Michael Laitman - Self-Interest vs. Altruism in the Global Era: How Society Can Turn Self-Interests Into Mutual Benefit

P rofessor Michael Laitman was born in 1946 in Vitebsk, Belarus. He received his Professorship in Ontology and the Theory of Knowledge, and his PhD in Philosophy and Kabbalah from the Moscow Institute of Philosophy at the Russian Academy of Sciences. He received his MSc in Medical Cybernetics from St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University.

Prof. Laitman began his career conducting research at the St. Petersburg Blood Research Institute, specializing in electromagnetic regulation of the blood supply in the heart and brain.

His scientific career took a sharp turn in 1974 when he immigrated to Israel. There, he worked for the Israeli Air Force for several years before becoming self-employed.

In 1976, he began his studies of Kabbalah, which he continues to research to this day. In 1979, he came across Kabbalist Rav Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (1906-1991), known as Rabash. Rabash was the first-born son and successor of Kabbalist Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag (1884-1954), known as Baal HaSulam for his Sulam (Ladder) commentary on The Book of Zohar. Rabash followed his fathers scientific approach in the teaching of Kabbalah, which suited Laitman very well.

After Rabashs demise in 1991, Laitman began to teach what he had learned from his teacher, passing on the methodology of Baal HaSulam.

Laitman firmly believes that Kabbalah holds the solution to the current world crises. For this reason, he asserts that Kabbalah belongs to all of humanity, and not to any single person or group of persons. Therefore, he insists on teaching Kabbalah to everyone, regardless of age, sex, nationality, or race.

To date, Prof. Laitman has been teaching Kabbalah for over thirty years, relying on the writings of Baal HaSulam and Rabash. He has already published more than thirty books on Kabbalah, among which are The Zohar: Annotations to the Ashlag Commentary , Kabbalah, Science and the Meaning of Life , From Chaos to Harmony , Attaining the Worlds Beyond , and Kabbalah Revealed .

His website, www.kabbalah.info , is the largest source of authentic Kabbalah on the web, offering authentic Kabbalah materials in over 30 languages, and free introductory courses in Kabbalah. His daily lessons are broadcast live and free of charge on Israeli TV, as well as on www.kab.tv in English, Spanish, Russian, German, French, Turkish, German, and Hebrew.

B nei Baruch is an international group of Kabbalists who share the wisdom of Kabbalah with the entire world. The study materials (in over 30 languages) are authentic Kabbalah texts that were passed down from generation to generation.

In 1991, following the passing of his teacher, Rav Baruch Shalom HaLevi Ashlag (The Rabash), Michael Laitman, Professor of Ontology and the Theory of Knowledge, PhD in Philosophy and Kabbalah, and MSc in Medical Bio-Cybernetics, established a Kabbalah study group called Bnei Baruch. He called it Bnei Baruch (Sons of Baruch) to commemorate his mentor, whose side he never left in the final twelve years of his life, from 1979 to 1991. Dr. Laitman had been Ashlags prime student and personal assistant, and is recognized as the successor to Rabashs teaching method.

The Rabash was the firstborn son and successor of Rav Yehuda Leib HaLevi Ashlag, the greatest Kabbalist of the 20th century. Rav Ashlag authored the most authoritative and comprehensive commentary on The Book of Zohar, titled The Sulam (Ladder) Commentary. He was the first to reveal the complete method for spiritual ascent, and thus was known as Baal HaSulam (Owner of the Ladder).

Bnei Baruch bases its entire study method on the path paved by these two great spiritual leaders.

The unique study method developed by Baal HaSulam and his son, the Rabash, is taught and applied on a daily basis by Bnei Baruch. This method relies on authentic Kabbalah sources such as The Book of Zohar, by Rabbi Shimon Bar-Yochai, The Tree of Life, by the Ari, and The Study of the Ten Sefirot, by Baal HaSulam.

While the study relies on authentic Kabbalah sources, it is carried out in simple language and uses a scientific, contemporary approach. The unique combination of an academic study method and personal experiences broadens the students perspective and awards them a new perception of the reality they live in. Those on the spiritual path are thus given the necessary tools to study themselves and their surrounding reality.

Bnei Baruch is a diverse movement of tens of thousands of students worldwide. Students can choose their own paths and intensity of their studies according to their unique conditions and abilities.

The essence of the message disseminated by Bnei Baruch is universal: unity of the people, unity of nations and love of man.

For millennia, Kabbalists have been teaching that love of man should be the foundation of all human relations. This love prevailed in the days of Abraham, Moses, and the group of Kabbalists that they established. If we make room for these seasoned, yet contemporary values, we will discover that we possess the power to put differences aside and unite.

The wisdom of Kabbalah, hidden for millennia, has been waiting for the time when we would be sufficiently developed and ready to implement its message. Now, it is emerging as a solution that can unite diverse factions everywhere, enabling us, as individuals and as a society, to meet todays challenges.

Bnei Baruch was established on the premise that Only by expansion of the wisdom of Kabbalah to the public can we be awarded complete redemption (Baal HaSulam). Therefore, Bnei Baruch offers a variety of ways for people to explore and discover the purpose of their lives, providing careful guidance for beginners and advanced students alike.

Bnei Baruchs international website, www.kab.info, presents the authentic wisdom of Kabbalah using essays, books, and original texts. It is by far the most expansive source of authentic Kabbalah material on the Internet, containing a unique, extensive library for readers to thoroughly explore the wisdom of Kabbalah. Additionally, the media archive, www.kabbalahmedia.info, contains thousands of media items, downloadable books, and a vast reservoir of texts, video and audio files in many languages.

Bnei Baruchs online Kabbalah Education Center offers free Kabbalah courses for beginners, initiating students into this profound body of knowledge in the comfort of their own homes.

Dr. Laitmans daily lessons are also aired live on www.kab.tv, along with complementary texts and diagrams.

All these services are provided free of charge.

In Israel, Bnei Baruch established its own channel, no. 66 on both cable and satellite, which broadcasts 24/7 Kabbalah TV. The channel is also aired on the Internet at www.kab.tv. All broadcasts on the channel are free of charge. Programs are adapted for all levels, from complete beginners to the most advanced.

Twice a year, students gather for a weekend of study and socializing at conferences in various locations in the U.S., as well as an annual convention in Israel. These gatherings provide a great setting for meeting like-minded people, for bonding, and for expanding ones understanding of the wisdom.

Bnei Baruch publishes authentic books, written by Baal HaSulam, his son, the Rabash, as well as books by Dr. Michael Laitman. The books of Rav Ashlag and Rabash are essential for complete understanding of the teachings of authentic Kabbalah, explained in Laitmans lessons.

Dr. Laitman writes his books in a clear, contemporary style based on the key concepts of Baal HaSulam. These books are a vital link between todays readers and the original texts. All the books are available for sale, as well as for free download.