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Article Summaries of Editors' Picks
![]() The Zohar
Moses sent spies into the Land of Canaan with instructions to report about the nature of the land. The Zohar examines the
question posed: "Are there trees or not?"
If they were to see that the fruits of the Land are like those of other lands, then "it has trees" - referring to the Tree of Life. But if they are unusually large, then you will know that it is nourished by a primordial holy level, from which its unusual qualities are drawn. |
![]() Mystical Classics
"Man does not live by bread alone, rather on all that emanates from the mouth of G-d."
The Ari explains that the intake of food enables the soul to remain attached to the body, although the soul, by definition, does not need to eat for food is something both physical as well as spiritual. The soul can benefit from those spiritual ingredients in food, just as the body derives strength from the foods' nutrients. |
![]() Intermediate
Chasidic Masters
Caleb went to Hebron and prostrated himself on the graves of the
forefathers, that he not be persuaded by his fellow spies to participate in
their scheme.
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![]() Beginner
Contemporary Kabbalists
The seven nations that inhabited the Land of Canaan signify and embodied the seven basic emotions. The more we meditate on the futility of materialism and the awesomeness of G-d, the more we develop ecstatic love for G-d and antipathy for anything that opposes divinity and to that extent we may inspect and conquer our seven emotions, as well.
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![]() Beginner
Israel is an opportunity to redeem the physicality of the world.
The nefilim were angels who “fell” from Heaven to dwell among humans, attempting to prove that temptation and evil could be resisted. Unfortunately, they fell further into spiritual corruption than their mortal neighbors.
In the land of Israel the Jews would be compelled to engage in mundane tasks. Seeing the nefilim in Israel caused the spies doubt, that they also would not be able to stand up against the odds of a physical existence there. |
![]() Beginner
A tale of how the hidden powers of a mystic saved a traveling rabbi.
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