What Is the Daily Kabbalah Lesson?

For thousands of years, Kabbalists have been studying on a daily basis for their and humanity's spiritual progress. Continuing this tradition into today's globally connected world, the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute, studies daily from authentic Kabbalistic sources, with commentary by Dr. Michael Laitman.

The lessons are broadcast live on Kabbalah TV, from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST (U.S.), Saturdays through Thursdays, and are available for download at the Kabbalah Media Archive. Tens of thousands of archived lessons, as well as the live lessons, are offered free of charge.

Daily Kabbalah Lesson Structure

Each lesson begins with a reading from authentic Kabbalistic sources. Then to clarify the material, and to make it more suitable as a means for students' spiritual progress, Dr. Laitman provides commentary on these sources. Following the commentary, students and viewers on Kabbalah TV ask questions related to the lesson's topic, which Dr. Laitman answers.

Four Parts of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson

1. First Part of the Lesson: Study of articles and letters about inner spiritual work - 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM EST

Examples of such articles are Shamati (I Heard), and the Igrot (Letters) of Baal HaSulam, as well as the writings of Rabash. This material is suited to people who are in the preparation phase of their spiritual progress, who move through the inner states this material describes, and thus see how the material speaks to their inner states. The material and commentary provide clarifications and advice on how one can use the material to study one's own inner states, in order to progress through them wisely.

2. Second Part of the Lesson: The Zohar (Zohar for All) - 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM EST

The Zohar is a renowned Kabbalistic text depicting the highest states of perception of reality attainable to the person. Reading The Zohar with the intention of connecting oneself and humanity in balance with nature, the person speeds up the time it takes to discover this connection. Thus, readers of The Zohar gradually develop new, heightened awareness and sensitivity to themselves and their surroundings.

3. Third Part of the Lesson: The study of the structure of the worlds, Sefirot & Partzufim - 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM EST

This material is in the language of Kabbalah, and requires prerequisite understanding of the purpose of this area of study. Without understanding the purpose, one will get lost in all kinds of seemingly abstract terms and concepts, and the study will reap no spiritual benefit. Study texts include Talmud Eser Sefirot (The Study of the Ten Sefirot), and its prefaces. (It's recommend to study one or more of the study options in the "For Beginners" section on the right sidebar before delving into this area of study.)

4. Fourth Part of the Lesson: Articles about the fundamental principles of spiritual progress - 10:00 pm to 11:00 pm

These articles were written by Baal HaSulam for the purpose of basing and guiding a person correctly on the spiritual path. The articles define the method of Kabbalah, distinguishing it from commonly held misconceptions, and provide Kabbalistic definitions of terms and concepts, to build fundamental understanding of these principles.

Songs between the second and third parts of the lesson, and at the conclusion of the daily lesson renew students' energy and strengthen their connection.

Precise durations of lessons vary according to the lesson's flow of commentary and questions and answers. (Times are listed in EST/U.S.)

This is a general overview of how the daily Kabbalah lesson is structured. However, there are often changes to this structure. Since Kabbalah is a dynamic process of spiritual progress, the structure can often vary according to the general spiritual state of the students on that particular day.

Purpose of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson

Daily Kabbalah lessons, as well as all authentic Kabbalah studies, are intended to allow one, and all who desire, to reveal nature's complete picture, achieve world peace, eternal life, and unbounded fulfillment, all while living in this world.

Progressing toward this goal, at the fastest rate possible, and with the highest consciousness of oneself and one's surroundings in the process, is done through the consistent attraction of the Surrounding Light (Ohr Makif).

The strongest means available today for attracting the Surrounding Light on a daily basis is through the daily Kabbalah lessons. This is because, at the lesson, the three means needed for spiritual progress meet at the same place, and at the same time. These are:

1. Authentic Kabbalistic sources, written expressly with the intention of allowing a person to attract the Surrounding Light from them;
2. The teacher - an attained Kabbalist who has been through significant stages of the spiritual path and can guide students through it;
3. The group - a worldwide network of people who have awakened to the spiritual path, and who are studying simultaneously in different languages from different parts of the world (referred to as the World Kli, the worldwide "vessel" for attaining spirituality).

Thus, one who prepares oneself for the daily Kabbalah lesson with the intention of attracting the Surrounding Light, receives a unique illumination that progresses him- or her spiritually. Baal HaSulam writes about this in item 155 of his "Introduction to the Study of the Ten Sefirot":

"Therefore we must ask, why then, did the Kabbalists obligate each person to study the wisdom of Kabbalah? Indeed, there is a great thing in it, worthy of being publicized: There is a wonderful, invaluable remedy to those who engage in the wisdom of Kabbalah. Although they do not understand what they are learning, through the yearning and the great desire to understand what they are learning, they awaken upon themselves the Lights that surround their souls.

This means that every person from Israel is guaranteed to finally attain all the wonderful attainments that the Creator had contemplated in the Thought of Creation to delight every creature. And one who has not been awarded in this life will be granted in the next life, etc., until one is awarded completing His Thought, which He had planned for him.

And while one has not attained perfection, the Lights that are destined to reach him are considered Surrounding Lights. That means that they stand ready for him, but are waiting for him to purify his vessels of reception, at which time these Lights will clothe the able vessels.

Hence, even when he does not have the vessels, when he engages in this wisdom, mentioning the names of the Lights and the vessels related to his soul, they immediately shine upon him to a certain extent. However, they shine for him without clothing the interior of his soul, for lack of able vessels to receive them. Yet, the illumination one receives time after time during the engagement draws upon him grace from Above, imparting him with abundance of sanctity and purity, which bring him much closer to achieving perfection."

Who Is the Daily Kabbalah Lesson For?

Although the daily Kabbalah lesson is open for all, it is best suited to people who have had an introduction to the wisdom of Kabbalah (as studied at the Bnei Baruch Kabbalah Education & Research Institute), and who have reached a decision that they would like to use the wisdom of Kabbalah as a means for spiritual progress.

If one is new to this wisdom, it is recommended that they first take an introductory course at the Education Center. There is a rule in the wisdom of Kabbalah stating "one's soul will teach one," which means that one will follow one's desire to the place that feels right for that person.