Zohar Portion Emor Notes

Emor – means speak to the Kohen, to the priests, tell them such and such. This portion talks about all the holidays. It was the connection to the holy temple, the mishkan, that the kohanim (priests) used to do the work for everyone. The work of the kohanim/priests, is an important concept representing the channel for all of us. In all of the holidays we speak of the work of the priests.

In the Omer, there is a huge opening for us that we need to understand. There is a whole preparation for us to become like priests. The Zohar shares many secrets –

Verse 3 of Zohar Emor – we should remember that when we read from and hear the Zohar, we are hearing the words of Rabbi Shimon, all the kabbalists that studied the Zohar, the light revealed from Moses and Avraham, the actual light that spoke through the kabbalists. As pure as we can be, the priest is the channel of light. We are not just reading the Zohar or “some words,” we are making a connection.

The Zohar asks, “what is the good that you are concealing, for those that have awe, for those that have admiration for you?” How valuable this supernal light is that is called good? The creator saw that the light was good – and that light was concealed light.

(note: at this point my computer crashed, so a few minutes of the class were not transcribed - unfortunately, only the first 6 minutes were recorded on ustream)

There is a story of Elijah the Prophet – there was a time where the king was very negative and wanted to kill the entire nation. The only way he would spare the nation, was if Elijah the Prophet would come and eat a meal with the king. But the king didn’t keep kosher, so how was it going to happen? Elijah the Prophet went and had a full meal with the king –but how? It’s because he connected to the level of Binah, where there is no bad, good, kosher, or mitzvah. For the sake of helping the people, Elijah did it. It was a very noble thing to do, but Elijah was connected to the light of Binah. When we get to that place, there is no separation.

In our reality, there is some kind of a torture we are going through, to understand. We need to understand that we need to get to a place where we can reveal concealed light. We want the light that is not usually revealed, to be revealed in our life. The gift we are receiving is the Zohar – many people think that the Zohar is just a book, but the fact is the Zohar IS the concealed light. The “real” light is concealed for the righteous ones. It has always been said that the Zohar would not be revealed until the time of Mashiach – the real gift we have is to be revealed through the Zohar.



So why would we want to be a priest? Because we are not at that level, if we get connected to the Zohar, we can bring that light when we are at a much lower level than if we do the preparations to become a priest. The problem with the Zohar, because it’s a book, its hard for us to believe that it’s the concealed light. But since it’s a book, it’s truly concealed. The teaching of Kabbalah is not just the idea of gaining facts and information, but rather to connect to the 99%, the spiritual realm of our reality. We can read the Zohar and think we are reading amazing secrets. Trying to understand the Zohar is only ego. We need to connect with our heart. The high priests connect to the concealed light – but we can all connect to it. Because it’s written in the Zohar, that’s why we can all connect. It has been channeled by the light for us. There is good light that emanates through the Zohar for us. Written in a very fascinating way – the concealed light works in a way, where the more of us think we are connected, that’s how much we are really disconnected. If we think we understand something, that’s how much we are disconnected. If I know without a doubt in the Zohar there are tremendous concealed secrets, we need to get excited by what it is that we don’t understand. The real light is how happy I am to know that I really don’t know what the Zohar is. In the moment that I don’t have a way to describe or express my experience, that is the moment of light and truth. If I try to describe what I know, I am trying to describe my ego and how much I am disconnected.

What do we know about our limitations? The priests represent peace. If you see yourself in the future, what would you see in 5 years? Most people would tell you they see themselves with kids, a bigger house, a great job, business, relationship, friends; usually what they see is about status in life – but let’s think about ourselves without egos, fear, insecurities, and limitations, with no agenda – now, how do we see ourselves? What will we look like? How will we react? We have limitation in the way we see because we have fragmented goals. If we look beyond time space and motion, if I know the future is now, if I know that we are coming from the light which is perfect and where we are heading is toward the light, eventually we will all be back with the light, basically the future is now, we all have something special and unique – sometimes with limitations or blockages. Sometimes we don’t find the solution to situations, or we don’t’ have a solution or answer to an argument. If we try to figure out what is the answer or solution, we are disconnected –the fact that we are thinking about a past experience or futuristic solution, we are not connected to the now – the answer is now, the future is now. Connect to the righteous within – the Zohar is the bridge between us and the future. The Zohar is the way that we can not do anything with our own power, we need the assistance of the light. the Zohar is the delivery system for the light, that is our gift. Even when we learn we need to remove our ego, the removal of the ego is not the goal, it’s a vehicle to connect to the light.

Its written that we all can be the priests. This is the time (during the Omer) that the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva were killed in a plague that happened because they lacked human dignity. We certainly cannot compare ourselves to his students; on a spiritual level, each of his students may be the equivalent of 5-10, or even more of us. But with a little effort we can tap into so much more. Today we can all represent those channels of light. We just need one moment to open those channels.

Today we connect to the students that died because they could not work together and receive from each other. The study of Kabbalah is based on the 3 column system. Right, representing sharing and being the cause; the left – receiving – being open to listen, asking for help. In order for us to connect to the central column we need to connect to the concealed light.

Why can’t I receive help when I know I need it? Many believe it’s a problem with the left column, but it can actually be due to problems with the right column. I have problems with receiving because I have problems with giving, the only time I can receive is when I am sharing. I need to be able to understand that I am a no one, I need to be open to receive help.

How did kabbalists keep themselves open to receiving light? Only because they never thought about receiving for themselves! The Zohar comes from the corrected world, from the Binah, any time we connect to the Zohar we connect to concealed light. if I am not getting light from the Zohar, it’s because I am not sharing.

Verse 46 – when the light is revealed, it is only revealed in a place with a vessel. We don’t’ understand – when a person has a blemish/damage, it is written the light can dwell only in a place that is broken, only in a broken vessel. If I am always trying to connect to the light, and I say, I want to build a vessel – what is the idea of the vessel – building a vessel piece by piece. The idea of building a vessel – see the amount of judgment in the vessel, how negative/needy/jealousy, disgust yourself, break your vessel, that’s what will lead to building of the vessel. The light needs a broken place to dwell. If we connect every day to our negativity, our blockages, our silly logic, our calculation every day, we have to try to see every day another spark of that. It’s internal work, not something others can see. If I want to help someone, and I come from that place, I need to bring myself to a place where I am not righteous. I must connect to my filth, entitlement, ego – I must be open to remove a little bit more of this negativity, blockage, smallness, difficulties, in life – that’s what makes it special and closer. We can really effect change in a big way.

Verse 28 – The high priest could really do what he was doing only when he did everything with happiness. The happiness and excitement of doing that work will draw the pieces. The Midrash has a story about the giant Goliath, demanding an opponent from among the Israelites. The boy David offered himself, and they brought him before King Saul – David was a young shepherd and a small kid – People asked, what makes you think you can slay a giant? David said that wild beasts used to come and attack the herd, and once he even killed 4 lions and the creator helped me and I was able to kill them. Saul was impressed. David said maybe the same light from the creator can help me perform miracles for all of Israel. Saul gave him his armor and helmet, but it was too big for him – but the light made David fit the armor, and Saul realized that David would be the next king. David gave the armor back and said he would use his own weapon. Saul was jealous. The lesson that we can learn from this story is that if I do any work and I know I am not complete, and I know I have limitations, and I know I am not yet righteous or the high priest, as soon as I do something to reveal light, whatever I am lacking, the light will fulfill the rest. We need to understand, when I need something to complete a mission, the light will give me whatever I need to finish the mission. Even if I am not complete totally, but when I do things with happiness and I am excited, the light will give me everything I need to complete the job.

Verses 74-76. As below, will awaken that above. When a person is awakening an action from below – where we are, we awaken an action from above. If I am doing the correct action from below, a little action of holiness, we awaken so much more from above. We can awaken a power from above. Awakening an action of sharing and mercy. (n.b. - Benjamin recommends reading these verses).

Verse 129 – know how much we don’t understand, that is what we should be excited about. In the Malchut there is always darkness, we don’t see everything, we are so limited. When we bring or create an small opening in the Malchut and open a small gate for the light to come in, the light will force its way in a big way. This week until at least Lag B’omer, try to open a small or little hole to allow other people to enter into your heart. Try to find openings in other people’s hearts. I want to feel a small opening for a friend of mine, that will allow the light to come into my heart. I want to look for a small opening, and allow yourself to come in. be excited that not everything is revealed to you, be excited by how hard it is to get the concealed light revealed to you. Ask yourself, why is that person here for me? What is the connection on the soul level that wants to allow you to come in. The person and the klippoth come to our life, we always find a reason why not to connect to a person. But maybe this week, this time, it will be different. Anytime someone engages a conversation or asks for help. Maybe its’ not about what they are asking you, but sometimes ask your heart is there anything extra I can do for you?

Message from Yael Yardeni

Hi Everyone,
We have a very intense week ahead!

First of all, many of you guys have asked me about retrograde Mercury! What are we to do? Stay home or stay silent???

Here is a good and proactive way to use the energy of retrograde Mercury….

The Planet Mercury represents the reasoning mind, meaning the way we think, the way we process information, as well as all forms of communication.The good news is, in this time of Mercury being in retrograde motion, we are able to erase and correct . Certain things that were lost will be found, certain things from our past will reemerge, all for the purpose of correction, or as we call it in Kabbalah, Tikkun.

Remember, Mercury, currently in the sign of Taurus, will be retrograde from April 18th through May 11th. Taurus being an earth sign, this is a great opportunity for us to make practical changes.

On April 28th the Moon will be full, and situated in Scorpio! This energy will pinpoint all the control issues we still have, as well as helping us uncovering certain annoying truths about ourselves!! The sign of Scorpio being the most inquisitive of the whole zodiac, it’s as if we were given a private investigator!

Scorpio is also connected to money and business, therefore, around the full moon, we need to make sure that all is in order in that domain, otherwise we will be in for unpleasant surprises. Just call the bank and find out if all is under control!!!!

The cosmos is indeed helping us this week to bring law and order in our lives, so lets take great advantage of that!

On another very positive note, the end of this week will see a very positive cosmic window and spiritual opening: on Saturday night and Sunday, we have a very special connection to a gigantic Kabbalist by the name of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai ( the author of the book of Spendor/ the Zohar). This will be a great time to sign contracts or move to a new home, since the energy of his anniversary breaks all the heaviness of this Taurus month!

If you are next to a Kabbalah centre, make sure you are there for a connection Saturday night, otherwise just light a candle and meditate to let this amazing light enter your lives!!!

Have a great week everyone!

Love Yael

Spread the Word- NY Open House Sunday 5/2/10

Throughout history, the greatest minds of a generation studied the spiritual wisdom of Kabbalah.
Scientists (Einstein)
Physicists (Sir Isaac Newton)
Philosophers (Plato)
Mathemeticians (Pythagoras)
Artists (Michelangelo)
Explorers (Christopher Columbus) &
Inventors (Thomas Edison)
drew from the teachings of Kabbalah to further their life’s work. Today, the great minds of our generation (you) are finding meaning & power in these same teachings.



4 p.m. Kabbalistic Astrology
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5 p.m. Intro to Kabbalah - Hebrew
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6 p.m. Kabbalistic Meditation
7 p.m. The Big Picture

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sunday, may 2, 2010 from 4pm-7:30pm

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Notes from 4/26/10 Malul Call

In order to tap into such an enormous amount of Light, we need to prepare. The more I prepare myself, the better my connection. Consciousness is everything. I need to study, yes, but also want to find someone this week that I can connect with them. Not because of any obvious reason (i.e., they’re talented / smart / pretty) but just because they are human and I know that without connections / without connecting to others, I cannot achieve anything in this life. We know about the students of Rabbi Akiva that died during this time because of no connection with each other / lack of human dignity for each other. We need to remember that this week and connect with others.

Another part - sometimes we like to feel good among our friends by putting others down but this week, think about times when you put others down and try to fix it. Think: “in the future, what can I do differently?” For example, if I know a person does not have a skill or know an answer then why would I ask them to do something or ask a certain question especially in front of others? i can't embarrassed people or cause them shame

Third part - if you think you love somebody / want to love somebody, confront them and tell them if they have done something wrong. If you are afraid to say anything because you are scared of what they will think, it is superficial love. If you really love them, you must be where you can share.

Fourth part - there are 4 levels in this reality, one relating to when we speak which brings us to the concept of “speak to a priest”. When we are using our voice / speech and using it for unnecessary things, we limit the amount of energy. If someone in your eyes is highly connected, you won’t talk to them about little, mundane things or nonsense so you want to see everyone on that level. This way, our consciousness remains spiritual (about sharing / the Light) and we speak from there - “speak to a priest” – so we elevate others when we speak. Ask yourself: “do I bring peace when I talk or do I just talk nonsense all the time?”

Notes from 4/22/10 Consciousness Class

Taking our life to the next level starts with consciousness. Everything starts with consciousness.

We know that this week there are 2 portions, Acherai Mot and Kedoshim. Having 2 portions gives us a 2nd level of unity, since we receive 2 portions of light. Another portion enters to reinforce a higher level of light. The light is always trying to give us as much as possible. We get the light of immortality and holiness this week.

In Acherai Mot – we know the light reveals secrets to us. We should learn a completely different lesson each year as we get deeper and to another level, we should be at another way of seeing the story. “after the death of Nadav and Avihu.” The idea is “after the death.” What does this mean? Its where we need to be, “after the level of death,” meaning removing the aspect of death from our life. Death cannot be part of our movie/life/relationships/friendships/business.

The 2 souls of Nadav and Avihu were equivalent to the entire souls of all the Israelites. Yitzhak Levi of Berdichev explains that they were drunk and they entered the holy of holies, and then they died. The kabbalists explain – how can such high souls make such a mistake? They felt a level of light they thought was the light of immortality, so they thought they needed to get drunk since it was Purim – huge amount of light revealed, light of Binah, they thought it had already come, the end of the correction. And they needed to reincarnate at higher levels, later on, as Pinchas and Elijah the prophet. Imagine how careless and low our consciousness was however many years ago – when we were there, a person that does a negative action, how much negativity can that person spread? How much light can be revealed? Not really that much. But when a righteous person does a positive action, there is so much light revealed in one action; the same idea applies when he falls. When a righteous person does a negative action, he creates so much negativity for himself and the rest of the world. Kabbalists that use tools of the Zohar, mikveh, etc, to protect us so that we don’t fall, because the consequences are so much higher. “The sons of Aaron died because they didn’t ask Moshe.” When a person takes drugs or alcohol, they get immediate gratifications, and immediately bring light of Binah to a vessel in Malchut and get burned. If a person wants to elevate to a level above where they are – Nadav and Avihu got closer, they burned, they couldn’t handle it, and they short circuited; they went to directly plug into the light. If they had at least asked Moshe, no matter the answer, they would have at least had protection. A person that wants to elevate to a level above his own narrow place, study by himself, and not with his teacher, through his teacher, not asking permission from his teacher, “he must die.” This is tough to say, but we know that death is not just physical death. To attain another spiritual level, I have to connect through my teacher. The idea is for us, even asking questions, while its not easy, it helps us to stop; whether or not it’s the answer we like to hear; some people don’t like to ask questions because they know they are not going to get the answer they want to hear, or they ask questions in a way that they think will give them the answer that they want. And that’s not really “plugging in” and awakening the light. Most of us need to learn to reconnect to our teacher. When I am by myself and not plugging into the pipes and channels, I am causing death = spiritual death. You won’t be able to elevate. In order to elevate my consciousness, I need to understand I cannot just elevate by myself; in our life today we are not at such a spiritual level that we can elevate and connect any other way.

There are spiritual actions that we do that we feel so much energy from them, and there are actions that we stop doing, because we don’t feel like we get energy from them anymore. Some people love the mikveh, others do not. Even in our personal life, not just spiritual tools, there are things we like and things we don’t like. The Zohar says, when you do things you don’t enjoy and get no pleasure, because we do the things we don’t feel like we get energy from them, we will then be able to receive cleansing and clarity from the things we do in which we feel connected. By stretching and doing things that are uncomfortable or we don’t’ feel we get energy from them, we create more of an opening for energy from things where do feel we get energy. For example, if I don’t feel connected with Shabbat or other tools, we create limitations in the things we like to do. I like morning connection but not the night connection. The things I stop doing because I don’t like them, block the light that can be revealed from the things we like to do. Whatever it is, do it for the sake of cleansing to reveal light in something we do like to do. When a person starts doing something and likes to only do one thing, those of us that are leaders and want to inspire others, need to give people one small action to do. When you do one thing good, you feel good, and then you will do the next action. Just by doing one small action, that will bring us to do another small action. Eventually the person will be connected to the light in a much greater way. When we find that I need to know how to be more humble, if you continue doing spiritual and positive action, as you get closer to the light, you see how low you are, and how humble you can become; then the light can dwell on you.

Rav Ashlag shared a lot about this week’s energy. Must of the wisdom of Kabbalah is based on this week – in fact the Zohar says this week includes all the energy of the torah that we need in our life.

This portion Acharei Mot – after death, whenever there is any negativity, a person is not happy and has low energy. But there is another secret – this portion of Kedoshim – being holy – comes to bring and to draw to our life, to add holiness; when we connect its only for the sake of drawing to our life more holiness. What does holiness mean? Kedusha – holiness, separation not from others but separating a holy energy – like a surrounding energy that is separated from everything else. Kedusha is separation from the desire to receive for the self alone – any time a person separates himself from the realm of the desire to receive for the self alone – the small picture, small thinking. Shabbat is holy because it is separated from the rest of the week. Sometimes we need to separate ourselves from our environment if it is not so holy, for the sake of bringing holiness. A person should separate himself from the craving of the physical world; that is how we can draw holiness, so that our thoughts can become holy. You need to take yourself out of the physical world – out of the attachments, need and craving for 1% needs, by doing that you draw holiness and you become holy. There are righteous people whose soul is so powerful, and for them it is easy to separate from the 1%, they don’t have as much attachment to the physical world. But most of us are good people, but we don’t have as much power to achieve those levels of light and holiness by ourselves, so we need help. Include yourself in a holy environment. A single candle can add himself to a group of candles, and add to the equation of making a lot of light. That way can be included in the holiness that can be revealed that I wouldn’t otherwise get if I am by myself. When the light wants to come to our life, Rabbi Shimon said, when the light sees that he wants to be revealed in this world and enter someone’s life, but sees the person is not so holy, but is an evil person – meaning a person always connected to his desire to receive and who is not yet a transformed person – when the light wants to come but sees how much that person is into himself – the light will never look at us as a negative person, but regards us in such a way that wants to trickle down in a lesser way. The light shrinks himself to enter your life. Only through mercy and forgiveness. How many of us that really want to share with someone, will jump immediately and judge the other person and tell them what we think and all the negative things that we think about that person, rather than deciding if there is a merciful way to connect and convey our message. Is there another way for me to deliver that message in a merciful way? By doing that we elevate ourselves to behave like the light.

From Tiferet Shlomo – he says when a person works on himself and really prepares himself, when he works on his desire to receive for the self alone, awakens himself to really do more spiritual work – for the sake of revealing what is really connected to us – we are drawing holiness. But what we want to really understand - when a person in this world does a small action of holiness – meaning we do a small separation in our own level – when we awaken in our life, in the lower world, a small action – if you do a small separation between us and the physical world, between us and the desire to receive for the self alone – we decide not to be angry in order to separate ourselves from that need to be angry for the sake of bringing holiness into the world – if you separate yourself and you become holy – “I will have to come and dwell on you, and give you so much more holiness.” Just a small separation from the desire to receive for the self alone from above there is so much flow of holiness – a cloud of light and protection comes to a person. You can’t connect to the world of solutions and answers if we keep doing little negative actions. No matter how disconnected we were, how negative we were or are, a person will separate himself a little bit, a little bit holy, not just because we want to be holy, but because that selfish action we are about to do will prevent us from drawing down so much holiness from that cloud. We can draw down so much holiness from small actions because we want more holiness in our lives.

Rav Ashlag shared with Rav Brandwein – letter 13 in Beloved of My Soul – Rav Brandwein shares with the Rav Berg about Kedoshim. He speaks of Matan Torah, the gift of the Torah – dealing with the creation itself. The entire creation has an intention, a meaning – the entire creation was for one purpose, for us to become holy and for us to know that there is a creator. What does this mean, for us? Our job is to publish and to spread, to advertise, to market the creator, because that’s what the creator wants, that we will spread his name. Why? Why does the creator need us to spread his name? If the light is so good and can help everything in our life, we want to share it with others. When you study Kabbalah and you realize how great it is and you get the depth of it and get really excited you just want to share it. First, realize that if I am bringing that holiness into my life, I can attract more people to feel that light, and then more people will be attracted and will want to know about it. This light is the cure for all chaos, and a cure for death. The more people realize this the better position we are all in. in The Gift of the Bible, Rav Ashlag says the creator came to the Israelites and told them, if you will hear what I am saying to you and you will keep what I am telling you, you will become holy and protected, you will separate yourself from all other nations, and you will be a kingdom of priests, and you will be a holy nation. Rav Ashlag says, similarly the creator didn’t tell them anything that they should do. If my friend comes to me and asks me to do a job for him, he needs to clarify what is the job, what I will get out of it. We need to understand that when the creator asks us to do a certain job and asks us to keep all the commandments and separate ourselves from the desire to receive for the self alone, you will be priests and holy. But if there is no explanation of the job why should we take it? The idea of becoming a priest – is only for the sake of sharing. Only a person without the desire to receive for the self alone and can love anyone whoever they are -the results would be becoming a holy nation, and draw down light from the cloud of light that surrounds us. When you separate yourself from the desire to receive for the self alone, with a consciousness of wanting to draw so much more holiness to my life, it’s enough to draw so much more holiness. To the degree that I become a priest, I become holy. It’s very hard to separate yourself from the desire to receive for the self alone when you are by yourself.

Reminder- Mon 11:30AM EST Calls

From the Rav: "If we still find ourselves in a place where we are judging others, and not considering that if we were in that person’s environment, we might do the same, then this is wrong."

This and every Monday, we will have a Weekly Kabbalah Consciousness Call with Kabbalah teacher Binyamin Malul.

Join us Monday, April 26th, 2010 from 11:30 a.m. to 11:40 a.m. - Eastern, and every Monday, at this same time.

To join the call dial: (712) 432-0075, then enter access code: 872736#

Malul Consciousness Class 4/22/10