Local Meeting # 25:

"If I Am Not for Myself, Who Is for Me?" + Opening the Heart

Following our preparations with the convention study materials, we will continue today on the topic of "If I Am Not for Myself, Who Is for Me?" with focus on "Opening the Heart" through reading the sources, video clips and workshops.

Excerpt 1: Baal HaSulam, Shamati, Article No. 217, "If I Am Not for Me, Who Is for Me?"

“If I am not for me who is for me, and when I am for myself, what am I?” This is an inherent contradiction. The thing is that one should do all of one’s work by way of “If I am not for me, who is for me,” that no one can save him, but “by your mouth, and by your heart to do it,” that is, a discernment of reward and punishment. However, to oneself, in private, one should know that “when I am for myself, what am I?” This means that everything is in private Providence and no one can do anything.

If you say that if everything is in private Providence, why is there the issue of working in the form of “If I am not for me, who is for me?” Yet, through working in the form of “If I am not for me, who is for me,” one is awarded private Providence, meaning attains it. Thus, everything follows the path of correction, and the distribution of added fondness, called “children of the Creator,” is not revealed unless it is preceded by work in the form of “If I am not for me, who is for me.”

Excerpt 2: RABASH, Article No. 18 (1986), "Who Causes the Prayer"

One must not say, “I’m waiting for the Creator to give me an awakening from above, and then I will be able to work in the work of holiness.” Baal HaSulam said that in regard to the future, a person must believe in reward and punishment, meaning he must say (Avot, Chapter 1), “If I am not for me who is for me, and when I am for me, what am I, and if not now, then when?”

Thus, one mustn’t wait another moment. Instead, he should say, “If not now, then when?” And he must not wait for a better time, so “Then I will get up and do the work of holiness.” Rather, it is as our sages said (Avot, Chapter 2), “Do not say, ‘I will study when I have time,’ lest you will not have time.”

Excerpt 3: Rabash, Article 4 (1984) "Each One Shall Help His Friend"

We must understand how one can help his friend. Is this matter specifically when there are rich and poor, wise and fools, weak and strong? But when all are rich, smart, or strong, etc., how can one help another?

We see that there is one thing that is common to all—the mood. It is said, “A concern in one’s heart, let him speak of it with others.” This is because with regard to feeling high-spirited, neither wealth nor erudition can be of assistance.

Rather, it is one person who can help another by seeing that one’s friend is low. It is written, “One does not deliver oneself from imprisonment.” Rather, it is one’s friend who can lift his spirit.

This means that one’s friend raises him from his state into a state of liveliness. Then, one begins to reacquire strength and confidence of life and wealth, and he begins as though his goal is now near him.

It turns out that each and every one must be attentive and think how he can help his friend raise his spirit, because in the matter of spirits, anyone can find a needy place in one’s friend that he can fill.

Excerpt 4: RABASH, Article 1 (1984),"Purpose of Society – 2"

Since man is created with a Kli called “self-love,” where one does not see that an act will yield self-benefit, one has no motivation to make even the slightest motion. And without annulling self-love, it is impossible to achieve Dvekut [adhesion)] with the Creator, meaning equivalence of form.

And since it is against our nature, we need a society that will form a great force so we can work together on annulling the will to receive, called “evil,” as it hinders the achievement of the goal for which man was created.

Workshops

Workshop Question 1
How can our preparation put our attention toward grasping the congress?

Workshop Question 2
How can we work together so the congress enters our heart and mind?

(Additional options from last weeks)

Workshop Question
How do we implement "If I am not for me, who is for me?" in our group?

Workshop Question
Let's add to the importance we have for the convention and share our build-up of excitement.

Workshop Question
How do we organize our group to aim us toward None Else Besides Him?

Workshop Question
After discussing how we organize ourselves in the group, share with the friends two new things that you're expecting to attain at the convention?