HA-MELITZ

בס"ד


Tamuz 21

The job of a Melitz Yosher is to praise people. This will act as your ammunition when you go ask HaShem that things be different & G@d loves to hear praises about His/Her creations.

We studied a piece by Reb Zalman called "Interceding in a Pashute (simple) Way" & then took partners to do a "praising exercise". After we completed this exercise, the atmosphere in the room switched from heavy to light & happy. This could be a useful everyday trick...

We learned what R' Kahana said on the authority of R' Ishmael ben Yose about all this, which lead us back to the Yechezqel & Tehilim entries we looked at yesterday...

We should praise people to HaShem when we wish to help better their lives. Praise them for who they are - their qualities & deeds. In fact, make a list of at least 3 positive things to draw G@d's attention to.

We examined the writings of R' Levi Yitzchak, the great intercessor.

It is also important to watch your mouth - no lashon hara must ever pass your lips if you are going to use that same mouth to intercede on behalf of others. Everything you say will be tested or challenged. Be careful.

The more you incorporate this work into your life, the more clear your vision will be.

R' Chaim Vital on discernment: "Just because somebody (from Heaven) comes to you, question who they are - if they get angry, then don't listen to them. Remember that patience is not anger.

You may get a messageb, but it may come to test you. Thie message will be given to you according to your level of consciousness & understanding. So regardless of whether you are a 3-year-old receiving messages from Heaven or a 22-year-old, the content will be appropriate to your understanding.

Later in the class, we looked at Rebbe Nachman's Havey Moharan 277, & then the Shivtey Yisrael's writings on this subject.

Our teacher suggested we wear a "spiritual Shin button". For those of you unfamiliar with the Shin button, it is a common article spied at Elat Chayyim & the ALEPH Kallah. It is worn by a person who wishes to have quiet. To bring their private out into public, as it were. When one sees a person wearing one of these purple buttons with a great white letter Shin on it, one does not make contact with this person in anyway. No greetings, no touching, no eye. They are in retreat.
I've done it myself & it's actually a very restful way to experience community.

So, back to intercessory prayer:
It's important to see things from G@'d point of view ie, multiple side of a situation. & also realise that htis is "not about you"! You will be shown correctly what is fully going on when you approach the Heavenly courts to ask for permission to intercede.
You will need Divine permission to intercede for someone, but you don't need the permission of the person in question. It works like that in medicine, too...

Ask if you should attempt to intercede at all. Is this your job? Check. HaShem may wish to have another Melitz Yosher intercede on a situation & not you. Also, a Divine decree can be overturned, but not a Divine decree which has been accompanied by an oath...

Remember that you are not alone while you do this work.

Your abilities will develop as you practice & time passes. Persist in prayer for seeing/hearing better the Current World & the Next World. & just because you see something doesn't mean it's up to you to try to do something about it.

You also can't necessarily see the work you did.

Messages from G@d (be on the lookout for these) are always envelopped in love & hope. If your sight or the messages you receive are not open & loving, even when dire, then they are not from HaShem, but from the Sitra Achra (Other Side).

We then went on to study Sefer Ba'al Shem Tov, Amud HaTefilah 131, about how G@d is above time, how one must annihilate one's ego & work for the sake of the Shekhinah.

Wise words. This must be employed in the practice of sofrut as well.