COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.
Day 9: Gevurah she b’Gevurah
The Blessing (Day 9):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Strength, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Ha yom tisha’a yomim, shehem shavuah echad v shnai yamim l’Omer. Today is the ninth day of the Omer, which makes one week and two days of the Omer.
Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)
Day Nine – Gevurah she b’Gevurah (Power within Discernment) – LEFT SHOULDER to LEFT SHOULDER
Gevurah she b’Gevurah involves containing our strong energy, appreciating it, and keeping it to use at the right time. It is restrained power, to be saved and savored, and later directed toward something useful. Focus, discipline and determination are what makes something or someone that is powerful more effective. Consider a laser beam. What is a powerful thing in its own way – a light wave – becomes something even more powerful and useful when it is concentrated and focused to a set degree, creating a laser beam. Now, in this restrained form, that light wave has the ability to travel very long distances as well as to concentrate energy on a very small area. Lasers have been used widely in the areas of technology and communication with their ability to travel longer distances than previous wavelengths. And many of us know of someone who has benefited from the use of lasers in delicate surgeries as well. Gevurah she b’Gevurah is the power behind the focused restraint.
Many people have a spiritual strength that is hidden and contained within them, yet focused and powerful. We call on our feelings of inner strength when we need some extra courage. Gevurah she b’Gevurah reminds us that we have that kind of courage built in, that there is strength within strength, and that we can draw on our contained energy that has been stored for our use. Our internally focused strength allows us to manage through difficult times.
Gevurah she b’Gevurah permits us to succeed because we have boundaries, helping us to focus on our unique inner strength and methods of problem solving – our potential for contributing to tikkun olam (repair of the world). Sometimes the most effective ways of improving the world come from managing our impulses, waiting to act until the situation and time are right. This 9th day of Omer is perfect time to commit to performing an action for the good of the earth. Organize a public event, promote an environmental cause. In a disciplined way, plan the action carefully, so that it will be most effective.
Today is also a great day to focus on the strength of quiet discipline. Often it is external strength that is celebrated. Think of any sporting event and you can quickly see what I mean. For people on a spiritual path, however, the challenge is to find a way to honor inner strength. To honor the power of wise choices, to celebrate quiet heroism, to win without having another person lose.
Yedi'a 