah, the Yud Beit G'vulei Alachson (see Sefer Yetzirah 5:2). So, "I will make myself known", is Hashem's promise to reveal a madreiga of nevuah (or at least different levels of hasagat ruach hakodesh) in the 12 general dimensional boundaries, which also correspond al pi sod to the 12 tribes of Israel (3 tribes in each are of the boundary, also called a "camp").

The Gemara (Chagigah 12b) says (based on Devarim 32:8) that there are 12 pillars upon which the universe stands. The Gemara also calls them the "arms of the universe" (thus, relating it to Devarim 33:26-27). Thus, if a person wishes to experience G-d, he must begin at the lower level and work his way upward, so to speak. He therefore begins (through hitbodedut/meditation) with the "twelve diagonal boundaries", which are the "arms of the universe", to wit, all of physical reality. Only after this can he reach other higher levels. Finally, however, he must attain a conception of G-d as being totally "divorced from space and time" (a very deep concept pertaining to the Ein Sof explained well in the Sefer Otzrot Hayim, Sha'ar HaAgulim, Derush Adam Kadmon). Note that there are 12 tzerufim to the Shem Havaya, and this has additional implications (for another opportunity, G-d willing). It seems to me that, since each and every jewish neshama has a shoresh in one of the 12 tribes of Israel, to all yehudim this year could afford the unusual opportunity to the experience of a קול דממה דקה, kol demama daka ("silent voice") as we find in the Tanach (Melachim I 19:12), which Hashem chose to reveal His Presence to Eliyahu HaNavi.

Although hidden since the churban Bayit Sheni ("destruction of the Second Temple), a level of the spirit of nevuah will be more readily available for the B'neI Israel, but that means yehudim need to learn to receive this holy "silent voice".  This is not to say that common Jews today are on the level of the b'nei nevi'im from Talmudic times or earlier. True, there is a constant descent of the generations, where each generation is less great than the one before, and because of our transgressions we no longer have great prophets. Even ruach hakodesh has ceased, we have no prophet and no visionary. Even the phenomenon of b'nei nevi'im, which is the essence of the life force and kedushah of Klal Yisrael, has fallen drastically. Yet, this we can say: even if the essence and the life force in Israel are now minimal, they are still prophetic forces.

Now, hearing or seeing the "silent voice" entails a true quieting of the mind and an increase in the real experience of devekut. For as it is written: Shiviti Hashem l'negdi tamid, "I have set the L-rd always before me" (Tehillim 16:8). However, the verse continues: "because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved". Thus in recognizing that Hashem is always in front of you, there is a requirement of equanimity in order to perceive His Presence. This is deeper the meaning of the angelic prayer: "Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Hashem Tzivaot, melo kol ha-aretz kevodo" (Yeshayahu 6:3). This means, G-d is everywhere, truly kol ha-aretz. He is in everything, for He vitalizes all. All of Creation has His Holy Name "stamped" in it, for He is the Only Being, so all is He. Now, one must strongly desire to see beyond the veil - the klipah of reality - into the truths, that is, the spiritual underlying of all. This capacity is actually within the reach of anyone who fears Him. Truly, you should be able to see יהוה at any moment and place you wish, for He is always there, always. If you cannot see יהוה then you are blind by the lack of emunah and the vanities of your guf.  And so it is written: "Say to those who are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not; behold, your G-d will come with vengeance, with a Divine recompense; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped" (Yeshayahu 35:4-5).

May it be so in this new year, amen selah.

Rabbi Avraham

Audio message for Rosh Hashana

Rav Avraham Chachamovit's Rosh Hashana 5772 message:

Shiur on the Haftarah of Nitzavim-Vayelech 5771.

K’tiva V’Chatima Tovah, L’Shana Tovah U’Metukah

Living with Mashiach

Isaiah chapter 40:1 begins with the well known Hebrew words Nachamu Nachamu Ami (“Comfort, comfort my people!”). The duplicated word Nachamu has gematria 104, which times 2 equals Yitzchak (gematria 208). Now, Yitzchak personifies the attribute of Gevurah (“Severity/Discipline”). As such, the true and complete comfort implies in the embracing of discipline/Gevurah to serve G-d. This means the moving away from leniencies which have dominated the observant community and the moving towards a life of chidurim, so as not to live a life close to the boundaries of Halacha but truly in its center and spirit. This is the reality of the Mashiach, for he will come to rule by the mishpat/law, as a king. The law will be in accordance of Beit Shammai, the archetype of chidurim. King Mashiach will reign not by democracy. He will impose the mishpat by force. Now, those who already want to live messianic lives must be trying their best to be already living the Halacha in accordance to Beit Shammai or at the very least, avoiding the (so abused) kulah/leniency mentality. Then, they will be ready and G-d wiling become part of the "remnant community of Israel" (Micah 5:2) who will live the new order to come, may it be readily in our days amen.

First day of Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5771

PURIM 5771

It is written: Vatilbash Esther malchut, "Esther put on her royal dress" (Megillat Esther 5:1).This is a concept of her crowning, for the royal garments of Malchut represent the light of Keter, as it is know "the end is wedged in the beginning" (Sefer Yetzira 1:7). So, Malchut, the lowest level (this world) is connected with Keter/crown, the most lofty level of kedusha ("holiness"). With this great light she crowns everything, for as it is written: “Esther elevates everything to emunoh/faith” (Tikkunei Zohar §21). To crown something is to raise that something to its most essential and significant level. This means, Esther represents the power to influence our emotions and drives towards kedusha, for that is the only true source of reality. Malka Esther is/corresponds to the Shechinah, the "Queen" that vitalizes all of the universe. Connecting to Purim is a deep connection to the Shechinah. May this chibur grow and vitalize your neshama towards da’at eliyon. These are the efforst every single Jew needs to make in order to hasten the comming of the only Mashiach Tzidkeinu, amem v’amem.

Rabbi Avraham