[Helen]

Hi Gianni

I have a question about labor before and after the Machsom. Before the Machsom, labor feels mechanical and forced ,  I go through the actions but I don’t feel why I am doing them or what inner change they are supposed to bring. The work is more about quantity than intention.

After the Machsom, is it true that labor itself carries a clear goal and intention? and the intention to bestow is already alive inside it?

If so, does prayer after the Machsom also change? does it become unified with the labor? like you don’t even need a prayer, you already have the right desire and intention, you know what to do, if anything, you only pray for strength?

thanks

Helen

[Helen]

Hi Gianni, this question is related to yesterday’s morning lesson on “What Is the Preparation on the Eve of Shabbat, in the Work?”,

This article seems to say faith can exist without Torah. A person can be Israel through faith alone, and Torah comes later as a gift. But my understanding was that real faith and receiving Torah are simultaneous — you cannot have one without the other. Is the faith described here a more elementary level, not yet the real above reason faith, more of a faith below reason?

thanks

Helen

[Helen]

Hi Gianni

“one who prays for his friend is answered first.”.. if my friends pray for my deficiencies, their prayer will only work if I do my part as well, if I don’t do my part, in what way that prayer will be answered? who will benefit from it?

thanks

Helen

 

[Helen]

Hi Gianni, that was a great lesson led by your Ten! inspired by that lesson, more questions:

1. If my friends incorporate my deficiencies and raise a prayer for the entire Ten, could it make me less pressured to do my own work in drawing the Light, since it sounds like the Light will come through my friends without me asking or working? Wouldn’t the Creator want to value my own prayer over my friends’ prayer for me, as that indicates a stronger desire and deficiency in me if I were to raise a prayer myself?

2. In your reply, you mentioned that prayer ultimately needs to include everybody. Did you mean all Israel or all people? Whenever I try to pray for all people, I hear a little voice in my head: “If that worked, then this world wouldn’t have any problems.” So my reasoning tells me to pray only for a particular person, situation, or a small group. I am not sure what my response should be to that little voice.

thanks

Helen

[Helen]

Hi Gianni,

thank you for still tending to the forum while in Israel, I hope you are receiving a lot of revelation of the Creator in the connection.  yesterday’ session Rav mentioned about to ask, and ask more. my question is related to that:

I feel strongly connected to the discernment of reward and punishment in Lo Lishma. For example, I want to do whatever is needed in the spiritual work, and I pray that the Creator will bring my loved ones closer to Him. If He needs to send them blows, I ask that He also send them thoughts that will awaken them, bring them inner peace, and give them yearning for the Creator.

My question is: Is such a prayer on the right track, and will it be answered? How do I know whether this kind of prayer supports my advancement or strengthens my attachment to self-benefit?

I am aware that there is self-benefit in it, because when my loved ones suffer, especially mentally, I suffer as well. However, since in Lo Lishma the Creator designed us to work for reward, how should I ask for such rewards so that they become fuel for the work rather than an obstacle?

thank you and stay blessed in Israel.

Helen

[Helen]

this helps. thank you

[Author]

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