Kabbalah for Everyone

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In Lesson 14, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the Nefesh HaSichlit, the Rational Soul, the part of us that thinks, analyzes, interprets, plans, and explains. But the mind is not automatically wise or holy. Sometimes it becomes the brilliant lawyer hired by our desires, constructing sophisticated arguments for what we already wanted to do.
Kabbalah teaches that the rational soul can become something far more powerful: a bridge between the G-dly soul and the animal soul. It can take the higher truths the soul knows and translate them into language that the ordinary human being can actually understand and live. The mind’s job is not simply to accumulate knowledge, but to bring truth from the head into the heart and ultimately into action.
The lesson asks a deeply contemporary question: Who is educating your mind? Every conversation, social-media feed, advertisement, piece of Torah, repeated thought, and person we surround ourselves with teaches us what is normal, important, desirable, frightening, and true. If the mind is going to guide the heart, then the mind itself needs an education.
Through the Kabbalah concepts of Daat Tachton and Daat Elyon, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores two ways of seeing reality: beginning from our world and searching for G-d, or beginning with G-d as the true reality and asking what our life is doing within His purpose. The Nefesh HaSichlis helps us hold both perspectives, practical responsibility together with spiritual meaning.
Ultimately, the measure of spiritual wisdom is not how sophisticated our ideas become, but what kind of person those ideas produce. The lesson culminates in the Rebbe Rashab’s teaching that even the deepest contemplation of Chassidus is worthwhile if it leads a person to genuinely desire to do another Jew a favor. The highest truth must eventually become kindness, patience, humility, courage, and a softer heart.
The rational soul is “the mind in the middle.” It can listen upward to the G-dly soul or downward to the animal soul.
Intelligence is not the same as wisdom. A clever mind can become extraordinarily talented at rationalizing desires it has already decided to pursue.
The mind needs chinuch. We are constantly educating our minds through what we watch, read, hear, repeat, and surround ourselves with.
The mind can be a lawyer or a translator. A lawyer defends appetite; a translator takes the truth of the G-dly soul and expresses it in a way the natural self can absorb.
Spirituality is not self-rejection. The goal is not to scream at the animal soul, but to educate it, explain to it, and gradually help it experience holiness as meaningful and desirable.
Daat Tachton and Daat Elyon represent two cameras on reality. One begins with the world and works toward G-d; the other begins with G-d and asks how the world fits into His purpose.
Inspiration must become integration. An awakening from above may inspire change, but the rational soul asks: What does this mean tomorrow morning? What habit follows? What actually changes?
Knowledge is incomplete until it reaches the heart. The purpose of Chassidic contemplation is transformation, thought into feeling, feeling into action.
Feelings matter, but they are not automatically facts or instructions. The rational soul creates the space to ask, “What is true? What is mine to do?”
Overthinking is not the same as wisdom. Overthinking circles endlessly around “What if?” Wisdom moves toward clarity: “What is true? What belongs to me? What can I release?”
Freedom often begins with one word: “Wait.” The pause between impulse and response creates room for understanding, choice, and dignity.
The practical avodah is to catch the lawyer, become the translator, examine your mental inputs, and turn Torah into one concrete act.
The ultimate test of Chassidus is the human being who emerges from it. Did the learning make you gentler, more generous, slower to judge, more courageous, and more aware of another person?
The deepest question of the lesson: Am I thinking in order to discover the truth, or am I thinking until I find permission to do what I already wanted?
The closing movement: the G-dly soul illuminates the rational soul, the rational soul educates the animal soul, and the entire human being becomes a Dirah BiTachtonim, a home for Hashem.
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Rabbi Yisroel Bernath's New Book The Forgiveness Experiment is Available now:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6
Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV

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What if the parts of yourself you struggle with most are not meant to be destroyed, but redirected?
In Lesson 13 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath moves beyond simply identifying the Nefesh HaBahamit, the animal soul and discovers the deeper Kabbalistic vision: the goal is not to become less human, less passionate, less ambitious, or less emotional. The goal is to educate the enormous energy already inside us.
Drawing from Tanya, we explore itkafya, the ability to create space between an impulse and our response; the inner “courtroom” of the beinoni, where a feeling may make its argument without being allowed to issue the verdict; and ultimately the possibility of redirecting the animal soul itself toward holiness.
The ox is powerful. Unharnessed, it can destroy a field. Harnessed, that very same strength can produce a harvest. Your stubbornness can become loyalty. Your ambition can become service. Your sensitivity can become compassion. Your appetite for life can itself become part of your relationship with G-d.
The goal is not spirituality despite being human. It is spirituality through being human.

Key Points
A voice is not a verdict. An impulse, emotion, or thought may speak loudly without being given authority over what you think, say, or do.
The beinoni is not someone without struggle. Spiritual greatness can exist right in the middle of an ongoing inner battle.
Itkafya creates freedom. Sometimes holiness begins with the ability to say, “I want this, but I do not have to obey it right now.”
Don’t kill the ox. Harness it. The raw energy behind difficult traits may contain tremendous spiritual power.
Same ox. Different plow. Stubbornness can become persistence. Competition can become self-improvement. Pleasure can become beautiful Shabbat. Ambition can become service.
The Nefesh HaSichlit is the translator. Our rational mind can help translate the G-dly soul’s truths into language the animal soul can actually understand.
Dirah BiTachtonim happens inside us too. G-d wants a dwelling not only in the obviously holy parts of life, but in our bodies, appetites, personalities, passions, and physical energy.
Transformation does not mean sanctifying harmful behavior. We reject what is destructive while asking what healthy, holy power may exist underneath it.
Do not confuse recurring struggle with failure. Needing to choose again today does not erase yesterday’s victory.
The ultimate question is not, “Why am I not somebody else?” It is: “What am I going to do with the soul and temperament G-d gave me?”

Tonight Wednesday September 2 at 7:30pm EST on Zoom
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September 16th at 7:30pm EST on Zoom
The Forgiveness Experiment: LIVE
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The School for Sensitive Souls
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#Kabbalah #kabala #Jewish #Judaism #KabbalahForEveryone #Rabbiyisroelbernath #Tanya #chassidus #chabad #ChabadChassidus #JewishWisdom #NefeshHaBahamis #AnimalSoul #Beinoni #Itkafya #DirahBiTachtonim #JewishSpirituality #SelfMastery #Transformation #purpose 

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath's New Book The Forgiveness Experiment is Available now:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6
Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV

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How Tanya teaches us to understand our inner conflict without shame and choose who gets to rule the city.
Download the PDF worksheet here
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ueahmlvp3pptfisjb3a22/Lesson-12-Animal-Soul.pdf?rlkey=dmspfv7j4b4tzlfol97awgyd0&dl=0
Why can one part of us sincerely want holiness, meaning, kindness, and growth, while another part wants comfort, recognition, revenge, or simply five more minutes in bed?
In this lesson, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath introduces one of Tanya’s foundational teachings: the Nefesh HaElokit, the G-dly soul, and the Nefesh HaBahamit, the animal soul. Rather than seeing our contradictions as proof that something is wrong with us, Tanya gives us a radically compassionate map of the human being: the struggle itself is part of the spiritual life.
We explore the animal soul not as something evil that must be destroyed, but as a powerful, self-oriented life force filled with desire, intelligence, emotion, and enormous energy. Its “horsepower” can pull us toward ego and indulgence or be redirected toward love, generosity, ambition and community.
Using Tanya’s famous metaphor of two kings fighting over a small city, we discover that spiritual success does not mean never feeling anger, jealousy, temptation, or resistance. The beinoni may still experience the battle; freedom means learning that not every feeling deserves the throne.
The lesson concludes with a practical tool, The Two Kings Pause: identify what the animal soul wants, listen for what the G-dly soul wants, and choose one concrete next action. You may not control the first feeling, but you can often choose the next sentence.

Key Points
Not every voice inside you is your deepest identity.
Tanya describes two inner orientations: the G-dly soul and the animal soul.
The animal soul is not inherently evil; it experiences life primarily with the self at the center.
The animal soul possesses intellect, emotion, thought, speech, and action, it can be remarkably sophisticated at justifying what it wants.
Through kelipat nogah, ordinary desires and physical energies can either descend into self-indulgence or be elevated toward holiness.
The goal is often not to eliminate desire but to ask: “Where does this energy belong?”
Tanya compares the human being to a small city ruled by two competing kings.
The beinoni teaches us that spiritual greatness is not the absence of struggle; it is choosing wisely within the struggle.
Moach shalit al halev, the mind can govern the heart—does not mean suppressing emotion. It means emotion does not automatically dictate behavior.
The practical process: Name the animal soul. Listen for the G-dly soul. Choose one next action.
Don’t measure your day by whether you struggled. Ask: “Who ruled the city in the next moment?”
When you fail, repair and choose again. The battle itself can become avodah.

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Wednesday, September 2
NO FEELING IS FINAL The Elul Art of Beginning Again
What if the way you feel right now isn’t the truth about who you are? Elul reminds us: you are never stuck. You are not your worst mistake, your fear, your disappointment, or the version of yourself you’re ready to outgrow.
Join me for a special Elul evening exploring teshuvah as return, the possibility of reconnecting with who you really are and beginning again.
Wednesday, September 2
Live on Zoom
7:30–8:30 PM — Lecture
8:30–9:30 PM — Interactive Workshop & Guided Processing
ACCESS HERE https://www.jewishndg.com/civicrm/event/register?id=110&reset=1
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Rabbi Yisroel Bernath's New Book The Forgiveness Experiment is Available now:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6
Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV

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After ten classes exploring the language and ideas of Kabbalah, we finally step back and ask the most basic question: What is Kabbalah?
In this lesson, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath traces the inner tradition of Torah from Avraham and Sinai through the Zohar, the Ramak, the Arizal, the Baal Shem Tov, and Chabad Chassidus. More importantly, we uncover the common thread running through it all: Kabbalah teaches us that reality has an inside.
The visible world is real, but it is never the whole story. Torah has an inner dimension. A mitzvah has an inner dimension. The soul has an inner structure. Creation itself carries hidden Divine meaning.
This class brings the entire Kabbalah for Everyone journey together and gives you a simple framework for recognizing what makes an idea truly Kabbalistic and how to bring that wisdom into ordinary life.

Key Points
Kabbalah means “received wisdom”an inner Torah transmitted through generations.
Jewish mystical tradition reaches back to Avraham and Sinai, and unfolds through the prophets, the Zohar, the Ramak, the Arizal, the Baal Shem Tov, and Chabad Chassidus.
Kabbalah teaches that reality has an inside. What we see on the surface is real, but it is not the whole story.
Kabbalah asks how the Infinite relates to the finite, how Divine unity appears as multiplicity, and how G-d can be hidden while remaining fully present.
Kabbalah gives us the architecture; Chassidus teaches us how to live inside the building.
The concepts we have studied throughout the series all share one movement: hidden becoming revealed, soul entering body, meaning entering action, heaven entering earth.
The ultimate goal is not to escape the physical world, but to uncover the Divine depth already within it.
The simplest definition: Kabbalah teaches us to see reality from the inside out.
And the practical question remains: Becheyn? What changes in my life because I know this?

#KabbalahForEveryone #Kabbalah #jewishmysticism #chassidus #chabad #zohar  #Arizal #baalshemtov #Tanya #JewishWisdom #Spirituality #InnerTorah #Nistar #Atzmus #DirahBetachtonim #Tzimtzum #sefirot #soul #divinepurpose #Becheyn #Rabbiyisroelbernath #JewishLearning #Torah #spiritualgrowth 

Rabbi Yisroel Bernath's New Book The Forgiveness Experiment is Available now:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6
Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV

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Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

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Download the PDF handout HERE:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/05t6vd3goxbg6iz9iiwsg/Lesson-10-Dirah-Bitachtonim.pdf?rlkey=5854kgstayu6p2rzyyxitawtd&dl=0
In Lesson 10 of Kabbalah for Everyone, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores one of the most central teachings in Kabbalah: Dirah BiTachtonim, G-d’s desire for a dwelling place in the lowest world.
After Lesson 9 introduced Atzmut, the Absolute Essence of Hashem, this lesson asks the next question: Where does G-d want G-d’s Essence to be at home?
The answer is shocking and beautiful: not only in the heavens, not only in spiritual ecstasy, not only in moments of inspiration, but here, in this physical world. This class explains why G-d wants a home specifically in the world of concealment, struggle, bodies, money, food, relationships, work, and ordinary routines. Through Torah, mitzvot, refinement, and practical action, we transform the physical world from a place where G-d is hidden into a lichtiker dirah, a bright and illuminated home for G-d.

Key Points / Takeaways
1. Dirah BiTachtonim means G-d wants a home here: Not a visit. Not a guest appearance. A real dwelling place where G-d’s Essence can be revealed.
2. Tachtonim means the lowest level of concealment: This is not about geography. It means a world where G-dliness can feel hidden, distant, or forgotten.
3. G-d chooses the lowest world on purpose: Precisely because this world is dark and physical, transforming it reveals something deeper than effortless spirituality ever could.
4. Nista’aveh means Divine desire beyond logic: The Alter Rebbe explains that G-d’s desire for a home below is not based on a reason we can fully understand. It comes from Atzmut, G-d’s Essence.
5. A home is different from presence: G-d is everywhere, but a home means G-d’s presence is welcomed, revealed, and expressed.
6. A lichtiker dirah is an illuminated home: It is not enough for G-d to be hidden in the walls. The home must shine. Judaism wants the physical world to become visibly holy.
7. Mitzvot are the building materials: Tefillin, Shabbat candles, tzedakah, kosher food, Torah study, honest business, kind speech, each mitzvah is another brick in G-d’s home.
8. Spirituality is not escape: Kabbalah turns the whole idea upside down: the goal is not to run away from the physical world, but to sanctify it from within.
9. The work must come from below: Lasting transformation happens when we don’t just receive inspiration from above, but change our own perspective, habits, actions, and environment.
10. Moshiach is the completed Dirah: The ultimate future is when the world itself will no longer hide G-d, and the home we have been building will finally be fully revealed.

#Kabbalah #chassidus #KabbalahForEveryone #DirahBiTachtonim #ChabadChassidus #PracticalKabbalah #JewishWisdom #Atzmus #Mitzvos #TorahForLife #spiritualgrowth #JewishSpirituality #MakeThisWorldHoly #divinepurpose #Tanya #InnerWork #AvodasHashem #MoshiachNow #WednesdayMorningKabbalah #SoulWisdom #LivingWithPurpose 
Rabbi Yisroel Bernath's New Book The Forgiveness Experiment is Available now:
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638
Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6
Audiobook: https://bit.ly/4tPFZhV

Support the show
Got your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.com

Single? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.

Donate and support Rabbi Bernath’s work http://www.jewishndg.com/donate

Follow Rabbi Bernath’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernath

Access Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi