READING: between after midnight and sunrise of Wednesday

Connecting into One Ten

Connecting into One Ten – Selected Excerpts from the Sources

1. RABASH, Article No. 10 (1984), “What Is the Degree One Should Achieve

in Order Not to Have to Reincarnate?”

We have to know that all the souls extend from the soul of Adam HaRishon, for after he sinned in the sin of the Tree of Knowledge, his soul divided into 600,000 souls. This means that the one light that Adam HaRishon had, which The Zohar called “upper brightness,” which he had in the Garden of Eden at once, spreads into many pieces.

2. Baal HaSulam, “600,000 Souls”

It is said that there are 600,000 souls, and each soul divides into several sparks. We must understand how it is possible for the spiritual to divide, since initially, only one soul was created, the soul of Adam HaRishon.

In my opinion, there is indeed only one soul in the world, as it is written (Genesis 2:7), “and breathed into his nostrils the soul [also “breath” in Hebrew] of life.”

3. Baal HaSulam, “A Speech for the Completion of The Zohar”

The body with its organs are one. The whole of the body exchanges thoughts and sensations with each of its organs. For example, if the whole body thinks that a certain organ should serve it and please it, this organ immediately knows that thought and provides the contemplated pleasure. Also, if an organ thinks and feels that the place it is in is narrow, the rest of the body immediately knows that thought and sensation and moves it to a comfortable place.

However, should an organ be cut off from the body, they become two separate entities; the rest of the body no longer knows the needs of the separated organ, and the organ no longer knows the thoughts of the body, to serve it and to benefit it. But if a physician came and reconnected the organ to the body as before, the organ would once again know the thoughts and needs of the rest of the body, and the rest of the body would once again know the needs of the organ.

4. Zohar for All, Toldot [Generations], “These Are the Generations of Isaac”, Item 3

There is not an organ in a man’s body that does not have a corresponding creation in the world.

This is so because as man’s body divides into organs and they all stand degree over degree, established one atop the other and are all one body, similarly, the world, meaning all creations in the world are many organs standing one atop the other, and when they are all corrected, they will truly become one body.

5. Baal HaSlam, “600,000 Souls”

The sign for the body’s complete correction is when one feels that one’s soul exists in the whole of Israel, in each and every one of them, for which he does not feel himself as an individual, for one depends on the other. At that time, he is complete, flawless, and the soul truly shines on him in its fullest power, as it appeared in Adam HaRishon.

6. Degel Machaneh Ephraim, BeShalach [When Jacob Sent]

One who truly wants to serve the Creator must include himself with all creations, connect himself with all the souls, include himself with them, and they with him. That is, you should leave for yourself only what is needed for connecting the Shechina [Divinity], so to speak. This requires closeness and many people, for the more people serve the Creator, the more the light of the Shechina appears to them. For this reason, one must include himself with all the people and with all creations, and raise everything to their root, to the correction of the Shechina, so to speak.

7. RABASH, Article No. 28 (1986), “A Congregation Is No Less than Ten”

Our sages said (Sanhedrin, 39), “In every ten there is Shechina.”

It is known that Malchut is called “tenth.” It is also known that the receiving Kli is also called “the Sefira Malchut,” who is the tenth Sefira, receiving the upper abundance. She is called “will to receive,” and all the creatures extend only from her. For this reason, a congregation is no less than ten, since all the corporeal branches extend from the upper roots. Therefore, according to the rule, “There is no light that does not have ten Sefirot,” in corporeality, something is not considered a congregation that can be regarded as important unless there are ten men there, such as the upper degrees.

8. Baal HaSulam, “Introduction to The Book of Zohar”, No. 68

Do not be surprised that one person’s actions bring elevation or decline to the whole world, for it is an unbreakable law that the general and the particular are equal as two peas in a pod. Hence, all that applies to the general applies also to the particular. Moreover, the parts make what is found in the whole, for the general can appear only after the appearance of the parts in it, and according to the quantity and quality of the parts. Evidently, the value of an act of an individual elevates or declines the entire collective.

9. Shem MiShmuel

The word “gathering” is more unification of the heart and soul than the word “grouping.” “Grouping” can also pertain only to the body, although the views are not united. But a gathering of people is also with one heart. It is a gathering from the outside in, where they unite the most.

10. Pri HaAretz [Fruit of the Land]

One should accustom oneself to always instill love of friends in his heart until his dying day, and continue with this until his soul is adhered and they will cling to one another. Then when all are as one man, the Creator will dwell within them and will shower them with ample salvations and comforts, and they will rise with an elevation of body and soul.