At a deeper level beyond where we perceive drought as a physical phenomenon, drought is a spiritual shortage of the quality of Hassadim, which is a quality of kindness, positive connection, and bestowal. If we rise above self-interest and acquire the…
Nature is not punishing us. This is a misunderstanding. Nature is a perfectly balanced, self-regulating system. It always tries to soften its reactions, to compensate for our violations, and to protect the integrity of life. It has an enormous margin…
We need to find the natural point within ourselves, the inner direction we already live in, even if it is still developing. What matters is that we stand in it firmly, without floundering or wandering aimlessly, unsure of where to…
Hanukkah, in its spiritual meaning, is the revelation of a timeless inner process. The external events of 170 BCE—Antiochus’s desecration of the Temple, the persecution of the people, the uprising of the Maccabees, and the miracle of the oil—are branches…
We need to make a decision on how we wish to view the next generation. Accordingly, we should list its principles and behaviors, and put together a plan to raise the next generation to such a state. However, it is…
The countless conflicts tearing humanity apart today—from wars and terror attacks to verbal assaults, accusations, and the desire to harm one another—make it clear that unity cannot arise from our own powers alone. To rise above such division requires a…
If we look back 1,000 to 2,000 years ago, we will see preventive medicine in practice. It was important to keep people healthy so that they could defend themselves and their families, villages, cities, and nations. Accordingly, various practices developed…
As human beings, we consist of two levels: the animal level and the human or speaking level. At the animal level, we need food in order to survive. The fulfillment of this base survival need is the primary concern in…
Kabbalists do not engage in prophecy. They cannot and will not say what will happen in the future. What they can do is explain the general tendencies of human development, i.e., how human egoistic nature drives us when we do…
Addictions are usually associated with drugs, alcohol, and gambling, and we also often hear about addictions to shopping, the Internet, and social media. Of course, there are several other kinds of addictions, but a deeper look shows us that certain…
Depression is a negative illumination. It descends from our desires and thoughts, the highest level of our inner structure, to our mood. From our mood, it proceeds to seep into the bodies’ systems, including our bones, tissues, nerves, and skin.…
Depression is like a virus that suddenly lands on us, chills us, paralyzes us, and lays us down. It strips away the joy of life, the strength to move, function, listen, and open our eyes. If we are depressed, we…