Unifying Klal Yisroel - II

It is important to mention that efforts to create unity need not be established with fancy titles as attempts to unify different worlds. Rather, they are accomplished with very simple things, to feel brotherhood, plain and simple, with no ulterior motives. We are all brothers, one nation. We should feel this unity, because of its intrinsic truth and beauty, because of its power and blessing and not just because of the fruits that it will produce and how it will solve many issues.

We are brothers, and our brotherhood is stamped in our blood. Together we suffered through 2,000 years in Exile. We suffered together. We rejoiced together. We cried together and dreamed of the opportunity to return to Eretz Yisroel, and to reestablish and to raise from the dust that which we lost when we were exiled from our country and distanced from our land. Summer has awoken, we have arisen. We are here together free of the yoke of the nations, without pogroms and persecution. We should be happy and thank Hashem for this. We should be smiling at each other because of our physical and spiritual redemption,

So let's not get caught up in smallness. Let's not allow the separations to become permanent. Let us not be afraid of coming closer to each other. We will not be damaged or injured by that. There will never be any harm from unity in Klal Yisroel. Nothing will ever be damaged from all of the Jewish Nation joining together. The root and source of all great things are the small measured steps taken by each person with a heart to hear and feel that truth of these words. We need to life our hearts to give a gift to Hashem, to raise the pride of Israel, to reestablish the sanctuary of Jewish unity, which is the real basis for our glorious Bais HaMikdosh, the center of Jewish honor and Godly honor. the honor of Yerushalaim and the Schchinah.

Taking Joy & Pleasure

Many people think that serving God is difficult and tiresome. And standing before God means being in a state of fear and trembling. All of that is true when viewing divine service in an external manner. However, if one enters into a deeper understanding there open up for him gates of joy and love. Gates of amazing pleasure. Until each and every Mitzvah is infused with the amazing taste of Gan Eden which cannot be surpassed.

Kabbalistic thought explains the reasons behind the Torah. Consequently, one who begins this study also has develops a deeper appreciation for study of Torah. A deep and pleasurable taste from each act in that connects him to God. This is even more powerful if one is in the Land of Israel. Israel is the House of Hashem. Returning to Israel means we are sitting at our father's table. This is the service of children, the inner service predicated on love. The father's table is full of delicacies and sweets, and no table is more blessed than that of Hashem where we are connected in an internal manner replete with pleasure, joy, and unsurpassed sweetness and love.

The battle with the Evil Inclination and the forces of lust leads to a greater victory in Israel that without. When one partakes of the sweetness of Godly pleasure, all the delights of this world are worth nothing in comparison. This is especially true if one can involve his mind in Kabbalistic study. The forces of evil only raise their heads to affect a person when he is empty of the richness of life, devoid of spiritual connection. The victory in the Land of Israel over the Evil Inclination comes from the joy, love and great pleasure from serving God. Only through love and joy can a person be filled with spiritual richness until he no longer wants any lowly lusts which is empty and pale in comparison with the rich life and blessing of spiritual outpouring.

These ideas give us an opening to understand the challenges of this generation. Nowadays using a stick to hit those who are not following the ways of God will almost never work as we can see from looking around. This is not a result of the low state of the generation, but because of the great level of souls that are present and rebuke and force do not have any effect. The souls desire a lofty spirit, and a connection full of light, blessing and holiness. Experience shows us that only joy and love draw the hearts and strengthens them with holiness, awe and Mitzvah performance. Oppression and bitterness, frightening rebuke pushes people away as they deliver a message that serving God is unpleasant. These create an atmosphere that is unpleasant and no person wants to remain in an unpleasant place. People's souls are thirsting for the word of God, there is no need to frighten them. Rather one should follow the path of the prophet who taught that at the end of days people will only want the goodness of God.