Lesson on the topic of “Becoming a Conduit to the Heart of the Friend”

SOURCE OF LESSON

Becoming a Conduit to the Heart of the Friend – Selected Excerpts from the sources

1. Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to the Book Panim Meirot uMasbirot“, Item 22.

One does not live for oneself, but for the whole chain. Thus, each and every part of the chain does not receive the light of life into itself, but only distributes the light of life to the whole chain.

2. Rav Menachem Mendel of Kosov, Love of Peace

One who prays for his friend is answered first. This means that one who prays for his friend becomes a pipeline of bestowal to bestow upon his friend. And since the abundance flows through him, he is answered first. By this we can understand the verse, “He who blesses is blessed,” since one who blesses becomes a pipeline of bestowal and is therefore blessed.

3. Rav Menachem Mendel of Kosov, Love of Peace

Bracha [blessing] comes from the word brecha [pool], namely a pipeline of good bestowal. This is so specifically if the blessing and the blessed love one another and have true unity and are in wholeness. At that time, they awaken the upper pipeline which can impart through the righteous, who is the trail.

4. Maor Eynaim, Yitro [Jethro]

It is appropriate and fitting for the righteous to be a medium between the Creator and the entire world, to connect everything to Him, to make a pathway and a track, a passage for the abundance and vitality, and a pipeline to pour down to all created beings. He is the one who unites heaven and earth, who connects the whole world to the Creator, so they will not part from Him.

5. RABASH, Article No. 561, “The Soul of Israel”

“The world stands on one righteous,” meaning that the light that he extended is as in “A candle for one, a candle for one hundred.” Hence, he who loses his soul, by sentencing to the side of fault, loses a whole world, meaning that he denied the revelation of the light that was enough for the entire world. This is the meaning of the words, “One must say, ‘The world was created for me.’”

6. Noam Elimelech, Likutei Shoshana

One must always pray for his friend, as one cannot do much for himself, for “One does not deliver oneself from imprisonment.” But when asking for his friend, he is answered quickly. Therefore, each one should pray for his friend, and thus each works on the other’s desire until all of them are answered. This is why it was said, “Israel are Arevim [responsible/sweet] for one another,” where Arevim means sweetness, as they sweeten for each other by the prayers they pray for one another, and by this they are answered.

7. Baal HaSulam, Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of the Ten Sefirot), Part Two, Chapter One, Letter 1

“Invert Ratzon [desire] and you will find Tzinor [pipeline].” […] When the pipeline is a screen, a controlled restriction, meaning when it detains its will to receive in phase four by the power of the upper one that controls it, it is the opposite of the substance of the vessel itself, namely the will to receive. That is because it detains itself from using its desire.

That is why they implied, “Invert Ratzon [desire] and you will find Tzinor [pipeline].” It means that the pipeline is opposite to the desire for it compels its desire and does the opposite of what it wants.

8. Likutei Halachot, Hoshen Mishpat [Breastplate of Judgment], Hilchot Arev

The essence of love and unity is in the desire, when each one pleases his friend, there is no disparity of desire among them, and all are incorporated in one desire, by which they are incorporated in the upper desire, which is the purpose of the unity.

9. RABASH, Letter No. 24

You must awaken the heart of the friends until the flame rises by itself, as our sages said about it, “When you mount the candles.” By that, you will be rewarded with awakening the love of the Creator upon us.

10. Maor VaShemesh, Ki Tetze

It is appropriate and correct to hold tight to love of friends and draw them closer to the path of the Creator for by this one can extend illumination for many days, by bringing them closer to the work of the Creator.