COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.
Day 38: Tiferet she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 38):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Foundation, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Ha yom shmona v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shlosha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-eight day, which makes five weeks and three days of the Omer.
Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)
Day Thirty-eight: TIferet she b’Yesod (Harmony within Foundation) – HEART to GENITALS
Someone who is unethical or immoral is often referred to as being “crooked” or “bent.” The opposite of course is that someone who is ethical and moral is one who stands straight and upright. When we look at the path of the sephirot of Tiferet and Yesod, we see they are located along the vertical path of the Middle Pillar in the center of our bodies. This path from the Heart to Genitals keeps us centered, erect, and balanced, especially regarding ethical and moral situations. Unfortunately, there are times in our life when we may become off balance, not quite crooked, but things may happen that send the structures we have carefully constructed of our lives into states of instability or in danger of collapse. Traumatic life events can leave us feeling wobbly and uncertain, even when we think we were in good alignment and ready for any issues. Today, we focus on how to use the harmony of Tiferet to contribute to the stability of the structures of our lives, to bring balance to our foundation again.
When tragedy strikes, people often feel as if they are coming apart. Yet, over time, and with help, they can “put themselves back together again”, albeit in a permanently changed way. Many people will remark that they feel stronger for the troubles they encountered. Often they are more determined and more confident because of the experiences.
Sometimes we aren’t the one who needs to find a way to bring balance and harmony back into our lives. There are times it is our friends, family, or even a stranger who needs that help. We can use Tiferet to help nurture another person through an emotional pain, toward healing. We can listen with empathy and compassion, exchange a glance that really recognizes another human, give a hug that raises hope, or offer a prayer of support. We have many opportunities to use our own Balance and Harmony to help another to build a strong Foundation for themselves. Together we can help ourselves and those around us to stand straight and balanced.
Yedi'a 