The two stages of redemption and the distinction between them are explicated clearly in the seforim hakedoshim, and our teacher, the Ramchal, explains them at length. He teaches that the final redemption is a compound of two fundamental stages, called “Pekidah”, and “Zechirah”. He writes (Maamar HaGeulah): Know, that redemption encompasses two distinct times. We…

Focus well on the mystery expressed in the verse, “The heart of a king is in Hashem’s Hand, He turns it whatever which way He desires.” (Mishlei 21:1) Hashem’s Governance clothes itself within the hearts of human beings, awakening desires and mighty movements – for example, the desire to seek a land and establish a…

In truth, although our exile began with the loss of consciousness which then caused our banishment from the land, the redemption must come about in the opposite order as alluded to in the words of Yechezkel brought above – first the return to the Land, and then the appearance of consciousness.[1] It is obvious and…

The main essence of the difference between exile and redemption exists in the mystery of consciousness (“Da’as”) – the mentality of redemption in contrast to the mentality of exile, the secret of “Constricted Consciousness” and “Expanded Consciousness.” This means that while the distinction between the two is certainly externally recognizable, for example exile as the…

We must achieve the realization that Hashem is currently fulfilling a prophecy for us – “And I will grant you a new heart and implant a new spirit within you.” A person who peers into the depths of Jewish hearts, instead of merely looking at the external appearance, will be able to see our great…

We have discussed the two stages of redemption. Practically speaking, the primary awakening from exile does not take place during the first stage, the ingathering of the exiles – the externality of the redemption, for that stage relates to the growth of the ‘body’, not of consciousness and its expansion. In this stage, we are…

In exile, we have crumbled into shards. Our consciousness has become extremely constricted, the aspect of “katnus”, and we have become deeply accustomed to seeing ourselves as separate individuals, worrying only about our own spiritual situation alone. Now, the time has come for us to become awakened and nurture our minds to a broadened an…

As we have learned, exile represents the shattering of Hashem’s nation into shards. This reality where each shard stands alone produces small-mindedness, a constricted perception which allows one to experience only those matters relating to his own individual life. We compared this constricted consciousness to the “havla d’garmi”, the vapor of life that exists within…

Let us explain what the nature of this slumber is. It is known that sleep represents the removal of one’s cognitive powers, the person’s intellect. Still, the Arizal explains that a person’s cognitive abilities always remain, even when he sleeps, for without any consciousness he would die from the lack of life-force.[1] Therefore, during the…