Keep a Low Profile Group members should neither speak about nor publicize this holy group, its ways and activities. They should not boast about it before others. God said of the second set of the Ten Commandments—the set which lasted— that “there is nothing finer than concealment” (source). The holy Zohar was revealed in the cave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and in the wilderness, secretively. The entire Kabbalah is called a “secret.” So also, any service of God that involves a revelation of your spirit stands in opposition to tumult and publicity, and finds concealment congenial. “Hashem is not in the uproar” (Kings I 19:11).
But if someone wants to join, accept him warmly, and tell him about the group—as long as it is clear to you that his intent is for the sake of heaven. Also, you may propose to someone that he join the group if you see that his inclusion would benefit both him and the group. (Just be sure that you yourself have no ulterior motive.)
בְּנֵי הַחַבְרַיָּא לֹא יְסַפְּרוּ וְלֹא יְפַרְסְמוּ בַּשְּׁוָקִים וּבָרְחוֹבוֹת מִן הַחַבְרַיָּא קְדוֹשָׁה זוֹ דְּרָכֶיהָ וּמַעֲשֶׂיהָ, לֹא יִתְפָּאֲרוּ בָּהּ לְעֵינֵי זוּלָתָם, כִּי כְּמוֹ שֶׁעַל לוּחוֹת הַשְּׁנִיּוֹת הַקַּיָּמוֹת לָנוּ, אָמַר ד' אֵין לְךָ יָפֶה מִן הַצְּנִיעוּת , וּכְמוֹ שזוהר הקדוש הִתְגַּלָּה רַק בִּמְעָרַת רַשְׁבִּ"י וּבַמִּדְבָּרִיּוֹת בְּהֶצְנֵעַ, וְכָל הַקַּבָּלָה נִקְרֵאת סוֹד, כֵּן כָּל עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהּ הִתְגַּלּוּת הַנֶּפֶשׁ מִתְנַגֶּדֶת הִיא לְשָׁאוֹן וּפִרְסוּם, וְנוֹחַ לָהּ הַהֶסְתֵּר, לֹא בּרַעַשׁ ד'.
Keep a Low Profile
Group members should neither speak about nor publicize this holy group, its ways and activities. They should not boast about it before others. God said of the second set of the Ten Commandments—the set which lasted— that “there is nothing finer than concealment” (source). The holy Zohar was revealed in the cave of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and in the wilderness, secretively. The entire Kabbalah is called a “secret.” So also, any service of God that involves a revelation of your spirit stands in opposition to tumult and publicity, and finds concealment congenial. “Hashem is not in the uproar” (Kings I 19:11).
וְרַק אִם יִרְצֶה מִי לְהִסְתַּפֵּחַ לָהֶם בְּתוֹר חָבֵר חָדָשׁ, יְקַבְּלוּ אוֹתוֹ בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת, וְיִמְסְרוּ לוֹ דִּבְרֵי חֲבֵרוּת אִם רַק יִהְיֶה בָּרוּר לָהֶם שֶׁכַּוָּנָתוֹ לְשֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, וְכֵן אִם רוֹאֶה אַתָּה אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִתְחַבְּרוּתוֹ אֲלֵיכֶם תִּהְיֶה טוֹבָה לוֹ וְלָכֶם, רַשַּׁאי אַתָּה לְדַבֵּר אִתּוֹ שֶׁיִּתְחַבֵּר אֲלֵיכֶם אִם אֵין כַּוָּנָתְךָ לְשֵׁם עָרְמָה.
But if someone wants to join, accept him warmly, and tell him about the group—as long as it is clear to you that his intent is for the sake of heaven. Also, you may propose to someone that he join the group if you see that his inclusion would benefit both him and the group. (Just be sure that you yourself have no ulterior motive.)