Use the 3 weeks to Connect with the Light of the Creator

"We just began a period of three weeks from the 17th of Tammuz (Cancer) until the 9th of Av (Leo). The name came from the verse in Lamentation 1:3, it says “גָּלְתָה יְהוּדָה מֵעֹנִי, וּמֵרֹב עֲבֹדָה–הִיא יָשְׁבָה בַגּוֹיִם, לֹא מָצְאָה מָנוֹחַ; כָּל-רֹדְפֶיהָ הִשִּׂיגוּהָ, בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים”

“Judah is gone into exile because of affliction, and because of great servitude; she dwelleth among the nations, she findeth no rest; all her pursuers overtook her within the straits”

During this time the elements of judgment (Left) are stronger that Chessed (Right). Besides the destruction of the two Holy Temples, the history is full of negative events that happened to the Israelites. The month of Tammuz (Cancer) is full of confusion and doubts in the ways of God. The sin of the Golden calf was in Tammuz and that created a cosmic event that is repeated every year. The main impact is on the level of connection between us and the Light of the Creator. The forces of the negative side with the help of the Erev Rav has greater ability to bring chaos on us.

On the 9th of Av, at the end of the three weeks (21 days), we read the entire book of Lamentation. It is written in special orders of the 22 Hebrew letters to correction and bring the light in order that will shine 7 days after, on the 15th of Av that we know as the day with the highest level of unification between the light and the vessel..

The remedy to overcome the situation of “all her pursuers overtook her within the straits” is a stronger connection to the sources of light that is available to us. We start with the Zohar to help us get charged with the energy of love to each other. Especially during this period we should avoid conflicts because negativity can easily set a burning fire in every situation.

Until the 9th of Av, we should be carefull with every action that we do and avoid judgment as much as you can. Starting new or buying new things may include more of the aspect of judgment so we better avoid purchasing anything unless it is vital to our daily routines, personal or business."

Source Daily Zohar .  ** I added the bolding.  **I realize that this is an "unorthodox" website in its approach to open kabbalah learning for all, and at the same time this really spoke to me

Collective/personal Tikkun and the Beit Hamikdash

  During the omer period as I was trying to internalize the concept of the 2nd Beit Hamikdash being destroyed in connection to Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred), I had a vision of the Beit Hamikdash burning and felt that I was some how a part of this. The part of my collective Neshama which felt the unbelievable pain of Hashem's "abandonment,"(Hashem really just hid his face and withdrew some of his light), intuited that if I am in so much pain, then I must have been a part of the cause (At least as much as I am a collective Neshama of the nation if not more).  I felt that I was also responsible for the fact that the nation was not in alignment with Hashem's will during this period and consequently its destruction.  Therefore I  feel a responsibility on soul level to do Teshuvah.  Without going into gilgulim etc. the sages also explain simply: “Every generation for which the Temple is not rebuilt, is as though the Temple was destroyed for that generation.” 
     I have also felt this similar experience in relation to the Shoah.  After having many bodily experiences over the years where I felt like I must have had a gilgul in the Shoah, instead of staying in a place of victimization, I turned within and tried to look at how I could due teshuvah on the past.  What I witnessed was various memories where I had no knowledge of Hashem during that time period.  I felt very strongly that if I had known Hashem at all and followed his Torah, and listened to his guidance within, my experience may have looked different.  This sparked much Teshuvah/tikkun on both forgiving Hashem, myself, and allowing myself to re-enter into a relationship with Him.

A practical thought for collective teshuvah during this period:

1. To ask Hashem during a period of prayer of meditation to please forgive the part where your Neshama may have had a part in any specific or collective aspect of the destruction of the first or 2nd temple.  (The first temple being connected to horrible idol worship). Then  to say that this should be a full Teshuvah from love, and should be replaced Beezrat Hashem by this current relationship of love, or desire to get closer to Him.   
2. To allow yourself to be forgiven as well and feel Hashem's love (That despite anything that we have done Hashem never "severs the tie" and always loves us.  Remember that the Shechina even went with us straight into the darkness of Galut!!

*Of course these are my own thoughts I have not had the time to research the idea of collective teshuvah in the sources, though I know that there is some concepts that overlap of the Baal Shem Tov.  If someone has some sources, send them my way. Thanks and blessings 

To my Holy nation letter #9

Am Yisrael, the time is closing in fast and the work is great.  Do not close your eyes or be scared, Trust in your Abba Bshamayim.  Know that My deep love for you guides all of your challenges right now.  Know that this is All from Me to get you ready to receive again anew all the light that awaits you.  Don't be scared.  Know that this is all for the Good of the planet.  Do not buckle under the weight being placed upon you.  Search Me out for all of the answers and I will whisper them to you in a still small silent voice.  I will guide you on your path as much as you put all of your reliance and trust in only Me.  Move forward.  Trudge ahead like proud warriors in My army.  Your wholeness is linked to you linking and binding yourself to Me forever.  When you link yourself to Torah and mitzvot, then there is eternal life as the soul never dies.  Do not fear.  No one can bring you into a place of fear under my wings other than yourself.  You are my beloved children.  Where do you find me? Within yourself and within all of creation.  I love you all equally.  Each and every Jew (as well as  goyim who seek me out) has an opportunity to come close to me.  It does not matter what your past was until now.  Just open your hearts and begin to follow my ways.  My Torah and Mitzvot are the bridges that link us together continually.  Every mitzvah adds another reinforcement to this bridge.  Feel me within you and you will not be frightened.

Living with the Creator

In Bilvivavi Miskan Evneh the author states that the goal in life is to feel that the Creator is right near him.  According to the Ramchal this is one of the most difficult levels to achieve.  As the Ramchal says, our senses contradict this truth. (Mesilat yesharim, ch 19).  But when a person gradually accustoms himself to attain it, Hashem will certainly help him until he really feels Him right nearby, and he can talk to his Creator "as one talks to a friend"  This may at first seem beyond a person, but if one accustoms oneself to have all his activities center around Hashem and talks to him throughout the day, it will become much easier.  he will grown in this lofty avodah of feeling that hashem is there and speak to him at all times as if to a friend.  This will become very simple and natural.  This was the way of the great rabbis in all the generations.  they sense a most tangible way that Hashem was present right next to them. 

Here is an inside look at two special Jew's conversations with Hashem.  Blessings to them for posting these internal private experiences for us to have a glimpse into the active workings of hitbodedut. Fields of Judah and A Thunderous Reply

We are one Soul

I am reminded every day as I live my life as a Jew, that every Jewish soul is my soul and that we are in seperable in our mission.  I felt this as I wept after seeing someone who used to be religious without tzizit and kippa anymore.   The feeling I experience is that any Jewish soul's struggles and challenges are my challenges and responsibility as we are" Kol Arevim Zeh La Zeh".  He is part of my soul and I am part of his. The chiddush I took in response to this scenario however, was instead of placing judgment in the world, I davened for him and intuited that he had felt sad and disconnected from Hashem. I try to send him energy that he should feel enveloped in Hashem's light  As our souls are always pure, Beezrat Hashem they will all will be guided to return to their truest soul light.

        Another positive example I had of this was davening at the Kotel this week.  As a woman with small children who does not go to shul all of my davening is not in tzibbur (with the pulic).  Hearing the shalich tzibbu r(the prayer leader) at the Kotel was such a beautful mirroring of my own soul.  This same feeling happened when I listened to the video Tzion (see post below for video), and another occasion on hearing a beautiful chassid singing tehillim with his whole soul out loud one day.  I felt so strongly in all these instances that we are one nation, there is only One Torah, and none of us should ever feel alone in our mission in Am Yisrael.  They are singing and yearning my deepest beliefs from inside of them and I am singing and yearning their deepest beliefs inside of me.  And why does it make me cry because Hashem placed this same exact True Torah and therefore same exact yearning inside all of Am Yisrael!!!  We all feel it because this torah is who we all are.  May we all be blessed to keep elevating each other to our highest potential as Jews.

Secrets of the Redemption- Excerpt from the Book Ma'aamar Ha Geulah from Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato #1

Important intro from the translator and commentor Rabbi Mordechai Nissim:

While our actions do not compare to the actions of righteous people in earlier generations, we can still contribute to the tapestry of endeavor in the Divine plan.  The challenge is not for history to repeat itself, but for every new moment to bring new light into this world as part of a creative process.  In this work, the Ramchal often expresses the exile as a period in which the Schechina-the Divine Presence-is in exile.  It should be understood that it is not the essence of G-d that is exile since nothing can effect the omnipotence of the Infinite One.  However, it is the holiness and spirituality within physical matter that is in hiding.  The Divine presence is seemingly lost in the secular world.  This further fuels the need to reconnect with the source of light.

     The Supreme Creator has fashioned this unique structure in order to give humans the elements of free choice,so that as the inexorable process of human history unfolds, there are many episodes of darkness, due to man's free will.  Ultimately, however the freedom to choose will culminate in an independence that brings mankind to take responsibility for the universe and to recognize the oneness of existence through technological advances.  This process will lead man to the sole Creator and his Divine plan.  Yerushalayim represents that perfected state, and the individual carries the responsibility to contribute towards this vision of Yerushalayim.  

*As we are getting closer to our Redemption Beezrat Hashem, this work from the Ramchal helps one understand and inkling more of the process.  Im Yirtze Hashem I will post small important sections from this work. I included the bolding, not the author.  

May A Kohen leave Eretz Yisrael? Halacha

http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?PageIndex=&ClipID=2343