Kabbalah in 5

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the smartest person in the room gets stuck?

They have experiences. They have connections. They work hard.
And yet they cannot find the reason they are stuck.
Then someone else comes along and sees a solution nobody else saw.
This week’s Torah portion teaches a powerful lesson.
The spies who went into the Land of Israel saw giants, obstacles, and challenges.
They were not wrong. The challenges were real.
Their mistake was believing that what they saw was the entire story.
Joshua and Caleb saw the same giants.
The same challenges. The same obstacles.
But they asked a different question.
”What can G-d do through us?”

Every one of us influences someone.
A parent influences a child.
A teacher influences a student.
A rabbi influences a community.
A friend influences a friend.
When should we simply step back?
In this week's Torah portion, the Talmud discusses how the correct amount of oil was determined for the Menorah.
One opinion says they began with a large amount of oil and gradually reduced it until they reached the exact measure.
Another opinion says they began with a small amount and gradually increased it until they reached the proper measure.
On the surface, this sounds like a technical discussion about measurements.

As a Jewish nation we went through 3 stages.
This is also the inner story of every person.
Sometimes a person has already left Egypt, but he is still stuck in the desert.
The goal is not to remain in the desert.
The goal is to reach the Land of Israel.
Not only to run away from the pain, but to transform what we went through into purpose.
A slave has no time to think.
He does not have the ability to ask:
Mitzrayim comes from the word metzarim, meaning boundaries, limitations.
Thank G-d, most people are not in prison.
But in their mind, in their heart, …

On Pesach, we are only allowed to eat matzah — representing humility, acceptance, and faith.
On Shavuot, by contrast, in the Beit Hamikdash we brought the offering of two loaves of bread — representing understanding, depth, and intellect.
When building a nation, a relationship, or educating a child — first comes faith and humility, and only then intellect and understanding.
This is why Pesach comes before Shavuot.
A person can spend a lifetime lost when when his or her choices begins with intellect instead of acceptance.
Sometimes you are right — and YOU choose to give in.
Sometimes you are tired — and YOU choose to listen.
Sometimes you want to be alone — and YOU choo…

Why is it that the people we love the most are often the ones we struggle with the most?
With people who are more distant, there are no expectations.
Expectation creates disappointment.
Disappointment is the beginning of the struggle.
Haman was happy when his lottery fell on Adar because he knew that in Adar Moshe passed away.
But he did not realize that in Adar was also Moshe’s birthday.
What’s the connection between Haman and Moshe?
Moshe was the most humble person who ever lived, and Haman was all about his ego.
The fact that he was not able to tolerate Mordechai was because Mordechai did not bow down to him. It was not about religion. It was about his ego.
He needed recognition, honor, and …

If someone offered you great success a secure future, a big name, real influence but someone close to you would be hurt or left behind…
“I will destroy them, and I will make you into a great nation.”
“If You do not forgive them,
erase my name from Your book.”
And in this week’s portion,
Moshe’s name is not mentioned.
and “I will make you great” were said in one breath.
Not step one and then step two.
Moshe understood something very subtle:
If my greatness is mentioned toge…

התורה מתחלקת לשלושה חלקים
The Torah is divided into 3 parts: Torah, Prophets, and Writings.
The Jewish people are divided into 3 groups: Kohen, Levi, and Israel.
התורה ניתנה על־ידי משה, שהיה השלישי במשפחה: מרים, אהרן ומשה
The Torah was given through Moshe, who was a 3rd sibling: Miriam, Aaron, and Moshe.
התורה ניתנה לאחר שלושה ימים של פרישות וטהרה
The Torah was given after 3 days of separation and spiritual preparation.
והיא ניתנה בחודש השלישי – חודש סיוון
And it was given in the 3rd month, the month of Sivan.
דיברנו על ההבדל בין עולם התוהו לעולם התיקון
There is the World of Chaos (Tohu) and the World of Rectification (Tikun).