SHEMOT 5777

שמות א,ח) ויקם מלך-חדש על-מצרים)

בגמטריא אתב"ש = 451

"דונלד טראמפ"

בגמטריא אלב"ם = 451

"דונלד טראמפ" בגמטריא = 424 = "משיח בן דוד"

FAITH & SCIENCE - PART 1

5774 is a time for Yehudim to move...

B"SD

ושמתי מקום לעמי לישראל ונטעתיו ושכן תחתיו ולא ירגז עוד  ולא-יסיפו בני-עולה לענותו כאשר בראשונה

I have found that this pasuk (Shmuel II 7:10) has the same exact gematria as 5774!

It says: "Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more; neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as beforetime".

L'shanah Tovah Tikaseiv V'seichaseim,

Rabbi Avraham Chachamovits

5773 Warning

B"SD

החשבים להשכיח את-עמי שמי בחלומתם אשר יספרו איש לרעהו כאשר שכחו אבותם את-שמי בבעל

I have found that this pasuk (Yirmiyahu 23:27) has the same exact gematria as 5773!

It says: "Who think to make My people forget My Name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbor, as their fathers forgot My name for Ba'al".

Heaven is warning the Jewish Nation to return to simple and direct contact with YKVK. To abandon its divisive ways and do teshuvah. We all need achdut ("union") with kedusha ("holiness"). As if the general chilonin and the reform and conservative heretical growth wasn't sufficient to stain the Bnei Israel, we have Erev Rav (true presence, as the Ari"zal said it would happen and thus) "mentalities" ever more influencing the orthodox/chareidim community and "leaders". A plague of shitot (separatism in groups) brings anguish to Heaven and delays Mashiach. If Mashiach were to reveal himself now, there would be almost no one to greet him! Because for some, he must be Satmar, other want a Chabad Mashiach, others yet want a very Litvish "pshat-like" Mashiach. Yet, most Orthodox/Chareidim are not even doing real tikkun hamidot and as such, studying Sod to hasten his arrival (as explained in the holy Zohar and the sages, of blessed memory). The Ari”zal explains in the daf alef of Sha’ar HaMitzvot that if a yehudi does not study Sod, he will have to suffer gilgul to complete the missing parts of his studies, of their tikkun. There is so much written on this. The GR’A says that a yehudi that does not study Sod does not even understand the Pshat. I am not speaking to the philosophical Sod studies of Chabad etc., the so called Kabbalah Iyyunit etc. All of the sudden, an increasing number of Chabad rabbis think there are mekubalim (kabbalists). Anyone offers a Kabbalah "course". Alevai this was true! Mystical knowledge is not about reading from books and regurgitating its contents. It is so much more, from new Torah insights and living spiritual experiences, contacts with higher domains etc. I will not explain this here, however it must be said that everything I teach and write is focused on teaching holiness and righteousness and to get my students and readers back in touch with G-d, personally and directly. I have no time or room for nonsense. I am not interested is distracting my readers with "mystical mumbo-jumbo" (maybe it is good and interesting - even entertaining - for the aspiring and beginner ba'al teshuva who does not know any better), make-believe stories about Rabbis and other unrealistic, misguiding lessons. The problem is that mysticism creates these types of illusions of grandeur. Life is not about being fake. Life is not about fantasy. Life is not about make-believe. Life is about being real. Life is about harsh realities. Life is about hard work and strenuous effort: Lefum tza'arah agra ("according to the effort will be the reward"). This, more than anything else, sums up the the message of the entire genre of classical mystical literature. Moreover, the non-Jews are making a tremendous mess with their infantile fantasies of so called Kabbalah. The blind leading the blind, it is uncanny. Their arrogant tumah ("impurity") is mixed with half-truths forming totally incoherent systems with the authentic Torah-Kabbalah. They may call it whatever they wish, but it is never, ever anything remotely related to with the holy Kabbalah. Misguided fools, they know nothing at all and never will if they don’t work very hard on their "path of righteous gentiles" (the Sheva Mitzvot). It is all just a big ego trip, a self-delusional thing, with horrible effects on reality here on up on High. They are so incredibly arrogant and dense. In fact, most do not accept any correction from those who can correct them. It is insane, totally. This is caused by the Jews who disdain true Chochmat HaEmet (Kabbalah), by our sins (the Ari"zal spoke of that on the formation of cults). So many of our frum brothers are only focused on pshat and poskim, on ritual, and political rivalry that they are incapable of connecting Torah with reality. Some have asked me: “Is it just you who thinks there is a correlation between Torah and science or is there anybody else?”. There are other questions like this one I hear all the time. All they see is the body, not the soul of Torah, the true Sod. I am speaking of a path of purity and righteousness leading to the kabbalat hasagat ruach hakodesh ("to receive holy inspiration"). I am speaking of plain Rak Torah, not shitot. The Ba’al Shem Tov explained clearly (Sefer Ba’al Shem Tov, parashat Shemot, alef) that religious rite done by rote, if devoid of kavanah, bittul and devekut, all goes to the klipah. It is a tragedy how secular values have penetrated chareidim mindset, and the less observant are even much more contaminated it is hard to even begin speaking of this. So much gashmiyut is sickening. Also, there is such lack of derech eretz and of basic understanding of emotions, subtle and sensitive things. This is because there is no Sod/Feminine side being developed, which can only come through Sod-thinking. When close to many chareidim I feel I have step into a "parallel reality", in many cases, psychologically retarded. They just don’t understand subtle spiritual thinking, "lateral-thinking", "deep thinking", connections and connections and connections and them more connections to reality, most at least. Name it whatever you desire, words do not matter. Now, there are good and wonderful people of course. Some are so special and sweet, elevated. Still, there is so much religious talk today with so very little actually being said. It seems that everyone has something to say, each one louder than the next, each one trying to prove himself the intellectual superior over the other guy. Yet, with all the talk, nothing of true value gets said and even worse, nothing at all of any real significance ever gets done. Talk is cheap and cheap talk is ever cheaper. I am speaking of the supreme need for righteous actions only and the understanding of YKVK's message pouring down from shamayim all the time and directly into the heart of all who desire His closeness. You must learn to hear your heart and become a kli d'kedusha ("a holy recipient") to His words. Teshuvah brings this power, for it is His voice speaking. To hear His voice one must really develop his character traits and the intuitive/psychic strength (the right-brain activity part of the mind), fulfilling Torah and mitzvot with great joy, always. The academic, cold “learning” is not enough even with great Torah religious observance. One cannot be a talmid chacham without Sod, because Chochmat HaEmet is Sod. Such true chacham is a master of spiritual realities or at least a sincere student of it. All the religious babble has degenerated into being entertainment. "The chachamim are chachamim in name only (says the Ari"zal on Yeshayahu 29). We don't even need to Ari"zal telling us, just pay attention and feel things with your heart. Learn urgently to be intuitive, not merely rational, for that is Torat HaAtzilut, the Torah of Mashiach to be revealed soon, as it is written: "A new Torah will come forth from Me" (Yeshayahu 51:4). And it is written: "And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit inside you; and I will take the stony heart from their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh" (Yechezkiel 11:19). This can be a reality now, but you must crave intensely to rescue the Shechinah with all of your deeds. It is a time of pidyon shvuyim ("redemption of captives"). The holy Sefer HaBrit (Rabi Pinchas Eliyahu of Vilna a"h) brings this as the way to hastening the Geulah ("Redemption"). Now, back to the pshat "mindset". Learning Torah has become some perverted form of intellectual pride in one being able to memorize and appear smarter than another. This is not what religion is supposed to be about. We are not supposed to be impressing others with our words. My computer is smarter than any of these pshutim minds, for it has thousand of pages of Torah "memorized" and it can recall it in a flash. The prophet’s warning, which I found relating to the upcoming year of 5773 could not be more perfectly accurate and in total sync with the times. Everyone - Jew and Righteous Gentiles - must be completely careful not to exchange YKVK for a Ba’al, an idolatry: be it money, power, lust, gluttony, lashon hara, sinat chinam, bittul Torah, frivolous behaviors, ga'avah ("pride"), lesser tziniyut, lesser kashrut, secular thinking and focus, kullot upon kullot, or whatever idol you have become linked up to, chaz v’shalom. This is the wrong direction: "A person who observes the mitzvot with all their stringencies is confronted by tests all the time; it is a constant battle for him, and it is easy for him to practice stirring up his good inclination in order to overcome the bad one. Having so many opportunities to be tested every hour of the day, his ascendancy is assured and his improvement secured" (Chazon Ish, Emunah V'Bitachon, Torat HaMiddot, Tet). The time now is most urgent, because as the revelation of the true Mashiach does in fact approach, Heaven is guiding the world ever more rapidly and intensely towards the purging of evil as Zechariah 13:2 promises. There will be no place for “half” orthodox life-styles, half-truths, half-commitments to a halachic life. Mashiach will come to rule by the Mishpat, the Law. The time of “more or less” religious practices so shamelessly common, or the leaning on minhagim to avoid stricter levels of halacha or any and all form of rebellion against YKVK's laws, this will end soon, amen. So much more to say, but still, this is just a short message to speak about matters deeply set in my heart. Heed to the message and take advantage of teshuvah. Evolution is a real possibility. Reevaluate your current frumkait ("religious standards"). I know you are very "comfortable". However soon, you won't be able to and you won't be prepared. There is a powerful storm coming, as never seen it before. It will destroy all idols and all those linked to them. It is real time to prepare for what is coming, as only those who remember how to call YKVK's Name will be part of the "Remnant Community" (Micah HaNavi 5:6, Haftarah of Balak).

Rosh Chodesh Elul 5772
Rabbi Avraham Chachamovits

Pessach 5772: "Miracles"

- Click on image to read e-Book -

Video-shiur "5772 Prophetic Forces"

This video is also avaialble on Koshertube.com

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

New year's revelations

B"H

My Dear friend, Rabbi Fivish Dalfin calls me Bulldozer Rebbe. He says not only I "bulldoze" over my own yetzer hara, but truly, over the yetzer hara of others. That is my style!

I end the year of 5770 with the following idea for the new year:

תְּהֵא שְׁנַת עֵזֶר אֱלֹקִי

("May it be a year of Divine aid")

This is '771.

May we all merit receiving this "Divine aid", maamosh.

Bulldozer Rebbe

Elul thinking...

B"SD

I would like to offer three thoughts on Chodesh Elul to help understand the magnitude of this special month:

1. Helping others do Teshuvah

ואשר לא צדה והאלהים אנה לידו ושמתי לך מקום אשר ינוס שמה

Here the pasuk (Shemot 21:13) speaks of the Arei Miklat (as we can see the reishit tavot: Ina L’iado Visamti Lich). As such, we derive that Elul is special for it is established to forgive unintentional averot during the year. Moreover, following each averah, the person must seek "a city of refuge", that is, a proper (spiritual) struture to allow the full contemplation of his transgressions' consequences, the chesbon nefesh followed by teshuvah.

2. Asking Hashem for help

The yetzer hara tells us that our sin is a small thing. It does not allow us to contemplate its implications, including the wedge that sin drives between ourselves and our Heavenly Father, and the darkness that envelops all of the spiritual worlds as its consequence. A person who is oblivious to the reality of the horror of sin dwells in utter confusion. The holy sefarim speak of a state worse than Gehinom. Some people wander through life, oblivious to the requirements of law. They sin without any awareness of its seriousness. They also can for decades without experiencing any Divine retribution! Hashem leaves them in their state of confusion. When they die, they are treated similarly. Even Gehinom is inappropriate for them. They continue to wander without judgment or accounting in the Olam HaTohu, truly an existence of astonishing chaos. To a certain extent, the Olam HaTohu spills over into our world, experienced by people still alive. They glide in and out of the Yamim Nora'im, oblivious to their sanctity and meaning, as if unsure in which world they reside.

2. Serving Hashem with love

Elul is a time to ask Hashem for things you need, for since Ani Ledodi V'Dodi Li is Elul, this a time when the love relationship between G-d and the Jewish people is heightened. And it is vital to raise mayin nukvin during this period. This means a real need to intensify the desire of the "groom" for the "bride". So, asking for a gift for the groom is like saying: "show me your desire and I will be yours for life". Perhaps that is why once the Lubavitcher Rebbe related that there is a Polish jewish costume where the groom and bride receive small pieces of papers from the guests with requests, who perhaps could not attend the ceremony, so the couple under the tremendous kedusha of the celestial gates of the chupah could ask Hashem for these gifts (requests). The Rebbe, it is told, was against this costume, for it could "affect" their humility (as the requests could indeed be answered). Yet, the Rebbe said the guest themselves could ask for what they need during this period, that is, the wedding ceremony (Rebbe on parashat Shoftim 5713, 2 Elul in the Cabalat Panim R' Mordechai Dubinsky's wedding). Right now, Bnei Israel is in very close relationship with Hashem, and each and every yid, the "individual guests" witnessing this great love between Hashem and the Bnei Israel, can ask for gifts that pour out from this intense love.

Chodesh Tov!

Rabbi Avraham

The Torah teaches that Israel is not under the "mazalot", the astrological influences. What exacly are these influences?

Know this well. “The mazalot influence in the nefesh [which is the yetzer hara itself] is truly noteworthy, for the mazalot are under the dominion of the malachim [angels], ‘which are as souls to the stars’ [R’ Yitzchak Abarbanel z”l on Devarim 18:24], which operate directly under the Divine guidance. As the mazalot control the ‘fundamental elements’ [i.e, earth, water, air, and fire] and the nefesh is imbued of these elements, the power of control exerted by the mazalot is truly formidable and natural, to wit, instinctive… And for each attribute of the nefesh there is as much a good aspect and an evil one; and as the nefesh resides in the blood, and it fills the whole of the body, each organ of the body is differently irrigated by this blood, and in accordance of its physical and spiritual characteristics, receiving this nefesh influence as well” (R’ Avraham Chachamovits, “A Bondade para Avraham”, Bereshit). This control the mazalot exert over the nefesh cannot ever be underestimated! Regarding this it is written that, “In the center of the Firmament there is a bright path. This is the ‘firmament’s serpent’ [called Shvil HaChalav, the ‘Milky Way’], which controls 12 mazalot. There are an infinite number of stars on that path, and they are grouped together in condensations of small stars, which are so dense they seem having their own form, as infinite mountains. Each one of these stars is connected to an angel. The groups of angels connected to each one of the 12 constellations have the task to ‘coarse’ the souls born under that constellations, pre-conditioning them to certain behaviors and transgressions in accordance to the nature of each constellation” (Based on the Zohar I:125a-b, Chaiye Sarah). This means that, the person’s natural characteristics, a product of his body and soul, are impelled to be manifested – through the soul’s levushim [garments], to wit, thought, speech, and action – in accordance to the measure and strength of influence from the mazalot. This occurs in the same manner that, for example, the mazalot influence the development of harvests, impelling the earth to reveal its natural and necessary power for the plants to grow, while the plants themselves receive the blessing for this exact growth, as it is written: “Even a blade of grass here below possesses a [spiritual component which is the] mazal above which controls and touches it, and in an imperative way commands it: ‘Grow!’” (Bereshit Rabah 10:6; cf. Zohar I:251a, Pekude; Rambam, Moreh Nevuchim II:10; Tanya, Iggeret HaKodesh §20, end; Tanya, Iggeret HaKodesh §8). That means, “Hashem offers the kedusha for each blade of grass, so that each one may have a ‘spiritual component’ – a kedusha which is offered to the physical world to reside in that particular blade of grass” (R’ Shmuel Halevi of Köeln z”l, Machatzit HaShekel [on the subject of the Bereshit Rabah 10:6] commentary on the Maguen Avraham, R’ Avraham Abele z”l. Cf. the Ari”zal, Likkutei Torah, Devarim 8:3) which allows it to express its natural tendencies. Therefore, it is necessary to understand that the mazalot are an important channel connecting kedusha and the physical level of Creation. This channel favors the Divine Providence to descent towards the world. In fact, G-d’s providence operates through the angels who work through the stars and planets.

Now, once the tendencies of each man are manifested in accordance to the mazalot influences and his yetzer hara, he will need to choose with his sechel if his life’s path will be traversed with a pompous and affected walk of one who ignores G-d and lives only to serve these natural influences and debased desires, or contrary to that, he will seek to align himself humbly to the laws of Torah, so as to walk in a straight and dignified manner, worthy of a being with a holy soul. And as our Sages explain, “Who is strong? He who subjugates him yetzer hara” (Pirkei Avot 4:1). And how to subjugate it? Remembering that, “The yetzer hara can be compared to an iron rod over the flames of a strong fire. While it is over the fire, the object can be molded into any form the person desires. Such is the yetzer hara which can be subjugated through the words of Torah, which are as a fire” (Avot d’Rebi Natan 16:4), for as it is written, “The L-rd your G-d é a consuming fire” (Devarim 4:24), and “G-d and His Torah are one” (Zohar II:85b, Yitro).

Therefore, we see that one’s decisions have great impact on his physical and spiritual, for “know that exactly corresponding to the impulses of man here are the influences which he attracts to himself from above. If his impulse is towards the side of kedusha, he attracts to himself the kedusha from above and in this manner, he sanctifies himself. However, if his tendency is towards the side of impurity, then he brings a impure spirit down to himself, and becomes thus polluted and blemished” (Zohar I:125b, Chaiye Sarah).

Thus, choosing is a vital activity, for in the first case, man is subjugated and becomes enslaved by the cold stars and planets, and his destiny is thus set. While in the second, he establishes a direct contact with Hashem in accordance to the spiritual law: “You shall be perfect with the L-rd your G-d” (Devarim 18:13); thus being subjugated only by the Ribono Shel Olam and remaining completely ignorant his future, which after all, will depend on his actions here and on the Divine mercy! Now we understand the Talmudic dictum, Ein Mazal L’Israel (Shabat 156a) to be interpreted by the holy Ba’al Shem Tov as Ayin Mazal L’Israel, to wit, contrary to the non-Jew and his connection with destiny, the Jewish connection is direct and unique with the level of Ayin, the ‘Divine Nothing’, allowing for a complete transcendence of the lower level of the mazalot. As explained by HaRav Yitzchak Ginsburgh שליט"א, “The Ari’zal reveals in the Etz Chayim that the non-Jewish astrology only reaches up to the 12 constellations or signs of astrology, but there are many other levels above that one. The highest level is the 12 permutations of the Name of G-d Havayah. Only the Jewish People is connected to this level. In being connected to this level, they have the power to recreate, for the name Havayah signifies ‘creation continues’”. Hence, “Israel’s own destiny is an eternal and indefinable state of Ayin. Only its connection to the Ayin Sof exists, with this abstract Origen, and from this Origen only this people [which does not accept the mazalot] depends and persists” (Ibid. “A Bondade para Avraham”). As G-d cannot be defined, the destiny of the Jew cannot be defined. And this is the greatest gift for this people having accepted the Torah – its true freedom.