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Mishkan Hakavana
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Mishkan Hakavana

Greenwork Business Park, Building E, Yakum, Israel

Phone: +972-9-7717806 Email: [email protected]

Design: Amit Ayalon, Michal Sahar

Development: Mair Sadan, Jasmine Nackash

Truth and Faith

  • Truth and Faith

    Singing in Kabbalah - How can it become a preparation?

    Student: In singing there is a great deal of power that comes through, and when it comes on me in the study, I can intend it for the group and it doesn't leave me feeling separated. But when I'm not in the group, and I'm either studying or singing, there is such energy that comes in and I feel like I don't know where to release it. I don't know how to intend it elsewhere. It comes into me, and it like expands something, but then when it leaves, I feel such separation, it even goes to despair when it leaves. This makes me not want to sing. I'd rather not have that energy than feel the separation. 

    Rabbah: So it's not a question of how to dispense this energy, the question is how to harness it. You are speaking about the fact that  sSinging has to do with serving something, for example people’s state of mind, it can even be the state of mind of the corporeal soul, which causes them to feel elevated. So music and the ability to sing is not a gift given to humanity in vain. Even though the operating principle of singing is the same across the board, yet it acts specifically upon different levels of ourselves. In other words, music and singing clearly has an impact upon people. At the very least singing elevates us by providing an outlet for our emotions. You see therefore that the “Singing Verses” (Psukei D’Zimra) section of the prayer serve, which prepares us for “Prayer” (Tefilta/Amidah) is intended for the precise opposite of what you're describing. It is intended for cutting off (Zimra - also means to prune) anythinganyting that separates. Therefore, if you are saying that you feel despair, it means that the singing is not harnessing itself to the right purpose.

    The purpose of singing before Prayer (Tefilah/Amidah) is to awaken longing, to awaken a more clear definition of the praying vessel in myself. The praying vessel is that which can deeply feel its own state of being, and deeply feel the One before-which it is standing. It is intended to awaken all the wonder we have forgotten. So singing is about awakening a wonder. When you feel empty or despair afterward, it seems as if you have put your singing in the wrong context.

    Student: Help me to correct it please? That's where I'm lost.

    Rabbah: I cannot suggest that you join our Mishkan choir (smile, as students lives overseasoverseass). 

    I think your course of action is to establish a Mishkan Hakavana Kabbalistic group where you live, which is focused on song. You will represent the group as a singing and teaching group for those who like to sing and are interested in Kabbalah. There you will introduce the meaning of singing within Kabbalah? Through that, you will attach yourself to the meaning of singing, and not be left desperate and desolated afterwards. Because again it's a gift that needs to be harnessed in the right way. So this is one suggestion. But first start by trying alone to sing to yourself those Verses (Pesukei D’Zimra) that are preparation before prayer? See what it invokes in you and also examine whether you stay hopeful and elevated instead of in despair. So this will be your laboratory, Okay? 

    I will try to send you the Verses of Song (Pesukei D’Zimra) that I'm referring to, they are mostly from the book of Psalms.

    Student: The same question applies in a different way with studying when I'm not in the group, and pulling the energy from the text, especially TES (pronounced “ta’as” acronym for Talmud Eser Sefirot, by Baal HaSulam) right now. But I feel guilt because I am pulling that energy out when I am not in the group, and it feels as if I'm doing it selfishly for myself.

    Rabbah: Absolutely, you are! There's no other way to put it. But, on the other hand, I wouldn’t want to stop you from reading just because you are curious or just because you want to acquaint yourself with the language, or acquaint yourself with the path. However, when you are clear that you are doing it for yourself, we treat it exactly like we treat charity. You don't stop performing benevolent acts when you are discovering that deep down inside you are doing it for selfish reasons. Rather, you continue to perform these acts of charity in spite of your discovery. The same applies here. So you know that your singing is for yourself. In spite of that, you want to get acquainted with this truth that it has all been for the will-to-receive-for-myself. This will then produce a bigger need in you to join with the group later.

    So yes, it is the process of admission (confession). It's living honestly with oneself. If someone is in great material need, and you want to support them and their family, you won’t stop doing it because you all of sudden discover that your act is coming from the-will-to-receive-for-oneself, which it is. You continue the support in spite of it. Okay?!

    Student: Yes,okay, thank you.

    Rabbah: Remember that, because the will-to-receive-for-oneself will stop us from doing things that we should be doing because it is concerned about its self-image. That is worse than doing the deed even if selfishly.

  • Truth and Faith

    It is difficult for us to understand the issue of sacrifice because it goes straight into the ego and into the story of being victimized, it has the same echo system, but this is actually the power. If we study it correctly, the sacrifice has nothing to do with being a victim but it has to do with a possibility of atonement, meaning recognition of what I need and where I am. Of the truth. It is a wonderful and great opportunity of coming closer. For a very devoted spiritual person all over the world, through all religions, being sacrificed, in unison with the higher, is that which he wants the most. I am not speaking for those that play in spirituality but those who have a genuine will. Their highest wish is to be united with the higher.

    What does it mean to be united with the higher? Being swallowed by it and that our existence will disappear.

    The Torah is saying “...and you choose life”. What does it mean? Everyone who reads it will say of course I will choose life. No dear, when you are in spirituality, you will not choose life naturally and then the Torah will say to you “choose life”. It is more important that you will do your work while existing than be in communion with the higher and disappear there.

    So choose life, being here and in communion. Not disappearing from existence in order to be in communion.This is how we understand sacrifice. The Kabbalah is saying, when you are spiritual and you want to disappear into the hug of the higher, choose life, and choose here. This is a totally different understanding of sacrifice. The need is that there will be an unwavering connection between life and existence, meaning the higher and the lower, therefore choose life, do not disappear into the higher. This speaks about when you have the yearning for a communion, the peek of the longing of a spiritual person to disappear into the higher, is forbidden. It is said, no, you stay here, and be the connection part for all spirits because this is your salary, not your personal meaning or enlightenment.

  • Truth and Faith

    Meaning of Sukkah