The Kabbalah Centre Blog

A Kabbalah Centre volunteer shares a Zohar near the Colombia/Venezuela border as policemen look on

The Zohar Project in Venezuela kicked off 2013 with an adventurous outing to the border between Venezuela and Colombia. The intention was to distribute Zohars (Sacred, Sulam and Pinchas) along the border to provide Light and protection to the area. Relations between the two countries haven’t always been rosy in recent years as the nations’ governments have marked political differences.

Local women near the Venezuelan town of Machiques check out their new Pinchas Zohars

In March of 2008, a diplomatic conflict arose between the governments of Colombia and Venezuela. Within days thousands of troops from each side had amassed in the border region. Students at the Caracas Kabbalah Centre, concerned that this encounter could escalate into a full-blown war, took action. Armed with a certainty that they would disseminate a consciousness that would diffuse the situation, the students organized and carried out a Zohar Project outing along the border. Some 4,500 Zohars were given to soldiers and officers alike; less than a month later, the presidents of each nation hugged in public, having resolved the problem diplomatically.

Venezuelan policemen receiving Sacred Zohars

Though relations between Colombia and Venezuela have improved, the border region separating the two countries is known as a very violent, dangerous area. The smuggling of contraband, especially petroleum, is prevalent and often leads to violence between groups of criminals and both Colombian and Venezuelan police forces. In addition to smugglers, hired assassins called sicarios are prevalent, charging $100 on average for their services. A heavy guerrilla presence on the Colombian side adds yet another chaotic element to the region. To counter all of this chaos, Kabbalah Centre students organized another Zohar distribution trip to the border.

Yaakov showing a man how to scan a Pinchas Zohar

In the early hours of January 1st, seven teams of Kabbalah Centre volunteers from the Venezuela Kabbalah Centre in Caracas, as well as the Valencia and Maracaibo study groups, piled into seven cars headed for the Colombian border. The group boasted 23 enthusiastic members, with each team consisting of at least one experienced volunteer and one new student. The teams were given specific tasks and areas to work in around the border, including finishing a previous Zohar Project goal of placing a Zohar every five kilometers along Venezuela’s main highway for protection.

Yaakov Goetz, a Kabbalah Centre student and experienced Zohar Project leader who helped organize the outing, injected consciousness into the trip by organizing ‘consciousness tune-ups’ in the evenings. During these ‘tune-ups’, students came together to discuss the most beneficial ways to disseminate Zohars – per Michael Berg’s new vision for the Zohar Project. “Michael says that if a person gives the Zohar to someone and explains it properly, the true power of the Zohar is activated,” says Yaakov, “When a Zohar is given with a high level of consciousness, results come faster and are more profound. We want to make sure people appreciate the book when receiving it, because appreciation unlocks more of its power. Therefore, we have to think positively when disseminating Zohars; about the way the Light will affect people, about what the Zohar will achieve in their lives.”

When the teams arrived near the border, they split up to distribute Zohars in various small towns in the region. Hospitals, policemen and firemen were sought out, as well as citizens. Recalling their evening consciousness meetings, each volunteer focused on disseminating their Zohars with as much consciousness as possible. One team went to Machiques and Villa del Rosario, two villages in an indigenous part of Venezuela, where they were well-received by locals and gave five Sacred Zohar sets to the police and fire stations, as well as the hospitals and medical clinics, of each town.

Yaakov explains how to use a Pinchas Zohar to a group of men

Another team was tasked with crossing the border into Colombia to distribute Zohars in and around the city of Maicao. This team experienced a litany of chaotic delays, from issues getting gasoline to a mild case of food poisoning and everything in between, and arrived at the border crossing after 4 PM. Unbeknownst to them, authorities strongly discourage travel on that stretch of road after 4 PM because of a much higher risk of running into thieves and/or kidnappers. The team turned back, but decided they would try again the next day.

Kabbalah Centre volunteers pose near the Colombia/Venezuela border

“Of course, when the opponent doesn’t want you to do something, it puts obstacle after obstacle in your way,” says Yaakov, “You just have to push through.” Yaakov and a newly formed group of four Kabbalah Centre volunteers (teams were reorganized from day to day to foster relationships and provide different avenues of learning) were up bright and early the next day with the intention of going to Colombia. However, they too encountered a series of delays, so that they didn’t make it to the border until the unofficial deadline of 4 PM.

Despite the misgivings and warnings expressed to them by border agents, the Zohar Project team of volunteers decided to go anyway. In support of their decision, and with the purpose of protecting them during the dangerous hour-long drive to Maicao, the other teams coordinated with the Caracas Kabbalah Centre and study groups to scan the Pinchas portion of the Zohar. Yaakov and his team arrived safely in Maicao and immediately began disseminating Zohars.

The people of Maicao graciously received the Kabbalah Centre volunteers. “It was beautiful,” says Yaakov, “We were received in an exemplary fashion.” Zohars were given to Maicao’s two hospitals, its biggest hotel, police stations, as well as people out and about on the streets.

A Venezuelan police station near the Colombian border received a Sacred Zohar

After four hours of distributing Zohars in Maicao and its surrounding neighborhoods, the team started packing up to go back to Venezuela. First, however, they stopped at a police station on the outskirts of Maicao. The policemen here were extremely happy to receive Zohars and asked the Kabbalah Centre volunteers to stay and talk about Kabbalah some more. Several personal stories were exchanged, some drawing tears and others laughter. When the policemen discovered that Yaakov and his team were going to drive back to Maracaibo that night, they tried to dissuade them, saying it was far too dangerous. The Kabbalah Centre students were not to be dissuaded, as according to Yaakov, “We were full of certainty and trusted the Light.” Still, the policemen generously insisted that the travelers accept their own money. This money was meant for them to give to criminals in case they encountered any, because oftentimes they will kidnap their mugging victims if they have no cash.

When the Kabbalah Centre volunteers left the police station, the rest of the teams still in Venezuela began scanning the Zohar for their protection. Once again, the study groups and Caracas Kabbalah Centre communities joined in the scanning, and all of the teams made it to their destinations without any problems.

The dedicated efforts of these Kabbalah Centre students brought the power of the Zohar to an area full of chaos and negativity. The dedication is illustrated in the fact that during the interview for this story, Yaakov could be overheard giving Zohars to a group of firemen. “Revealing Light is incredibly fulfilling,” Yaakov shares, “I am very happy to do this work!”

The Latin America Zohar Project will embark on a special mission to disseminate 15,000 Zohars in Peru in May 2013. Volunteers in Latin America interested in joining this effort can contact zoharproject@kabbalah.com

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Participants in the Amazing Zohar Project Race speak with residents in an area of Panama hit by floods

The Panama Zohar Project created and held a unique event last month in the hopes of disseminating as many Pinchas Zohars as possible in a fun way that would promote bonding in the community, as well as provide spiritual assistance to a country wracked by floods. The ‘Amazing Zohar Project Race’, as the event was dubbed, was loosely based off of the television show ‘The Amazing Race’ and featured 8 teams of Kabbalah Centre Panama volunteers competing to see which group could distribute the most Pinchas Zohars – pocket-sized editions of the Pinchas portion of the Zohar dealing with healing and protection.

A volunteer chats with three young men during the Amazing Zohar Project Race

Eight of the Panama Centre’s most active and dedicated students were chosen to be team leaders and were given one day of Chanukah to disseminate Zohars with their respective teams. Each team was required to have at least one new student, in order to bring them into the community a bit more, and the groups were diverse with some even including children. The energy and excitement in this event is evident in some of the team names chosen – Team Light-ers, Team Super 72 and Team Big Vessel were just a few of the creative titles used. Per Michael Berg’s enhanced vision of the dissemination of the Zohar, all of the teams gave out their books with a focus on education – explaining the history of the Zohar and how to use it, and simply talking about their own experiences with the book and The Kabbalah Centre.

Volunteer offering information about the Pinchas Zohar to a security guard

On December 9th, the first day of the Amazing Zohar Project Race, the first team headed out to the Caribbean port city of Colón. Colón is Panama’s 2ndbiggest city and had recently experienced some flooding due to high sea waters and rain. Here, Kabbalah Centre volunteers gave Pinchas Zohars to the Red Cross and a police station where victims of the flood were receiving aid, as well as to these victims themselves. “People were very eager to receive their Zohar,” says one volunteer, “They really listened and asked questions, especially the police and rescue workers.” Over 500 Pinchassim were given out in Colón.

Volunteers pose with nonprofit workers and their new Pinchassim

Panama City and its surrounding communities were also hit by floods, especially areas near the Panama Canal. Two different teams focused on these areas on two separate days, visiting hospitals and venturing into still flooded neighborhoods to present residents with Zohars. Kabbalah Centre volunteers were well-received, finding the vast majority of people open to accepting Pinchassim and listening to what the book is about.

Though several teams went to flood-ravaged regions, many visited other important locations around Panama City such as fire stations, police stations, security agencies and hospitals. With the holidays approaching, one group even stationed themselves at the city’s biggest shopping mall in order to reach store employees. “This was a success,” says a volunteer, “Because the managers at the stores insisted that if one person received a Zohar, everyone else in the store had to receive one as well!”

Pinchassim were given to local hospitals, fire stations and police stations in various parts of Panama

Another team traveled to Ciudad del Saber, or City of Knowledge, where many international NGO’s such as UNICEF are based. Pinchas Zohars were given to staff members at PROBIDSIDA, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to serving people living with AIDS. Though this team actually distributed the least amount of Pinchassim, their efforts may turn out to be more impactful in the long term as they were able to make connections and alliances with people working to make the world a better place. Volunteers engaged in long conversations about the Zohar, Kabbalah and spirituality, and have been going back to the City of Knowledge to continue these talks and disseminate even more Zohars.

When the Amazing Zohar Project Race came to an end after eight days of hard work and fun, over 4,000 Pinchas Zohars had been distributed in various regions of Panama. The ‘winning’ team gave out more than 700 Pinchassim, but in truth everyone was a winner for using their time and energy to assist others and reveal light. An awards ceremony was held in which fun prizes – such as ‘Bravest Team’, ‘Humanitarian Efforts Award’, and ‘Certainty Award’ – were presented to teams, and each individual received a certificate commemorating their participation in the event.

“Students got so much out of the event! Apart from having fun, they realized that they really are a part of the Zohar Project and The Centre. It’s not just 1 or 2 very dedicated students that go out and do everything, it’s everyone. Anyone can come up with an idea and put it into action. It really activated the sense of community here, in that every student is important and has valuable ideas and actions. It’s not only about Shabbat and classes, it’s about getting out there and doing it and understanding that Kabbalah is a part of them.” – Maricila, Team Leader Panama Zohar Project and co-creator of the Amazing Zohar Project Race

To help support activities like the Amazing Zohar Project Race, please make a donation to the Zohar Project at: www.kabbalah.com/donate

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