Gems of Wisdom

Through the millennia, Kabbalists have bequeathed us with numerous writings. In their compositions, they have laid out a structured method that can lead, step by step, unto a world of eternity and wholeness.

Gems of wisdom is a collection of selected excerpts from the writings of the greatest Kabbalists from all generations, with particular emphasis on the writings of Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag (Baal HaSulam), author of the Sulam [Ladder] commentary of The Book of Zohar.

The sections have been arranged by topics, to provide the broadest view possible on each topic. For smoother reading, slight alterations of spelling and punctuation have been made. In addition, sections originally written in Aramaic and other foreign languages were translated into Hebrew.

We are certain that this book will be a useful guide to any person desiring spiritual advancement, and will lead us all towards a new and better world.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
• From Publisher
• The Purpose of Creation
  • The Creator Is the Absolute Goodness
  • What Is the Purpose of Creation?
  • The Purpose of Creation Applies to the Entire Human Race
  • Why Did the Creator Burden Us with Creation?
  • Why Is the Creator Concealed from Man?
  • The Creator’s Guidance Is a Purposeful Guidance
• The Essence of the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • The Question of Life
  • What Does the Wisdom Concern?
  • All the Wisdoms in the World Are Included in the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • Realism and Practicality in the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Philosophy
  • The Wisdom of Kabbalah and Ethics
• The Kabbalists
  • Who Is a Kabbalist?
  • Walking in the Path of Kabbalists
  • The Principal Kabbalah Writings
• The Language of Kabbalah
  • The Wisdom of Kabbalah Does Not Speak of Our Corporeal World
  • The Law of Roots and Branches
  • The Language of the Kabbalists Is a Language of Branches
  • All the Languages Are Included in the Wisdom of Kabbalah
• The Concealed Torah and the Revealed Torah
  • Attainment of the Torah Begins with Sod [Secret] and Ends with Peshat [Literal]
  • Studying the Concealed Torah Is Preferable to the Revealed Torah
• Who Is Suitable for Studying Kabbalah
  • Concerning the Obligation of Each Person to Study the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • The Opposition to the Study of the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • Engaging in Kabbalah Requires No Preliminary Excellence
• The Meaning of Israel and the Nations of the World
  • Yasher-El [Straight to the Creator]
  • Why Was the Torah Given to Israel?
  • All of Israel Are Responsible for One Another
  • Israel's Role Toward the World
  • Israel Must Carry Out Their Role toward the World
• Kabbalah Now
  • Proof that Our Generation Has Reached the Days of the Messiah
  • An Opportunity for Redemption
  • The Importance of Disseminating the Wisdom of Kabbalah
• The Book of Zohar
  • Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai and His Friends
  • The Importance of The Book of Zohar
• Torah and Mitzvot
  • Torah
  • Mitzvot
  • The Essence of the Work in Torah and Mitzvot
  • 613 Suggestions and 613 Deposits
  • The Torah Develops the Recognition of Evil in a Person
  • What Is a Prayer?
  • Only the Light in the Torah Reforms the Person
  • Workers of the Creator Who Make the Torah Arid
• The Approach to Studying the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • The Remedy in the Engagement in the Wisdom of Kabbalah
  • The Importance of the Preparation for the Study
  • The Importance of the Intention during the Study
• From Love of Others to Love of the Creator
  • Love of Others Is the Means to Attain the Love of the Creator
  • A Prayer of Many
• The Nature of Man and the Nature of the Creator
  • Man’s Essence Is the Will to Receive
  • Egoism Is Embedded in the Nature of Every Person
  • The Superiority of Man to the Beast
  • The Subject of the Purpose of Creation Is Man
  • The Discrepancy between Man’s Nature and the Nature of the Creator
  • Remoteness from the Creator Is the Reason for all Suffering
  • Two Ways to Discover the Wholeness
• Freedom of Choice
  • Does a Person Have Free Choice?
  • The Influence of the Environment on a Person
  • The Freedom of the Collective and the Freedom of the Individual Are One
• Spiritual Work in the Group
  • The Purpose of Society
  • Obtaining the Greatness of the Creator through the Environment
  • Unity of the Friends
  • The Power in Bonding
  • Principles of Spiritual Work in the Group
  • Writers’ Envy Increases Wisdom
  • The Right Conduct at the Assembly of Friends
• Perception of Reality
  • Everything Is Preordained
  • The Entire Reality Is Contained within Man
  • We Have Neither Attainment Nor Perception of any Matter
  • All Changes Are in the Desire, Not in the Light
  • A Thought Is an Upshot of the Desire
  • Time and Motion
  • Incarnation of Souls
• The Greatness of Baal HaSulam
• Kabbalists Cited in This Book
• Researchers and Philosophers Write about Kabbalah
• Further Reading
• About Bnei Baruch