Waste Of Barn And Winery

Dr. Michael LaitmanWe are accustomed to working in agreement with an egoistic mind and heart that together are regarded as the evil inclination (Yetzer HaRa). It is evil because when I discover how it operates, I realize how opposite my mind and heart are to love, eternity, and perfection. This is why I call my nature evil as it is preventing me from attaining good.

Our egoistic nature is defined by our striving to receive for our sake, to fulfill ourselves. However, the good desire or inclination (Yetzer HaTov) is love and bestowal. These two opposing forces of reception and bestowal are revealed to me by the Light which I attract by studying Kabbalah and uniting with the friends.

To ascend from our nature to the upper one is possible solely by switching the importance from reception to bestowal. The unimportant is regarded as waste, and the important as sustenance. According to this principle, we build the Sukkah (booth). My state of existence is regarded as “home” or a solid and reliable dwelling for egoism. Bestowal is regarded as a “temporary dwelling” or Sukkah. So, I choose in what property am I willing to exist: the egoistic home or the altruistic shelter.

There is fulfillment in both of them. In the former, I am fulfilled through receiving and in the latter through the act of bestowal. Hence, the key is what I view as sustenance and what I consider waste. I build my home from what I value the most.

Waste of Barn and Winery
This kind of discernment can be achieved solely by way of studying Kabbalah and through the group. Hence, it is written that the roof of the Sukkah is built from the “waste of barn and winery.” Wine represents the Light of Hochma (Wisdom), and the barn (bread) represents the Light of Hassadim (Mercy). The waste of the barn and winery are not important to us. But if I desire to bestow in order to become similar to the Creator, then they become more important to me than bread and wine.

We need to build our new state of existence from them in particular so that they become our head, roof, and the compass that sets the direction for us. Then, we will attain spirituality. Everything else loses its importance for us. That is what the Sukkah represents.
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From the 3rd part of the Daily Kabbalah Lesson 9/24/10, Selected Excerpts For Sukkot

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One Comment

  1. So in Shamati is this what is being referred to with “waste of barn and winery?” I always thought it was alien thoughts antithical to the work.

    Thanks.

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