Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Academy

Hanukkah was a spiritual miracle, and in spirituality we must ask “What?” or we do not feel the miracle. This is why they said, “What is Hanukkah?” so that each one will ask about the miracle of spirituality, meaning so as to first know the meaning of spiritual exile, and then be able to be granted spiritual redemption.

And because of it we should divulge it publicly, to make everyone interested. Otherwise, we do not feel the exile or the redemption.

2. RABASH, Article No. 638, "Man’s Inclination"

Anything that is above nature is regarded as a miracle.

All the miracles are attributed to the Creator, meaning regarded as an awakening from above and not as an awakening from below, since the lower one cannot do something that is above nature. But in order for a miracle to be done to him, a person should pray that a miracle be done to him.

3. RABASH, Article No. 11 (1990), "What Placing the Hanukkah Candle on the Left Means in the Work"

“A miracle” implies something that a person cannot obtain. That is, it is impossible for one to obtain it unless through a miracle from above. Only in this way is it called “a miracle.”

4. RABASH, Letter No. 68

Spirituality is in exile under the corporeality.

A person cannot come out of this exile, and only the Creator can deliver him, as our sages said, “Man’s inclination overpowers him each day and seeks to put him to death. Were it not for the help of the Creator, he would not have prevailed over it.” From this we see that only the Creator can help, and this is why it is called a “miracle.”

5. RABASH, Article No. 24 (1988), "What Is 'The Concealed Things Belong to the Lord, and the Revealed Things Belong to Us,' in the Work?"

A person having to “light up,” to do things “until the flame rises by itself,” and not by a person’s own strength.Thus, “by itself” means by the power of the Creator.

6. RABASH, Article No. 9 (1984), "One Should Always Sell the Beams of His House"

Each of them had a spark of love of others, but the spark could not ignite the light of love to shine in each, so they agreed that by uniting, the sparks would become a big flame.

7. RABASH, Article No. 15 (1991), "What Is the Blessing, 'Who Made a Miracle for Me in This Place,' in the Work?"

A person should accustom himself with anything to compare between the time of suffering and the time of pleasure, and to bless for the miracle of delivering him from suffering to a state of pleasure. By this, he will be able to thank the Creator and enjoy in the new Kelim that have been added to him now when he compares the two times to one another. From this, a person can advance in the work.

This is as Baal HaSulam said, that it does not matter whether a person receives from the Creator something great or small. What matters is how much a person thanks the Creator. To the extent of his gratitude, so grows the giving that the Creator gives. Therefore, we must take note to be grateful, to appreciate His gift, so we can approach the Creator.

8. RABASH, Article No. 13 (1985), "Mighty Rock of My Salvation"

It says, “To praise You is a delight,” meaning we thank and praise You for the good we have received from You. It is as our sages said, “One should always praise the Creator and then pray” (Berachot [Blessings], 32).

The reason is that one who believes that the Creator is merciful and gracious, and that He desires to do good to the creations, has room for prayer. This is why we must first establish the praise of the Creator, meaning a person himself should establish praise of the Creator. This does not mean that the Creator should see that the person is praising Him, since the Creator doesn’t need people. Rather, the person himself should see the praise of the Creator, and then he can ask Him to help him, since His conduct is to do good to His creations.

9. Rav Kook

Each one should know and understand that within him burns a candle, that his candle is not as his friend’s candle, and there is no person who has no candle. Each one should know and understand that he must toil to reveal the candle to everyone, and to light it into a great torch and to illuminate the whole world.

10. Zohar for All, Aharei Mot [After the Death], "Behold, How Good and How Pleasant", Items 65-66

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to also sit together.” These are the friends as they sit together, and are not separated from each other. At first, they seem like people at war, wishing to kill one another. Then they return to being in brotherly love.

The Creator says about them, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to also sit together” The word, “also,” comes to include the Shechina with them. Moreover, the Creator listens to their words and He has contentment and delights with them, as it is written, “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him.”

And you, the friends who are here, as you were in fondness and love before, henceforth you will also not part until the Creator rejoices with you and summons peace upon you. And by your merit there will be peace in the world, as it is written, “For the sake of my brothers and my friends let me say, ‘Let peace be in you.’”