The Ladder of Divine Consciousness

 The Ladder of Divine Consciousness

וַיִּבֶן שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לַה': (בראשית יג:יח)
He built an altar to G‑d. Genesis 13:18

The three altars that Abraham built express the three levels through which we can ascend in our relationship with G‑d. Abraham built his first altar to thank G‑d for the promise of sustenance, children, and a land in which they could live. This corresponds to observing G‑d’s commandments, which gives life to the soul and sustains its connection to the body.

Abraham built his second altar to acknowledge the Divine gift of repentance. This altar expresses how we deepen our relationship with G‑d in order to restore it after having sinned.

Abraham built his third altar purely for the sake of glorifying G‑d. This altar expresses our ability to abandon our sense of independent selfhood and fuse with Him. All reality will fully attain this level of Divine consciousness only in the Messianic Era, but our awareness of this fact fuels our yearning for the Messianic Era, and G‑d will hasten its arrival commensurate with our yearning for it.1



Likutei Sichot, vol. 30, pp. 40–43.

"Why is so and so no longer a student in Bais Rivkah?"

   Reb Binyomin Silberstrom of Yerushalayim attended a bar mitzva of a Lubavitch family and the Bar Mitzvah boy related the following story.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe instructed Rabbi Chefer of Bais Rivkah in Kfar Chabad, to build another building to accommodate the growing student body, noting that the new building be built in Kfar Chabad Sheini. After obtaining a parcel of land, architects began drawing up the plans for the building. When the plans were finalized Rabbi Chefer decided that before he submits it to the authorities, he flew to New York in order to present it to the Rebbe. Only after the Rebbe approves or makes some suggestions and they will be incorporated, would he submit them to be approved.

When he entered the Rebbe's room for the Yechidus, he handed the Rebbe the folder that had all the plans. To his shock, the Rebbe moved the folder to a side, as if to say, "This doesn't interest me."

Looking at Rabbi Chefer, the Rebbe asked, "Why is so and so no longer a student in Bais Rivkah?"

Rabbi Chefer replied, "She left on her own accord, [as if to say that the administration didn't ask her to leave]."

"Do you know why she left," the Rebbe inquired. The Rebbe then added, "What is the need of a building, if a student is unhappy and leaves?"

Realizing that the Rebbe was unhappy, Rabbi Chefer said, "As soon as I return to Eretz Yisroel, together with other members of the administration, I will go to her house and ask her to return to Beis Rivkah."

Only then did the Rebbe retrieve the folder and examined it and then told Rabbi Chefer whatever he said.

The following day, Rabbi Chefer went to the airport and took a flight back to Eretz yisroel. When he landed,  he called the other members and they decided a time to meet and go to her house in Tel Aviv.

When they knocked on the door, it was opened by the girl who had left. She was startled to see them, but quickly composed herself and asked, “Why are you here now?”

I was by the Rebbe in New York, two days ago, and he asked me why you are no longer a student in Bais Rivkah, and I promised him that I and other members of the administration will visit you and see if we can resolve the problems or complaints that you have with the school.

The girl replied, since the Rebbe wants me to go back, I will give it a second try.  She then told them why she had left and they answered, we will make it a priority to take care of it.

The Bar Mitzvah boy concluded, how do I know this story? Because I am the youngest son of the girl. Because of the Rebbe's interest in one girl, all of her children are chassidim of the Rebbe!