Consistent Sharing‏

Are you consistent with everyone? Do you share with the same passion with the people you dislike as those you love?

If you want to stay connected to the Tree of Life, then you must be concerned with the energy of sharing, period. As my father and teacher Rav Berg teaches me,

"a candle lights its surroundings in the same way regardless of whether it is surrounded by light or by darkness. We must behave in the same manner, spreading Light regardless of the behavior of those around us."

An exercise for today is to look for people you have no desire to share with; someone you are angry with or don't like or don't respect or you name it. Go against the urge to walk away from them, and instead some to really give them something that they need in the moment, be it understanding, a smile, an apology, and so on. But don't just go through the motions — really feel it inside. That's the only what it will be real, and that's when you're channeling the energy of the Light.

Tippin' the Scales‏

Did you see Evan Almighty? Cute movie. The basic message was we can change the world with small acts of random kindness. I couldn't think of a more kabbalistic message.

Rav Ashlag, founder of The Kabbalah Centre in 1922, gave a simple analogy to explain this. Place on one side of a balance scale sesame seeds that represent chaos, darkness, pain and suffering, and on the other side place sesame seeds that represent unlimited fulfillment, joy, happiness, and the removal of all pain and suffering.

Rav Ashlag then asked the question: How many seeds would it take to tip the scale one way or the other? The answer is one. And that's how we change the world. That seed could be one action of caring — one person deciding to make a difference.

Too often we believe who we are isn't enough, our gestures of kindness and love won't make a difference, our ability to restrict our ego won't mean a thing in the grand scale of things. Yet, according to the kabbalists, just one action can mean the difference between darkness and Light.

Today, think about what that one sesame seed would be for you. What could tip the scales in your own life from garbage to gift, from darkness to Light, from selfishness to unconditional giving?

Break the Pattern‏

In times of pressure and stress, we usually see what someone is made of, right? That's when we see someone's real temperament.

Now imagine being totally stressed out. Visualize yourself being pressured by an outside source; you've got a deadline coming up or your boyfriend is telling you everything that you do wrong. Watch the dialogue in your head. Are you listening to the voice of the Light ["this is happening for a positive reason"]...or are you listening to the voice of the Opponent ["life sucks"]?

If your buttons are being triggered and you are coming from a place of hopelessness, you're listening to the Opponent.

Today is your chance to break the pattern. What could you do differently when responding to this trigger?

Harsh Times‏

Not a day or week goes by when I don't get criticized. And unlike most of us, my criticisms are aired out in front of millions of people.

What can I say, I asked for it. The Zohar says we attract the people and situations that will help us grow the most. I'm not saying it feels good, but on the whole, I know no matter how cruel and cutting the comments are, this person wouldn't be saying this if there wasn't something for me to learn.

If I didn't live this principle, I would have shut down a long time ago. In fact, if my parents didn't live this principle, I wouldn't even be here to share and learn with you. In fact, if Rav Brandwein didn't live this principle, my parents wouldn't even be together to share and learn with you. In fact, you get the point.

Stay open for business today. Don't close your doors when the critics come knocking. Just the opposite, let them in, hear them out, and learn from them. In your heart, thank them, because we learn the most from our harshest critics.

Smiling Saves Lives‏

A famous kabbalist wrote, "through joy you can give renewed life to another person who is in a state of depression (or another fallen state.) By approaching them with a happy face you are able to give them renewed life."

Smile. You never whose life you can save

Out On Loan‏

Have you ever borrowed a friend's car? I'm sure you were super careful not to damage it, parking it with enough room so you wouldn't get any nicks or dings, filling it up with gas, making sure not to spill anything on the seat.

Imagine if you went through your day with the realization that you were borrowed material. It shouldn't be too hard to imagine since, spiritually speaking, that's exactly what you are - out on loan.

"happy is the man who returns the deposit [namely, the soul] to the Creator as it was given him, that is, undamaged." - The Zohar

Appreciate the great gift that is in your care today (the gift is you.) Treat it well. Love it. And put it to best use by sharing it with others.

Don't Want to See‏

Remember, the Zohar constantly reminds us the thing we need most to change, we see the least. If someone approaches you and says you should change XYZ, then chances are you will not see it; you will always find a reason to justify your actions because you don't want to see it.

Furthermore, Rav Shimon explains if you are busy patting yourself on your back for the great spiritual work you've done, it is a sure sign you haven't. When one is truly on a spiritual path, one will always see how much more work needs to be done.

Today, look at those areas where you are satisfied, where you think you have changed. Have you? What more can you do? And continue to remain open to the pure, honest feedback of strangers and others who have no vested interest in whether or not you change.

Drop the Defensiveness‏

Messages are now flying at us left and right. If we can only learn to drop the defensiveness, then we can make some real personal progress by letting in some great, accurate feedback on what we need to change.

The kabbalists teach that the best feedback comes from strangers, who have no emotional ties to us and therefore can clearly see what our issues are. Don't you find this to be true? I know in my own life it's usually easy to spot someone's garbage right away. It's the people I know best I sometimes know the least.

Keep your heart open today. Accept honest feedback from every direction. The potential for change is huge.

Up to the Task‏

Pessimists are usually right, optimists are usually wrong, but most great changes were made by optimists. I read that somewhere and it resonates within me and a lot of us here at The Kabbalah Centre, where our mission is nothing less than the removal of death from the lexicon of the universal vocabulary.

Not an easy task, not even a logical task, but it's a task to which myself and thousands around the world have dedicated their lives. And we're doing it with the technology of Kabbalah [or as my father and teacher Rav Berg calls it, 25th century science,] and the technology of converting the ego's desires into the soul's desires.

As I wrote on Tuesday, it's through small personal changes that our goal will be accomplished. Keep looking for ways in which you can change robotic behavior into proactive behavior, blind hatred into unconditional love, and intolerance into compassion. Let's prove those pessimists wrong, once and for all.

Shrinking Light‏

The Ari teaches we decrease the Light flowing into our life when we hold onto grudges. Peek beneath the surface of your life and you'll likely find old ones that have not completely healed. It doesn't matter whether they're from far back or in the more recent past, these resentments are blocking your fulfillment, literally.

This is the week to root them out.

According to kabbalistic teaching, we are separated from God by a sequence of ten energy fields known as the sefirot (singular, sefirah). Together, arranged in right, left, and central columns, the ten make up what kabbalists call "the Tree of Life." As we increase our spiritual competency by ascending each sefirah, we simultaneously increase our spiritual capacity, giving us the ability to connect with and contain more and more Light. In other words, we are able to draw ever nearer to the Creator.

The Ari reveals when we hold grudges, the sefirot shrink, thereby narrowing our gateway to the Light. We begin to experience a shortage of Light, and we look for substitutes. In fact, the Kabbalists explain this as the source of all forms of addiction. It's our way of trying to get Light, but instead of getting the real thing, we get the sweet ‘n' low version. We get a boost of Light that doesn't help grow our desire for more Light; it actually shrinks our desire.

Look at people who are full of grudges, it's like they live in a perpetual black hole. They have no energy. I am sure you have had your periods in life when you were bitter [hopefully they were short.] It's like life loses its luster and charm, and we become filled with, well, nothing. That is why during such times we are so needy. Our real need in life, the Light, isn't being met and we're on a quest to fill the void.

Kabbalah is teaching us to constantly expand our desire. The last thing we want to do is to shrink our vessel by allowing grudges and resentment to block us from attaining the amazing life we can have.

Why would we ever want to hold onto what is so bitter, when we could have what is so sweet?

Spend a couple of minutes every night this week reviewing your day. Look for those grudges you are still carrying around and ask the Light why they are in your movie. Forgive the people you need to forgive and send Light and ask to be forgiven by those whom you have hurt during the day.

By always connecting to the system of mercy, instead of judgment, you can ensure a steady connection to a huge amount of Light.

Guilt and Fear are Gone‏

Most of us are stuck in the mud worrying about what tomorrow is going to be or beating ourselves with guilt over what yesterday was. Imagine what a heaven on earth this would be if there were no more fear or guilt!


No, seriously, imagine how much more peaceful and productive your life would be if fragments of fear and guilt no longer ran rampant throughout your consciousness. Without all that chatter stopping up the flow of your life, what would you do different today?

Stop Fighting‏

Molasses — these days I'm covered in it. At least that's what it feels like trudging through the Omer, people yelling at me left and right. You can really feel the negativity weighing down on people.

That's why I'm taking it easy. Avoiding conflict, even within myself. Just lots of deep breaths and a commitment to stop fighting every thought and letting the Light do some of the heavy lifting. When I stop fighting the universe, the universe stops fighting me.

Let go today. OK, so that lady totally cut you off and took the last banana walnut bran muffin, the one you had your eyes on. Let her have it. OK, so you're going crazy trying to find a job and there's nothing out there. Keep plugging away and something will open up. OK, your husband is pushing buttons you didn't even know existed. Give him some space. Take a night out with the girls. Let go.This is only a test.

Let go and you'll pass with flying colors.

We Are One‏

Kabbalah connects us with old truths; it brings to our consciousness thoughts we already know in our subconscious minds.

The greatest truth it brings to mind is this: we are one. Sure, we are each offshoots of our unique family trees, but if you go back far enough, we all come from the same root - the body of Adam.

Today, understand this truth with your mind, connect to it with your heart, and act on it with all your being. See the people you come in contact with as an integral part of yourself — and treat them that way.

Change the World‏

For those of us who want to change the world, it's essential to remember when we make small changes in ourselves, we reveal the spark of God within. This is what creates change in the world.


Small changes are by no means easy, as you know. Over time, we create negative response habits that we unconsciously follow. Stopping these habits is like holding back a tidal wave. But, it's not totally impossible. We can do it. It just takes a lot of our effort. Scratch that, it takes ALL our effort, but we can do it. And when we do overcome ourselves, we allow the Light of our souls to illuminate the people in our immediate circle and beyond.


Bottom line: Today, when you face a challenge, refuse to react in your usual way. Choose a new direction of proactivity. This is not only how you will change your life, but it's how you will change the world. You can do it.

Thank You‏

We all have something in our life we know is important, but yet we don't appreciated enough. You've heard this before, and you'll hear it again: we lose what we don't appreciate.


Today is the perfect day to sit quiet for a moment and to thank the Creator for allowing you the privilege of ___________.

Pray to Change‏

Kabbalah teaches if we leave the church, temple, mosque or shrine the same person we were before entering, it's as if we did not enter at all. The same goes with learning from the Zohar and other kabbalistic sources.


Prayer, meditation and study are a means to an end — to open ourselves up for the Light to enter in order to help us change. God does not need our thank you's or supplications. Personal growth is all that matters.


Are you different today than you were yesterday? Take some time to work on changing one part of your personality that you dislike. When you make those small changes in yourself, you reveal the spark of God within. And that's the best form of prayer you can offer.

Peek-a-boo, I See You!‏

"…when we mask ourselves from the world,we mask ourselves from ourselves,separating from the Light inside, our true essence.There can be no fulfillment living this way."- Karen Berg, Simple Light

How many people in your life are you totally honest with? How many people in your life are totally honest with you? Is there one person in your life with whom there are no blockages, no veils?

Honesty truly is such a lonely word. We are terrified to say what's on our mind, either out of fear of what "they" will think, or not wanting to burden people with our terrible truths.

One of the hardest things in Kabbalah - one of the hardest things in life — is to live in an emotional environment of truth. But we need it, especially now, during the Omer when there are other forces trying to bring us down. We can better bear this heaviness if we have people to support us.

But the only way others can help is if we start with truthfulness, all the time. Mind games, insecurity, closing off — these things hold us back in our relationships, our friendships, our life in general. If our path is to be successful, then it must be shared. This means making our pain and embarrassment visible to at least one trusted friend or teacher.

And please know there are people waiting for you to open up (and they are waiting to open up to you.)

The goal for the week is to find one or two people with whom you can share whatever it is that you are, at your core. Air out all the dark thoughts and worries; open up all the secret chambers of your heart. Be willing to look like a total fool, weakling, loser — or whatever it is you are afraid "they" will call you.

Connect with people in a real way and you'll connect to the real you — fulfilled, peaceful and purposeful

All Your Might‏

We might think we cannot do certain things because they are too hard, take too much time, or cost too much money. But all we have to do is start. The Zohar says, in the portion of Vayera, "open to me an opening no wider than the eye of a needle and I will open to you the supernal gates." Even though the needle is small, it is complete. So too, any kind of growth can be small in the beginning, but as long as it is done with 100% effort, amazing things can follow.

What activity, hobby, career-change, relationship or spiritual commitment have you been putting off? Today, take a positive action step. All you have to do is to try with all your might. The Light will help you with the rest.

Loud & Clear‏

Have you heard about the man who begged God for years to allow him to win the lottery? Every day he got down on his knees and shouted to heaven, "Please let today be the day I win!" After a year of no response, he went to his teacher to ask what he was doing wrong. His teacher asked him, "Did you buy a ticket?"


It's a great place to be when you recognize the existence of the Creator and learn how to humbly ask for help. But the secret to getting your prayers answered is this,

"God translates our prayers based on our actions." (Karen Berg, Simple Light)


Today, do an act of random kindness (especially for someone you don't like.) Resist the temptation to judge people. Go out of your way to help a co-worker. Cross the street to help a stranded stranger. Listen closely to someone you normally drown out. Grab hold of the infinite gifts to help people that the Light throws at you every moment of the day, and open them with gratitude. Every positive action, every restriction, every conscious effort to emulate the attributes of the Light will ensure that your prayers are heard, loud and clear.

Climbing High‏

Students who read about the kabbalist's ability to climb the ladder (HaSulam) up to the Upper Worlds often ask me how they can do the same.

What I tell them is what I will tell you today. Try removing your negative traits. Awaken repentance in your heart. Share with someone who is in need of love or friendship. Drop a few coins in a charity box. Next time you want to lose your temper, resist.

Do all of these and you will feel what it's like to ascend to the highest of spiritual worlds.

Why Weren't You You?‏

Rav Zusha [18th century Polish Kabbalist] was laying on his deathbed surrounded by his students. They were surprised to see him crying, and asked, "Why do you cry? You were almost as wise as Moses and as kind as Abraham."


He answered, "When I leave this world and appear before the Heavenly Court, they won't ask me, 'Zusha, why weren't you as smart as Moses or as good as Abraham?' They will ask, 'Zusha, why weren't you Zusha?"

We each have a destiny to fulfill, one that involves discovering our unique powers and sharing them with the world. Have you discovered yours?

Today, ask yourself the simple question: Where can I be doing more?

How Low Can You Go?‏

We all fall back, spiritually-speaking, from time to time. It's important to acknowledge where we messed up, but it's equally important to continue onwards. Too many of us get down on ourselves and give up all together.

The great kabbalist Rav Nachman said when he fell from the spiritual level he had attained, he did not feel depressed. He would just begin anew, as if he had never before stepped foot on the spiritual path. Sometimes he would have to begin anew several times in one day.

He also said that through depression and sadness a man can forget who and what he really is because his true essence is wrapped by so many layers of sadness. Therefore it is necessary to fight to be in a state of joy - no matter how low you have gone.

Restart your Kabbalah practice as if today were your first day. Forget about where you should be, or what you shouldn't be doing. Just smile, be happy and know that your joy is a restart button on the game of your life.

Do As I Say‏

We all have people in our life who won't do exactly as we tell them to do. What are they thinking, don't they know we have all the answers? Shame on these people!

OK, so when you encounter people today who aren't doing what you expect of them, who aren't acting the way they "should," follow the Ari's advice: Make sure you are the right messenger to deliver the message & put yourself in the other person's shoes. Would you be willing to do the same as what you are advising them to do?

Eyes On You

How often do you walk into a room feeling like all eyes are on you? Probably every room you walk into. It's our ego-centric nature to think everyone is thinking about us and giving us the evil eye.

I have news for you, most of us are too busy thinking about ourselves to have time to think about you!

Today, don't worry what "they" think of you, because "they're" busy worrying about what you think of "them".

Buy Yourself A Friend

"Buy yourself a friend," the kabbalistic sages advised. Sage advice.

We are often misunderstood when it comes to understanding our friendships. We think if we love someone, then we'll care about them. In fact it's the other way around. True friendship is built from the bricks and mortar of caring; from going the extra mile to making the effort to be genuine to believing in them when they have stopped believing in themselves.

Buy yourself a friend means earn your friend. Today, right now, put some loving into your most precious relationships. Give time, patience and effort - the hallmarks of a true friend.

Show Some Mercy‏

It's a law of the universe that judgment attracts judgment. If that's the frame of mind we consciously choose to be in, then that's what we'll create for ourselves.

What we really want to do is inject compassion, or what the Kabbalists call mercy, into every situation.

Does this mean we're supposed to roll over and let people treat us like garbage? Of course not. What it means is that when someone treats us badly, whether it is an accident or not, we ask why it's in our movie. Why is it happening to us, not from the standpoint of a victim, but rather so we can learn.

Today, go for the mercy rather than the judgment. The Light will show you the same in return.

We Can't Expect Others‏

There once was a woman whose young son was diabetic, and not only was her son a fan of sugar, but he was also a fan of Gandhi. The mother decided to seek out Gandhi's wisdom. She and her son rode a train for three days to seek the advice of the renowned spiritual leader.

When they arrived at his home, they waited on line for hours until they were finally invited to speak with him. Once the mother explained the story, Gandhi replied, "please come back in 30 days." Rather than travel back and forth, the woman and her son found temporary housing, and she took a job as a dishwasher at a local restaurant.

After 30 days, they returned to Gandhi, seeking his advice yet again. This time Gandhi stood up, held the boy by his shoulders, and said, "My son, you must stop eating sugar." The mother was enraged. "With all due respect, we traveled a great distance to seek your counsel, and this is all you have to tell us?" To which Gandhi replied, "Madam, I could not ask your son to do something that I myself could not do. Only yesterday was I able to completely cut sugar out of my diet."

Today's lesson is plain to see - we cannot expect others to do things we aren't able to do ourselves!