Revealing the Force of Connection

There is not more than one soul in the world, and that soul is found in each and every one in completeness, as with Adam HaRishon. For the spiritual does not come in parts and divisions, for that is precisely from the boundaries of the corporeal. But what was said, that there are six hundred thousand souls and sparks of souls, it appears that this is divided by the force of the body of each and every one.

(Baal HaSulam, “Six Hundred Thousand Souls”)

Each and every individual in the society is like a single wheel, joined with a number of wheels, given in one machine, where the single wheel has no freedom of movement in relation to its own individuality, but is drawn with the movement of all the wheels, in a known direction, to prepare the machine for its general function. And if some malfunction occurs in a wheel, the malfunction is not regarded and examined in relation to the individuality of the wheel itself, but is regarded according to its function and service toward the entirety of the machine.

(Baal HaSulam, “Peace in the World”)

A person who wants to serve the Creator in truth needs to include himself with all the created beings, and likewise needs to connect himself with all the souls and include himself with them and they with him; that is, that you should leave for yourself only what is needed for the connection of the Shechinah, as it were. And for this, closeness and the multitude of people are needed, for according to the multitude of people who serve the Creator, so the light of the Shechinah is more revealed to them. And for this, one needs to include himself with all the people and with all the created beings, and all to ascend to their root for the correction of the Shechinah.

(Degel Machaneh Ephraim, Parashat Shelach)

Convention - the next degree

From October 29 to 31, we will hold a global Kabbalah Convention.

This time, there will not be one central event. Instead, the convention will take place simultaneously in many locations around the world, with smaller local gatherings all participating in the same global event.

Some parts of the convention will be shared, with everyone connecting to the same lessons or activities at the same time. Other parts will take place locally, with each group working and connecting together in its own location.

The idea is to make the convention as accessible as possible, so that most people can participate without having to travel very far, while at the same time creating an opportunity for friends to meet physically and strengthen the connection between them.

The topic of the convention is "Awakening from Below." During these three days, we will explore how we can awaken ourselves, awaken the heart, and create a desire for spiritual advancement without waiting for the Creator, the upper degree, or nature to push us forward.

In other words, we want to learn how to initiate the movement ourselves: how to awaken the desire for connection, strengthen one another, and create from below the need for the next spiritual degree.

Today, we will explore what a Kabbalah Convention actually is: why we gather, what we do during these three days, and the different aspects of the inner and practical work that make up a convention.

If there is no awakening from below, no help comes from above. This is called man's work, meaning what a person has to do, because the answering of the prayer applies only if there is some prayer from below. This is called the raising of MAN, meaning that a person raises the deficiency, what he lacks, and asks the Creator to fill his deficiency.

Therefore, if he has a deficiency because he cannot work not in order to receive reward, then the Creator gives him the Mayin Duchrin, which is the filling of the deficiency, and the Creator gives him this strength. But if a person does not ask for this, meaning for what he lacks, that he cannot engage in the work not in order to receive reward, then there is no place to speak of filling a deficiency.

(Rabash, 579, "And I Will Remove the Heart of Stone")

What Is a Kabbalah Convention?

A Kabbalah Convention is a gathering of students of Kabbalah, usually a physical gathering, although sometimes conventions can also take place virtually.

A convention normally lasts three days, and there is a reason for this duration, which we will explore later. During these three days, we try to put into practice, as much as possible, all the advice that the Kabbalists give us about connection.

The purpose is not simply to be together and have a good time. Of course, a convention is also a joyful experience. We eat together, study together, participate in lessons and workshops, sing, and spend time with friends. But beneath all of this there is a much deeper inner work.

We try to overcome the separation between us, what Kabbalah describes as the breaking of the common soul, and to build connection above it. In this sense, the convention becomes a practical laboratory for everything we have been studying.

This is also why preparation for a convention is mainly an inner preparation. Externally, the convention itself is quite simple: there are lessons, workshops, meals, gatherings, and different activities. The important question is what we are trying to achieve through them.

A workshop, for example, is not simply a conversation or an exchange of opinions. It is an exercise in connection. We try to listen to the others, include their thoughts and feelings within us, make room for them, and together build something that does not belong to any one person individually.

Throughout the three days, this effort becomes increasingly intensive. Again and again, through lessons, workshops, meals, songs, and the simple fact of being together, we try to turn the advice of the Kabbalists into practical inner work.

In this sense, a Kabbalah Convention is the practical expression of what we study: an concentrated effort to rise above separation and discover a deeper connection between us.

Why is a convention 3 days?

Rav: it specifically has to be three days, because on the first day a person is only entering. It is not simple to enter and connect, after all, this is spiritual work. And it is good that a person is afraid, because this is what his work consists of: overcoming his fear.

Only toward the middle of the second day do we begin to feel the connection, the warmth, the unity, and within us some kind of spiritual sensation begins to be revealed. It is very small, but it already begins to prepare a person for spiritual revelation.

And the third day is already a feeling of separation... But the unity and connection have already taken place, even if only for a single moment! In spirituality, one moment is everything, nothing more is needed! If the contact has taken place, it already remains forever, because in spirituality nothing disappears.

And afterward, when you once again sit in front of the television screen, the sensation you experienced, that contact you created, will continue to develop wit

What Is a Lesson at a Kabbalah Convention?

During a Kabbalah Convention, we usually have at least two lessons each day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Sometimes there may also be a third lesson.

Why are the lessons so central to the convention?

A lesson is the time when we connect together to the authentic sources of Kabbalah. We approach these sources with the intention of attaching ourselves to the upper degree. For us, the writings of the Kabbalists represent that upper degree, and through studying them together we try, as much as possible, to come into contact with it.

As Baal HaSulam explains in the "Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot," through studying the authentic sources with the correct intention, we draw a special force that works upon us and corrects us. This force is called the "Light that Reforms," and is also referred to as the "Surrounding Light," or in Hebrew, "Ohr Makif."

This is why the lesson is not simply about acquiring knowledge or understanding the text intellectually. We sit together and study with the intention of using the source as a means for inner correction and connection.

Usually, during the lesson, we also watch a recorded lesson by Kabbalist Dr. Michael Laitman. His explanations help us enter more deeply into the words of Rabash and Baal HaSulam, and help us direct ourselves correctly toward the source.

These one-hour or one-and-a-half-hour lessons, usually twice a day, form the foundation of the convention. We can think of them as the place from which we draw the force that we later try to realize in practice through the workshops, meals, gatherings, and all the efforts to connect with one another.

The lesson gives us the source, the direction, and the strength. The rest of the convention is where we try to turn that influence into connection between us.

What Is a Workshop at a Kabbalah Convention?

A workshop is one of the main forms of practical work we use during a Kabbalah Convention. We also use workshops in the Ten and sometimes during other meetings.

Usually, a workshop begins with a short excerpt from an authentic Kabbalistic source, followed by a question connected to the text. Sometimes the question can also be more general and relate to our work, the soul, intention, connection, or another topic that we are studying in Kabbalah.

We sit together in a small circle and everyone answers the question.

The important point is that the goal is not necessarily to reach a complete answer. It is not even always necessary to give the "correct" answer. The main purpose is the common effort to clarify the question together.

This is why everyone's participation is important.

A workshop circle may have three or four people, or as many as ten. We usually try not to have more than ten participants because we want everyone to have enough time to speak and take part in the common clarification.

Each person adds something to the circle: their understanding, their feeling, a question, or even their lack of understanding. Sometimes you may genuinely have nothing to add. It is completely fine to say, "I don't know what to add, but I connect with what the friends have said." The important thing is to participate and remain together with the circle in the common effort.

On the other hand, sometimes we may feel very inspired and have many things we want to say. Then our work is also to restrain ourselves and leave space for everyone else. A workshop is not about one person explaining the subject to the others. We are trying to build something together.

Usually, we keep each answer relatively short, around one minute or less. A workshop on one question will generally last between five and ten minutes, and sometimes up to fifteen minutes. This gives everyone enough time to participate without turning the workshop into a long intellectual discussion.

Again, the main goal is not the answer itself. The goal is the common clarification.

Through listening to one another, we begin to include the thoughts, feelings, and questions of the friends within ourselves. Little by little, we build a common force, a common deficiency, and a common request toward the upper degree.

We are not simply trying to intellectually solve the question. We want our common effort to create a need for a higher degree of understanding and connection, as though together we are trying to give birth to the next spiritual degree.

There are also a few simple technical principles. We usually speak one after another, give everyone a chance to participate, keep our answers concise, and try not to interrupt or dominate the discussion. In Kabbalistic workshops, men and women also normally sit in separate circles.

Ultimately, the workshop is an exercise in connection. The words we say are important, but even more important is what we are trying to build between us while we speak and listen.

Meals - Seudot

Clip 1: https://kabbalah.academy/en/videos/preparation-for-meals-in-the-convention/

Clip 2: https://kabbalah.academy/en/videos/preparation-for-meals-in-the-convention-1/

Songs at a Kabbalah Convention

Songs are a very important part of a Kabbalah Convention because they give us another way to connect.

During lessons and workshops, we often work through words, thoughts, and explanations. Songs allow us to connect on a more emotional level, through the heart and not only through the mind.

When we sing together, especially when many people join in the same melody and intention, it can create a very strong feeling of unity. For this reason, we sing quite a lot during conventions.

Learning the songs is also part of the preparation. The more familiar the melodies and words are, the easier it becomes to participate fully and connect with everyone else.

So during the coming months, we will also try to learn and practice some of the songs that we will sing together at the convention.

Convention - Registration:

https://kabbalah.academy/en/convention-october-2026