How Can we Overcome Susceptibility to Evil Eye, Witchcraft and Curses?

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Parashat Balak
How Can we Overcome Susceptibility to Evil Eye, Witchcraft and Curses? 

Developing Internal Rectified Vision During the Month of Tamuz
As we enter deeper into the midpoint of the month of Tamuz the power of the sense of the month, ‘vision’ intensifies. During the entire month of Tamuz the spies spied the land of Israel through external rather than internal vision and thus blemished the sense of seeing. Therefore, we have the opportunity to rectify the blemished ‘seeing’ of the spies specifically during the month of Tamuz. It is the time to ‘guard’ our eyes to see only what is good in the world and in others. The ability to guard and focus our eyesight correctly is the rectified ‘sense’ of sight. Superficial reality does not necessarily reflect inner truth. The challenge is to go beyond what appears to the eye externally and see the inner divine reality. That was what the spies lacked when they only looked at the outer might of the Canaanites and their own military weakness, forgetting that Hashem runs every show. Our yetzer hara (negative impulse) tempts us to follow our external vision, whether to judge others unfavorably or to be unsatisfied with our portion in life, rather than looking at the cup as being half full. We must emulate the ways of Hashem who looks at the good that we do, even if not all our actions are good. We learn this from the Torah verse in Parashat Balak, “He has seen no iniquity in Ya’acov” (Bamidbar 23:21). We need to give the benefit of the doubt even to a completely wicked person because it is impossible that no good point can be found in him. We must also find good points in ourselves. Even when we feel really bad about ourselves, we must look at ourselves in a kinder light and search for some good points from within all the negative, in order to revive ourselves (Rebbe Natan of Breslev, Likutei Halachot, Hilchot Techumin v’Aruvei Techumin 6:11).

Seeing the Whole Beyond the Broken Surface
The human eye is an energy center that can send out either negative or positive energy. The Jewish people are created in the “image and likeness” of Hashem (Bereishit 1:26). The צֶלֶם/tzelem – ‘image’ is masculine influencing, whereas the דְּמוּת/demut – ‘likeness’ is feminine receiving. Seeing a person can affect reality, as known regarding ayin hara, and ayin tovah, the latter always having the greater influence (Rav Tzaddok of Lublin, Takanat Hashavin 6). How do we look at the people we love? Our children, family, and our close friends? Do we notice the runny nose, the pimples, and the wrinkles? Or do we focus on the sparkle in their eyes, in their innate holiness, and their will to grow? We need to always look at the soul within a person, to empathize and see the bigger picture of each situation. To judge others favorably and to learn to constantly stand in another’s shoes. To hear what someone is really telling us between the lines, what their heart is crying out to us. We need to see on one hand the potential for true wholeness and rectification in every broken person and situation. Although beneath the superficial veneer of reality, there is a broken world all around us, our Sages taught: “There is no vessel as whole as a broken heart.” We need to be just broken enough to feel and relate to the pain in others, but not too broken to act positively and forcefully to heal, mend and fix wherever we can. It is the essence of walking the tightrope of life or as Rebbe Nachman said: “The whole world is a very narrow bridge – but the essential thing is not to be afraid.”

G-d Opened Bilam’s Evil Eye and Transformed it for Blessing
משנה מסכת אבות פרק ה משנה יט כָּל מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּיָדוֹ שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וּשְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים אֲחֵרִים, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע. עַיִן טוֹבָה, וְרוּחַ נְמוּכָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ שְׁפָלָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. עַיִן רָעָה, וְרוּחַ גְּבוֹהָה, וְנֶפֶשׁ רְחָבָה, מִתַּלְמִידָיו שֶׁל בִּלְעָם הָרָשָׁע:
Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our father Avraham, and whoever possesses the opposite three traits is of the disciples of the wicked Bilam. The disciples of our Father Avraham have a good eye, a meek spirit, and a humble soul. The disciples of the wicked Bilam have an evil eye, a haughty spirit, and a gross soul (Pirkei Avot 5:11).

A GOOD EYE – That is the first aspect with which to worship Hashem. This is through the character trait of rachamim (compassion) and by overcoming the evil eye manifested by the anger of Bilam (Kedushat HaLevi).

 ספר במדבר פרק כד פסוק ג וַיִּשָּׂא מְשָׁלוֹ וַיֹּאמַר נְאֻם בִּלְעָם בְּנוֹ בְעֹר וּנְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן:

“He took up his parable and said, ‘The word of Bilam the son of Beor and the word of the man with שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן/she’tum ha’ayin – an open or blocked eye” (Bamidbar 24:3).

Bilam is described twice as ha’gever she’tum ha’ayin, which some translations render, “the man whose eye is opened” (Bamidbar 24:3,15). However, the same Hebrew root can be understood as meaning closed, not opened. Some sages therefore explained that Bilam was blind in one eye [since it is written in the singular eye not eyes]. Others said his prophetic capacity was defective until the moment when he “saw that it was right in the eyes of Hashem to bless Israel” (Bamidbar 23:1) and when he “lifted up his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, the spirit of G-d came upon him” (Bamidbar 23:2). Hashem opened the eye of even the evil Bilam to see beyond the external human vision to the inner divine truth (based on Rabbi Raymond Apple). If this is true regarding the evil Bilam, who was a professional black magician, hired to look for the negative points of Israel in order to place a curse upon them, how much more so must we believe that with a bit of work, regular people can become trained to overcome our blocked vision and learn to open our eyes for blessing.  

Two Kinds of Seeing, with the Right or the Left Eye
Hashem created everything with wisdom. Therefore, he created two eyes to allude to the fact that there are two kinds of seeing, to the right or the left – the world-to-come or this world. Likewise, the heart has two chambers, “The heart of the wise to his right…” The vision of the eye depends on the heart, it is all one matter. Every average person looks with both of his eyes, but Moshe Rabbeinu had only one good eye as it states about him at his birth, “…that he was good” (Shemot 2:2). When his life came to an end, it states that “his eye had not dimmed (Devarim 34:7). “His eye” is written in singular language, for Moshe only had one special vision in his right eye. The Zohar explains that we cover the eyes of the dead, because, at the time of death, the dying sees the face of the Shechina. Therefore, he should no longer see in this world. Yet, Moshe Rabbeinu saw the Shechina with a clear vision even in this world. He only looked with inner vision; therefore, his eye did not dim. This is, “May you see your world in your lifetime!” (Babylonian Talmud, Berachot 17b). May you see with your right illuminated eye even in this world! (Based on Shem M’Shemuel). In contrast, about Bilam it is written שְׁתֻם הָעָיִן/she’tum ha’ayin – ‘a gouged-out eye’ (Bamidbar 24:3, 24:15) as he was blind in his right eye. Although he was a prophet, he could only see through his left eye – the eye related to the physical reality. This is why he was so preoccupied with the amount of money Balak would pay him for cursing Israel. “He was greedy and coveted other people’s money. He said, ‘Balak ought to give me all his silver and gold since he has to hire many armies, and even then, it is questionable whether he will be victorious or not, whereas I will certainly succeed’” [Mid. Tanchuma Balak; Bamidbar Rabbah 20:10]; (Rashi, Bamidbar 22:18).

To Believe or not to Believe in the Evil Eye
“Bilam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of G-d rested upon him” (Bamidbar 24:2). Bilam sought to cast an evil eye upon them (Rashi ibid.). Ayin hara is energy that includes negative thoughts, jealousy, hatred, bad wishes, or curses sent from one person to another. Negative energy has a very low vibration, behind which is a desire to hurt someone else. Ayin hara or negative energy can damage spiritually, energetically, and physically. Some people do not believe in ayin hara, they claim: “I’m the master of my own destiny. Therefore, the thoughts of someone else cannot hurt me, except if I allow it to happen.” This claim has points of truth, but it is not the complete truth. Although we and our thoughts influence our lives, each person has a different level of spiritual protection. We do have free will, but so does the person who sends negative energy. Therefore, we may be susceptible to other people’s energy. On a spiritual energetic level, a thought becomes a vibration, which is transmitted from one person to the next. In case a person is susceptible, the vibration may penetrate his aura and damage his physical and emotional body. Although a thought creates reality, still we see people who more easily and quickly create their own reality, while others are more influenced by other people’s energy. Yet, there is truth to the statement, “ayin hara won’t harm you if you don’t believe in it,” because too much thought, preoccupation, and fear of ayin hara doesn’t place us in a positive place or in a high vibration. “We learn from Parashat Balak that negative energy has absolutely no power against the will of Hashem. Although Bilam wanted to do anything in his power to curse Israel, he was unable because Hashem did not let him, as it states, “How can I curse those whom G-d has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if Hashem has not been angered?” (Bamidbar 23:8). Since we are Hashem’s chosen people, we are protected against negative energy, sorcery, and witchcraft of any other nation. Bilam and Balak teach us to trust in Hashem and strengthen our connection with Him. When we rectify our own eyesight and learn to see the inner divine reality, we will rise above the evil eye. With Hashem on our side, any negative energy turns into blessing. Hashem will protect us from the evil eye, just as He transformed Bilam’s curse into a most exalting benediction!

EmunaHealing Exercise for Protection – The Light Bubble

It is recommended to create energy protections for ourselves every day/every morning.

1. Close your eyes and take several deep breaths, relax and center yourself.

2. Imagine a bubble of light surrounding you. In your mental eye visualize how the bubble of light surrounds your body and your auras. This light bubble is pure and clear and surrounds you completely from head to toe.

3. Breathe deeply a few times to bring the light into your body. Breathe the light into your forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, chin, and neck, and the back of your head. Visualize the protective light enveloping your entire head. Breathe the light of the bubble into your torso, chest, lungs, and heart, breathe it into your arms and fingers. Breathe the light into your stomach, intestines, hips, legs, and feet.

4. Keep breathing as you visualize the light bubble surrounding and protecting your entire body. Mentally draw an outline of light surrounding your body, starting with the top of your head and ending with your feet.

5. Ask Hashem that the bubble be completely sealed to protect you completely from all negative and low energy that comes your way from external sources.

6. Visualize the four protecting angels of Hashem protecting the outline of your light bubble, from all four sides: to your right, left, in front of you, and behind you. Take a slow breath as you visualize each of the archangels.

7. Recite:

בְּשֵׁם הָשֵם אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִימִינִי מִיכָאֵל וּמִשְּׂמֹאלִי גַּבְרִיאֵל וּמִלְּפָנַי אוּרִיאֵל וּמֵאֲחוֹרַי רְפָאֵל וְעַל רֹאשִׁי שְׁכִינַת אֵל:    

“In the name of Hashem, the G-d of Israel, at my right, Michael, at my left, Gavriel, before me, Uriel, behind me, Refael, and above my head, the Shechinah of G-d.”

It is possible to do step 7. by itself when you need protection as well as part of the bedtime Shema.

How can we Connect with the Healing Waters of Miriam’s Well?

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Parashat Chukat
How can we Connect with the Healing Waters of Miriam’s Well? 

My Power Immersions in the Healing, Mind-Opening Sea of Galilee

Now as always during the intensity of summer, I yearn for water – for healing and purifying waters. More than feeling the pull to swim in the soft waves of the clear, blue Mediterranean ocean, I yearn for the sweet waters of the Sea of Galilee (Kineret). Perhaps I love Kineret so much because the Well of Miriam is buried within it. Rabbi Chaim Vital relates: “When I, came to my teacher the Arizal to study Kabbalistic wisdom, my teacher took me with him to Tiberias... and when we were on a boat in the water, opposite the pillars of the old synagogue, my teacher took a cup and filled it with water from between the pillars, and gave me that water to drink. He said to me: ‘Now you will attain that wisdom, for this water that you have drank is from Miriam’s well.’ From then on, I began entering the depths of Kabbalistic wisdom.” So, for me going to Tiberias is not only a pilgrimage to the holy tombs of Rambam, Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Akiva, Ramchal, and more, it’s no less a pilgrimage to dive into the depths of the waters of Kineret. In the Torah, water is used in various ritual purifications. It is both cathartic and comforting, providing a sense of renewal and a cleansed feeling of purity. Natural bodies of water are highly conducive to a contemplative and reflective state of mind and to opening the heart. Each time I visit Kineret I try to do what I was told is called a Mikvah Koach (power immersion). This refers to immersion in a mikvah (any body of natural water qualifies as a mikvah), not for the sake of family purity. The purpose of immersing in spiritually healing waters is this time to clear the mind and enter a holier state, just as our men traditionally immerse in a mikvah in preparation for the holy Shabbat. My husband explains: “It’s a wonderful way to transition from the six workdays to the spiritual ambiance of Shabbat.” Although there should preferably be nothing (such as a bathing suit) separating you from the waters, at a public beach I’m not at liberty to immerse myself in the most preferable way. I rely on wearing loose clothing and only remove my rings and hairclip before leaping high to generate deep immersion within the womb of the Kinneret. I always emerge refreshed and recharged ready to face the new day.

The Wilderness Well of Water – in the Merit of Miriam

Parashat Chukat is all about cleansing and purification through water. It opens with the description of the spiritually purifying ritual of the Red Heifer involving a concoction of cedar wood, hyssop, crimson wool, and Red Heifer ashes mixed with pure spring water referred to as “living waters” (Bamidbar 19:6). After describing how various kinds of impurity is purified through water, the Torah depicts the death of Miriam and in the same breath mentions the Israelites’ loss of water:

ספר במדבר פרק כ פסוק א וַיָּבֹאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כָּל הָעֵדָה מִדְבַּר צִן בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן וַיֵּשֶׁב הָעָם בְּקָדֵשׁ וַתָּמָת שָׁם מִרְיָם וַתִּקָּבֵר שָׁם: (ב) וְלֹא הָיָה מַיִם לָעֵדָה וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ עַל משֶׁה וְעַל אַהֲרֹן:

“Then came the children of Israel, the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin, on the first of the month: The people settled in Kadesh, and Miriam died there and was buried there. Then there was no water for the congregation” (Bamidbar 20:1-2).

Rashi explains that the lack of water is mentioned immediately after Miriam’s death to teach us, that during the entire forty years of wandering in the desert the Jewish people were blessed with the well of water in Miriam’s merit. Similarly, it states “Three good providers stood for Israel, and they were Moshe, Aharon, and Miriam. Three good gifts were given on their behalf: the well, the cloud, and the manna. The well was in the merit of Miriam… (Babylonian Talmud, Ta’anit 9a). Each of the three gifts corresponds to one of the pillars upon which the world stands (Pirkei Avot 1:2). The well is compared to the pillar of kindness because the well represents the power of nurturing. Just as Miriam embodied the character trait of kindness when as a young midwife, she kept the babies alive and supplied them with food (Shemot 1:17; Sotah 11b), so did the well supply the Jewish people with all their needs. Thus, in the merit of Miriam, the well sustained the Jewish people with water in the wilderness.

Feminine Yearning to Rise Like the Water of the Well

I believe that the spiritual and serene atmosphere of Bat Ayin derives from its many wellsprings. Water symbolizes life since nothing can grow without it. The well is associated with Miriam because the nurturing quality of water is feminine. Women keep the Jewish people alive. Without the perpetual kindness of women pouring out like a bottomless well, nothing would be conceived, born, or kept alive. Maharal explains that the well is related to Miriam because the waters of the well rise from below as it states, “Arise O Well sing to her” (Bamidbar 21:17). Women similarly yearn to rise. This yearning is exemplified by Miriam, the prototype of yearning and arousal toward the higher realm (Maharal Netzach Yisrael p. 101 Chapter 54). The power of the well to rise is also manifested in the love of the Jewish people for Hashem. The desire to always grow, flourish, and flow is clearly expressed among women today. This spiritual female yearning is apparent in the fact that women are at the forefront of the Ba’al Teshuva movement and of various groups that desire to rise and bring redemption.

Where is Miriam’s Well Today?

Although Miriam’s well was lost temporarily at her death, it returned and continues to bless us with its wondrous powers until today. When the Israelites entered the Land with Yehoshua (on the tenth of Nissan, the anniversary of Miriam’s death), the well also entered the Land, where it became concealed. There are different Talmudic views as to where Miriam’s well is located today. Some say in the Carmel and others say that Miriam’s Well feeds the waters of Kineret while hidden in its depths. “Whoever ascends the mountain of Yeshimon and sees something like a small sieve in the lake of Tiberias, this is the well of Miriam…” (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 22:4). It seems to me that the spirit of Miriam’s well can be in several places at once as Rav said, Miriam’s well is mobile and pure (Shabbat 35a). It happened that someone who suffered from boils went down to immerse in the waters of Tiberias; it was an opportune time, and he saw Miriam’s Well and washed in it, and became healed. Even in our day and age, “some have a tradition to draw water [from a well] Motzei Shabbat (Saturday night) because Miriam’s Well supplies all the wells each Motzei Shabbat, and one who does so and drinks will be cured of illness” (Kol Bo, Orach Chaim 299:10). I have a bottle of special holy water that supposedly is from the well of Miriam. I have used it with EmunaHealing clients, by dabbing a few drops of this holy water on the area of their pain. Whether it works or not depends on your emunah!

The Eternal Renewal of Miriam’s Dynamic Well

The fact that Miriam’s well is mobile and changes location teaches us that Miriam’s power enlightens everywhere. Miriam is the well that offers water and brings about growth. Believing in the Master of the Universe and continuing to sow is the power of Miriam. She supports those who sow with tears – in bitterness – to become reapers with ringing songs. The well of Miriam is planted within the people of Israel through the righteous women of all generations. This is the basic inner power hidden within the daughters of Israel who spreads emunah and the ability to endure. Miriam’s well is described as a type of sieve in the Mediterranean Sea (Shabbat 35a). There is no security in holding on to its water. It cannot be contained within any vessel. Who can collect water in a sieve? However, since the sieve is placed within the great sea, its water is secure within it. It has a true place even if we cannot hold on to that place. It is beyond physical grasp but within Hashem’s eternity. Miriam’s well reflects the eternal divine emotion. It is only revealed in the form of emotion after its essence emanates from the true source of the light of the entire world, of all the sea of wisdom and Torah treasure. This is the well of Miriam, and this is the power of its eternity forever (Rav Kook, Ein Aya Shabbat 2). Since it is not contained within one vessel it is constantly moving and has the dynamic force of eternal renewal.

EmunaHealing Exercise to Tap into Miriam’s Well Within You

If you have the opportunity to do this spiritual healing exercise at the shore of the Kineret, it will greatly enhance its impact, if not you may do the exercise wherever you are.

1. Make yourself comfortable and close your eyes if that feels good. Breathe softly and envision the soft waters of the Kineret sparkling in the sun. Imagine inhaling as the soft waves rise and exhaling as they melt into the greater sea. Repeat this sequence four more times.

2. Miriam’s well is nowhere and everywhere. Search for Miriam’s well within yourself. When a well of water is dug, a corresponding spiritual well of water is opened in the upper worlds, causing the spiritual energies of emunah contained in the upper waters to permeate the atmosphere, strengthening our faith and belief in G-d. The source of your emunah emanates from Miriam’s Well. Can you tap into your living waters within?

3. Breathe into Miriam’s Well within you. When you feel connected with its emunah breathe the well waters upwards from your core to your head, and on the out-breath breathe the lifegiving well water into your external limps – your arms hands, legs, and feet. Keep tapping into your waters of emunah with each inhale and exhale your waters of emunah into different parts of your being.

4. The waters of Miriam transport and apply the nutrients of Torah and the abstractions of faith to each individual, on his or her particular level (The Lubavitcher Rebbe).

As you connect more and more with the power of Miriam’s Well, get in touch with your own nurturing powers. Inhale all your nourishing love and kindness, and as you exhale imagine imparting your nurturing love and compassion to a loved one in need. Repeat this sequence with various people, with each inhale you connect more and more to your nurturing powers, and with each exhale you share them with your loved ones.

5. Imagine how the waters of the well below the surface yearn to break through the hard surface of the earth and sprout forth its healing streams. Now, tune into your yearning to rise and overcome the hard obstacles of your life. What do you yearn to improve within yourself, your character traits, your relationships, and your connection with G-d? With each desire to grow your inner personal well opens the wells in the upper worlds, causing their spiritual energies to permeate your being and environment.

6. Breathe into the circular movement of your wellspring of spiritual yearning affecting the upper wells on the in-breath and drawing down their healing energies on the out-breath. With each breath, your well is eliciting greater waves of yearning to rise higher and higher. As you keep breathing into the Well of Miriam within you, it becomes more and more revealed, and its waters rise higher and higher until it becomes one with the wells of the upper worlds.

7. Now, bring it all together, bring it all down to make a conscious intention to act upon your newfound awareness of Miriam’s well within you, imparting its nurturing kindness to others. Whenever you are ready softly tap your feet to the ground and open your eyes!

What can we Learn from Korach’s Example About Uprooting Jealousy?

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What Can we Learn from Korach’s Example About Uprooting Jealousy? 

Jealousy Removes a Person from the Inner World

I was told that as a toddler, I was very jealous of my younger sister, and would often hit her. I observed the same phenomenon in my two oldest granddaughters when they were little. Now as teenagers, they have become each other’s best friends. Unfortunately, not everyone grows out of the negative emotion of jealousy, which often rips families apart. One reason childhood sibling rivalry may turn into jealousy in adulthood is that families sometimes promote unhealthy competition between children, which can cause sibling jealousy to linger into adulthood. For example, a parent may lavish attention on a child who is more academic, athletic, musical, etc. than another. The underlying motive of jealousy is often feelings of inadequacy. If you are struggling with jealousy keep in mind that it likely stems from your own insecurities and has nothing to do with the other person. Don’t let these feelings ruin what could otherwise be a great relationship! And don’t let them build up either – so you won’t start resenting a family member and causing the relationship to deteriorate. “Jealousy, lust, and [desire for] honor remove a person from the world” (Pirkei Avot 4:22). These traits may cause whoever is immersed in them to exit the real world and live inside a bubble detached from reality. According to Da’at Zekenim becoming removed from the world indicates becoming removed from the inner spiritual world to the external physical world. A person could become so enmeshed in the external physical world, to the extent that he is so divested of the spiritual, that he completely “removes himself’ from the inner world. The entire existence of the jealous person is that he sees something precious his friend has which he lacks. He imagines that if only he could attain that thing, his suffering would be over, and he would live happily ever after. But his jealousy makes him forget the fundamental principle that if this were good for you, G-d would have given it to you too. And if He did not give you this, then it is certainly not beneficial for you.

Reincarnation of Kayin – the First One in the World to be Jealous

Parashat Korach teaches us the underpinning of jealousy and its consequences. Korach’s ego could not bear to see Moshe as the king, Aharon as the Kohen Gadol (High Priest), while he was just another Levite. Arizal explains that Korach and Moshe were reincarnations of Kayin and Hevel (Abel) (Sha’ar HaGilgulim, Ch. 29 and 32). After Kayin had murdered Hevel it states, “…You are cursed even more than the ground, which opened its mouth to take your brother’s blood from your hand” (Bereishit 4:11). In the reincarnation of Korach, Kayin’s soul returned to rise against Hevel’s soul (reincarnated in Moshe). To complete the spiritual rectification, measure for measure, it was now the soul of Hevel that buried the soul of Kayin in the earth, as it states, “The earth beneath them opened its mouth and swallowed them…” (Bamidbar 16:32). Nevertheless, Moshe and Aharon prayed to prevent this tragedy as it states:

ספר במדבר פרק טז פסוק כב וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכָל בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כָּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹף:

“They fell on their faces and said, ‘O G-d, the G-d of the spirits of all flesh, if one man sins, shall You be angry with the whole congregation?” (Bamidbar 16:22).

The reason they addressed Hashem as “the G-d of the הָרוּחֹת/ruchot – ‘spirits’ rather than ‘the G-d of the נְשָׁמוֹת/neshamot – ‘souls’ is because jealousy is manifested specifically through the רוּחַ/ruach – ‘spirit.’ Korach’s ruach was the jealous spirit of Kayin. He was envious of Moshe who was a reincarnation of Hevel (HaRamaz on Zohar Bamidbar, p. 461). Korach’s sin is rooted in Kayin’s jealousy of Hevel whose offering found favor in G-d’s eyes. Hevel was the prototype of the Kohen Gadol, who offers the temple sacrifice. Kayin wanted to be chosen for this role – so he killed Hevel. In the same way, Korach was envious of Aharon’s eternal role as the Kohen Gadol of G-d’s Temple, so he tried to destroy him (Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum, Universal Torah Lessons for Humanity from the Weekly Parsha).

Icy Versus Watery Character Traits
The Zohar describes the birth of Kayin as due to the spiritual pollution that the serpent had injected into Chava (Zohar Chadash p. 63b). Korach’s spirit retained the spiritual pollution of the primordial serpent that originally was absorbed by Kayin. Just as the serpent was motivated by its jealousy of Adam, so was Korach jealous of the Elitzafan being appointed to be the leader of the Kehatites (Rashi, Bamidbar 16:10). Moshe and Korach represent two types of people, indicated by their names. The name ‘Moshe,’ means min hamayim meshitihu, “For I drew him out of the water” (Shemot 2:10), whereas the name ‘Korach,’ has the exact same Hebrew spelling as kerach – ice. Moshe represents water; Korach represents ice. Ice is cold, hard, and unyielding, expanding ever larger as it freezes, symbolic of an inflating ego. Water is fluid, life-giving, and always flows to the lowest possible point, symbolic of humility. Our lesson is to emulate the watery traits of Moshe, rather than the frozen qualities of Korach. (Efraim Palvano https://www.mayimachronim.com/moses-and-korach-abel-and-Kayin-water-and-ice/).

The Rectified Jealousy of the Sons of Korach
Despite the devastating effect of jealousy, it is possible to use this trait to enact repair on the deepest level. Looking at the inner dimension of jealousy it becomes clear that through it we receive the ability to rectify the world, which includes rectifying the destructive character trait of jealousy. We learn this from the repentance of Korach’s sons, who were saved from punishment. In a moment of truth, they succeeded in uprooting the natural jealousy buried in their souls. Thereby they taught all future generations that it’s possible to rectify sin. This is “a descent for the sake of ascent!” in the deepest sense! (Rav Yugav Kohen, The Primordial Serpent, Kayin, and Korach). Thus, through tears of heartfelt teshuva, the sons of Korach were able to melt their hereditary ice of arrogance and transform it into streams of fluid waters, always flowing towards the lowest humblest point!

EmunaHealing Exercise to Overcome Jealousy and Feel Happy with Your Portion
It is recommended to do this EmunaHealing exercise near a natural body of water, whether on the beach, at a lake, river, or a spring.
1. Rest in your place of comfort and focus on your even breath. Breathe slowly through your nostrils as you allow your mind to focus on the special gifts of your life.
2. What do you have to be grateful for? Perhaps you can think about some special G-d-given talents that you possess. Then let your mind wander to counting your blessings. If you have children how wonderful! if you have a supportive husband, what a blessing! We also mustn’t take physical health for granted. If you can get out of bed in the mornings, walk around and use your hands to do simple chores you are privileged! If you can see the beautiful flowers, hear the birds sing, taste delicacies, and smell the roses, how fortunate you are!
3. Shift your consciousness to your accomplishments in life! In which skills do you excel? Perhaps you are a great communicator, listener, homemaker, baker, cleaner, hostess, daughter, healer, singer, musician, writer, teacher, or artist. Perhaps you have other talents that you employ to help people and better your environment. How blessed you are to have honed these skills to shine upon the world. Breathe into your accomplishments and let the feeling of gratitude fill your heart, spilling over into every limb of your body.
4. Yet, despite your gifts and accomplishments perhaps there may still be a tinge of jealousy somewhere in your conscious or unconscious mind. It may be loud and strong or weak and hidden in the recesses of your heart. We need to bring our feelings of jealousy up to the surface in order to uproot them. 
5. Now, acknowledge your jealousy: Is there anyone in your life that seems to be more successful, and accomplished than you?  Do you sometimes wish that you had what she has?  Perhaps you are harboring other jealous feelings? Just recognizing that you’re having these feelings opens the door to letting them go.
6. Perhaps your jealous feelings can help you learn more about yourself, about your insecurities and needs. Ask yourself the following question: “What am I most afraid of in this situation?” Breathe into this question and open yourself to receive an answer. Let the answer penetrate every fiber of your being and continue asking: Are those learned beliefs/feelings really relevant to my current circumstances? Am I willing to identify the old fears and let them pass?” Now, open yourself to finding new ways to let go of learned beliefs/ feelings and alleviate your fears. Breathe into these feelings and fears and envision them melting away.
7. Often the underlying cause of jealousy is the feeling that there isn’t enough of whatever it is you desire. If others have what you want, you may fear that there isn’t enough for you to also receive your proper share. Ask yourself: “How did I learn to believe there is not enough (love, approval, etc.) to go around? And listen for the answer.
8. Breathe into the Talmudic statement: “No person may touch that which is prepared for another by G-d; everyone receives what is designated for him. One reign does not overlap with another and deduct from the time allotted it even a hairbreadth” (Yoma 38b).
9. Acknowledge that if it were good for you to have any of the things you envy in others, G-d would have also given you this. So, if He did not give it to you, then it is certainly not beneficial for you. Acknowledge that you truly have everything you need right now!!!!!!  Breathe into this feeling of gratitude and proclaim: “I have everything I need right now!” Then open your eyes to a brighter world belonging to you!

How Can we Learn from the Fear of the Spies to Release Our Fears and Worries?

Parashat Shelach Lecha
How Can we Learn from the Fear of the Spies to Release Our Fears and Worries?

The Inferiority Complex – a Residue from Generational Traumas of Enslavement

In my Spiritual Healing practice, I’ve come across so many women who suffer from fears, worries, and lack of self-confidence. I unfortunately often relate personally to these negative emotions. We Jews suffer from tribal traumas passed down from generations of exiles all the way back from our Egyptian enslavement experience. Hashem didn’t lead us directly from Egypt to Israel but took us the long about way, to give us time for purging ourselves of our slave mentality. Yet it seems that this process is never ending. Even our current fears and worries are residues from that ancient trauma, which inflicted us with a severe flashback in recent holocaust times. Due to the slave experience of having been controlled by others, we still suffer from control issues. The other day a friend panicked, because she felt overwhelmed by all her responsibilities, which she didn’t feel she could handle. She suffered from the same perfectionist syndrome as me, expecting to be able to do her job immaculately and have everything under control. Since that wasn’t possible, she felt inadequate and berated herself. Feeling low self-esteem also stems from the generational trauma of being the underdog, who has repeatedly been stepped on and taken advantage of by others. Women who feel a lack of self-confidence may enter unhealthy relationships with men to fill their deep dark lack. I asked one of my past students, “Why did you agree to go out with that guy after we just talked about how you need some time to build yourself up before being ready to date?” She explained that although she had agreed with me only one day prior not to date yet, she gave in to the temptation of the feeling of filling her deep deficiency that dating offered. Although the spies had undergone a 40-year slavery detachment period in the desert living directly under Hashem’s protective wing, and experiencing His miracles, they were still far from liberated from the slavery dregs of inferiority feelings.  

Why did the Spies Compare Themselves to Grasshoppers?
When the spies discovered the powerful people that Hashem charged the Israelites to conquer, they were overwhelmed with fears stemming from their inferiority complex:

ספר במדבר פרק יג פסוק לג וְשָׁם רָאִינוּ אֶת הַנְּפִילִים בְּנֵי עֲנָק מִן הַנְּפִלִים וַנְּהִי בְעֵינֵינוּ כַּחֲגָבִים וְכֵן הָיִינוּ בְּעֵינֵיהֶם:

“There we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, descended from the giants. In our eyes, we seemed like grasshoppers, and so we were in their eyes” (Bamidbar 13:33).

Mulling over the grasshopper image, I envision a tiny fragile creature that blends in totally with the grass itself and lends itself to easily be stepped on. It is one of the lowest creatures in the food chain and certainly not a conqueror. The purpose of grasshoppers’ well-known feature – the ability to jump – is imbued within them for the sake of escaping from a predator or launching themselves into flight. I find it interesting that after the spies compare themselves to grasshoppers, they add “And so we were in their eyes.” How would they know how others regarded them? This teaches us that there is a strong connection between the way we see ourselves and how others perceive us. We all know based on war history that the morale of the soldiers is more vital for the outcome of the war than their ammunition. Emek D’var explains, “The fact that that the heart of the spies fell into feeling low self-esteem is a sign that they wouldn’t be able to conquer the nations. The same thing happened later to King Shaul as it states, “Then Shaul saw the camp of the Philistines. And he feared, and his heart trembled greatly” (I Shemuel 28:5). The fact that dread entered Shaul’s heart was a sign that he wouldn’t be successful in war. Our self-image greatly influences how others view us. When a person is possessed by low self-esteem, he exudes the energy of failure toward others. This in return makes them feel superior and confident in their victory over him. Moreover, when a person is overcome by fear, his view of others becomes distorted, as we see from the spies who had no way to be so sure that they were considered grasshoppers in the eyes of their enemies. How could anyone but Hashem know what people feel in their hearts?

The Connection Between the Fear of the Spies and Our Own Fears and Worries
We all experience fear at a certain point in our lives. People are afraid to fail but also afraid to succeed. Often people fear what others might think. Fear can make us freeze and become unable to act and keep the mitzvot. By understanding the root of the fear of the spies and the Israelites who listened to their report, we may get an important clue regarding our own fears and worries. Every Tisha B’Av we are called upon to shed yet another layer of this foundational fear, which still prevents us from rebuilding our Temple in Jerusalem – in the heart of the Land of Israel. The spies expressed their inferiority feeling as follows:

ספר במדבר פרק יג פסוק לא וְהָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר עָלוּ עִמּוֹ אָמְרוּ לֹא נוּכַל לַעֲלוֹת אֶל הָעָם כִּי חָזָק הוּא מִמֶּנּוּ:

“But the men who went up with him said, ‘We are unable to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we’” (Bamidbar 13:31).

The Hebrew. מִמֶּנּוּ/mimenu – “than us” can also be read מִמֶּנּוֹ/mimeno ‘than Him.’ They [the spies] said this in reference to the most High, as it were, [as if to say that the people are stronger than He [G-d] (Rashi, Bamidbar 13:31 based on Babylonian Talmud, Sotah 35a).
How is it possible for anyone to believe that human beings can ever be stronger than G-d? From here we learn that the root of fear is the lack of bitachon – trusting in Hashem. Feeling strongly connected to Hashem and experiencing His Divine Supervision will prevent anyone from falling into a fearful state. The first step in overcoming our fears and worries is to meditate and envision Hashem’s powerful love and protection, to internalize that the only thing to fear is our own sin. Absolutely no one can hurt us when Hashem is on our side!

EmunaHealing Exercise to Flip the Anxiety Switch off and Release Your Fears

(Based on 4 Steps to Break Free from Fear and Jump-Start Emotional Healing by Jacqueline Pearce, MSEd, LMHC)

1. Make yourself comfortable in a safe, secure place where you can be alone with Hashem.
Breathe in, to a count of 7, hold your breath for a count of 4, and breathe out to a count of 8. Repeat this breathing pattern three times, as you feel your heart relax more and more.

2. Do a body scan with your breath, do you hold any fear in any part of your body? Observe where exactly the fearful energy has accumulated in your body. Sometimes you may feel tightness in your heart, an uneasy feeling in your stomach, a narrowing of your throat, or you may feel tension in any of your limbs. Keep breathing softly into any of the tense places of your being, to allow the tension to melt away.
3. Now it’s time to face your fears. If you don’t address your fears, they can accumulate with time. Fear is not just a feeling; it is an energy. No energy can be contained for too long. Let us get ready to release our fears, to prevent them from being expressed as struggle and pain.
4. Tune into your fears, you may have many minor fears and one or two major ones. Allow yourself to become aware of your fears and communicate with them so you can release them. What do you fear? Do you have feelings of inferiority? Do you feel lonely, abandoned, small and vulnerable, like a grasshopper afraid to be stepped on? Once you are successful in finding the root of your fearful energy, you can communicate with it. Focus on one of your fears. What is your fear trying to tell you?
5. A dialogue with your fears can reveal vital and useful information. It can help you to understand the origin of your fear and how to make yourself feel safe. Ask your fear “What do you want me to do to support your release?”
6. A duck flutters its wings intensely after a quarrel to release the energy of fear. Similarly, you can find ways that help you release negative energy. It can be crying, screaming, shouting, tapping or any vigorous physical movement.
7. Focus on the part of the body where you feel fear has accumulated and let yourself understand what kind of movement your body wants. When you have determined what way will help you release your fear(s), allow yourself to let go of it! You may want to use a combination of several ways of release, like screaming while swinging your arms vigorously from side to side. Let your fears teach you what movement to do and or sound to make to release them! Surrender to the movement/sound[s] and repeat them until a liberating feeling envelops you!
8. Now envision Hashem’s comforting presence lifting your fears away as you breathe deeply. Hashem is always there for you, even within your deepest fear. His Almighty power carries your fears and protects you from the object of your anxiety. With Hashem on your side, you are never alone, you are never weak or small, as Hashem is your stronghold. Breathe in deeply and let your breath out with a big Ahhhh. You may repeat this breathing and Ahhing two additional times. Can you feel how you are becoming liberated, truly liberated from the fears that were holding you back?
9. Promise yourself you will muster up the courage to continue to work on releasing fears that contribute to unwanted worry or anxiety. By building up your trust in Hashem you can flip the anxiety switch off and release your fears!