COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 49: Malchut she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 49):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v tisha yom, shehem shivah shavuot yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-ninth day, which makes seven weeks days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-nine: Malchut she b’Malchut (Indwelling Presence within Indwelling Presence) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

Today is the forty-ninth day of the Omer, the last day of the counting of the Omer.  It is the final day of this reflective and contemplative time period, as we move from Passover and our freedom from slavery, to Shavuot and the giving of the Torah for us to receive.  Having done the spiritual work of the past seven weeks, moving from the opportunities opened to us after becoming free (at Passover) to the realization of our potential, moving from mere functioning to godliness.  At this time, we know ourselves a little better and are more ready to trust and to receive.  Today is a day for personal reflection.

Traditionally, this final night before Shavuot is Tikkun Lei Shavuot, a time for staying up all night with a group of people studying Torah, for a final spiritual preparation.  Although this is not a year in which I can do this, I can appreciate the beauty of this tradition.  Especially that it is done WITH other people in a group, rather than alone.  During this time of COVID-19 restrictions, when so many of us have had to be separated for family and friends, from our community in so many different ways, I can appreciate even more the loveliness of people coming together to share their thoughts and ideas in the world. So much of this time of counting the Omer is done for individual self-reflection.  I think it is beautiful and profound to have a tradition that culminates with a shared approach, a reminder that we are at our best when we share our thoughts, experiences, and lives with others.  Understanding our own selves is the first step, but it means much less if it is not shared.  Selfishness is not one of the Sephirot, and is certainly not a Jewish value.

As you may have discerned through these writings, my favorite interpretation of Malchut is not so much Indwelling Presence of G-D (although of course I do appreciate that interpretation as well).  It is Manifestation.  I connect very much with the approach of Malchut being connected to both the FEET as well as the MOUTH in our physical bodies.  When I chose to become Jewish, much of it had to do with my understanding of this religion as one that requires you to DO something, one that views what we give back to the world as among the most important aspects of the religion, and I’m not speaking monetarily.  Without discussing my direct reasons for leaving the faith I grew up in and pursuing a Jewish path instead, I can say that I was drawn to Judaism as a way to share with others a basic belief that what we DO matters most.  For this reason, I prefer to interpret today, Malchut she b’Malchut, as Indwelling Presence within MANIFESTATION.  It is G-D’s presence within us that we must Manifest into the world in some way.

Over the last few days, as we have moved closer to this final day of Malchut she b’Malchut, there is a common phrase that kept spiraling through my head, with a clearer meaning than ever before.  I believe it is the perfect phrase to end this year’s Omer period, and in many ways, it is a call to action for us all now that we have done the preparation work to greet Shavuot and receive the Torah and its teachings.  It is now time to “Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk.”

**My approach to Counting the Omer has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide” and I have profound gratitude for Rabbi Kantrowitz for providing the blueprint for this experience for so many of us.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 48: Yesod she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 48):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v shmonah yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-eighth day, which makes six weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-eight: Yesod she b’Malchut (Foundation within Indwelling Presence) – GENITALS to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

Everything that has lasting energy and is sustainable in life is built not just on a strong Foundation, but also on a flexible one.  Even with people, we find, that those with the capacity to adapt to changing circumstances are most successful in life.  Research on resiliency shows that very often people grow in positive ways in response to negative or challenging life circumstances, often becoming stronger as a result.  Even minor setbacks in our world can cause us to move slightly toward a more solid footing, giving us the ability to carry on, both to hear G-D’s Presence within us as well as to move positively forward in the world around us.  This is, in essence, what the importance is of Yesod she b’Malchut.  It is the effect of a strong yet flexible Foundation on the Manifestation of our Indwelling Presence.

The process of forming and maintaining a flexible foundation in our lives is a life-long task.  The commitment to keeping our emotional lives limber can be seen as creating a finely balanced springboard.  Today, we can contribute to that task by dedicating our hearts to regaining lost balance, recovering the small joys of feeling grounded, remembering moments of clarity in which we felt protected and held by G-D.

Psalm 94:18 says: “When I thought – ‘my foot is slipping’ – Your love, O G-D, upheld me.”  This is an example of the kind of flexible Foundation Manifest in Yesod she b’Malchut today.

**Today’s email has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 47: Hod she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 47):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v shiv’a yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’chamisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-seventh day, which makes six weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-seven: Hod she b’Malchut (Splendor within Indwelling Presence) – LEFT HIP to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

In reference to the Torah, the 5 books of Jewish wisdom that help link us to G-D, we have been told to “Turn it over and again turn it over, for all is within.”  This quote from the Mishna reminds us of the Splendor and Variety of ways that our world is a reflection of G-d in our lives, as well as within our Torah.  Multiple interpretations of the Torah, as well as multiple interpretations of things that surround us, are important to fully understand anything.  Minority opinions need to be recorded as well as those more obvious and apparent thoughts as that allows us to fully view things through a variety of lenses, to allow complete consideration of all.

In Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book, from which I have drawn many of my considerations throughout this Omer period, she refers to an excellent example relating to Hod she b’Malchut.  She writes about the Hundred Drawings Project, a venture in which an artist (ONE INDIVIDUAL) decided to do 100 depictions of a simple object…none of which would be the same.  The object selected was not an object of emotional significance or one with formal aesthetic qualities, but a plain ordinary item.  After a number of drawings the initial excitement of varying the media or style to alter the representation seemed to diminish.  Then, there was a shift to a closer, deeper examination of the many subtleties of the object and new insights developed.  Whether we are artists or not, we can gain deeper appreciation of the Splendor of the world through closer attention.  As we become more deeply appreciative of the subtle wonders of life, we become ever more grateful for all we are given each day.

Today, take time to consider the amazing variety of things that surround you every day, and how each plays an important role in creating the entirety of the world as the Manifestation of G-D around us.

**Much of today’s email has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 46: Netzach she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 46):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v shisha yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’arba’a yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-sixth day, which makes six weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-six: Netzach she b’Malchut (Endurance within Indwelling Presence) – RIGHT HIP to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

It is not always easy to keep ourselves moving forward, never faltering or stalling on our given path.  The challenges of life require a constant amount of energy, of Endurance, to make our way with grace and determination.  When we approach life with steadiness within ourselves, we can help influence others toward positive change.

I love the statement that if you never make a mistake, you never actually learn and grow. This fully applies to our lives – without the need to continue, to persevere, we would be stagnant, never able to fully fulfill our potential. The adversaries along our journey can come from external or internal forces; they can be material, emotional, or spiritual obstacles that have the ability to derail us from our path.  Yet these obstacles need not have a long term negative effect on us. If we try to take the bumps in the road alone, they are rougher and we can become resistant, angry, and resentful.  However, if we remember that Divine help is perpetually available, that we have an Indwelling Presence within us, the difficulties can become easier to manage.

We all have been through times when the road was rough and our original plan was no longer available or appropriate for our journey.  Sometimes, we don’t even know for sure what is the cause for our derailment, but we know we are stuck and unsure of what to do.  That is when we need clarity, to truly look at the situation and the real cause of the disturbance.  With that understanding, it is easier to develop a new way to tackle the problems or to find the stamina or Endurance to start anew.

Netzach she b’Malchut reminds us to keep looking beneath the surface and seek out the Divine that will illuminate a path toward resolution. Impulsive actions rarely lead to lasting victories, true healing of wounds, or lasting peace.  Allow Divine wisdom to provide clarity for you, to give you the skills to Endure and Persevere.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 45: Tiferet she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 45):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v chamisha yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’shlosha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-fifth day, which makes six weeks and three days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-five : Tiferet she b’Malchut (Harmony within Indwelling Presence) – HEART to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

I grew up loving music, and I still adore so many different musical styles. So I can’t think of the word Harmony without considering it in a musical context. Some pieces are lovely with their simple Harmonies full of predictable patterns using minimal vocals and instruments blending together. Others are quite intricate, requiring attention to the complexities and variations that combined provide a beautiful harmony that is variable yet still amazing. I find this most in the classical music I love, or modern music that utilizes complex classical concepts to produce their sound. Varied instruments, different in their structure, size, and sound, being able to come together to produce beauty and harmony is a manifestation of something glorious to me. That is Tiferet she b’Malchut for me.

It isn’t just the components that make something up that are important, but the way they work together that produces something exquisite.  In life we have this same opportunity to manifest Harmony between varying ideas, concepts, people and situations and find the Beauty in the relationship between them. Each of us is a tiny part of a huge universe, a small ingredient within the pulsing heart of creation, being kept in balance as we contribute our particular component.  Through Tiferet she b’Malchut we pay special attention to the intricate and perfect harmonies of G-D’s Creation.

Malchut is all about taking Action. We have the opportunity to Act to restore Harmony whenever we see the world out of Balance.  Our actions to join in the fight against the disharmony from injustices, conflicts, environmental imbalances and such is our way to help Manifest a world in balance. Consider how you can become a part of the Harmony of our vast world. 

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 44: Gevurah she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 44):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v arba’a yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’shnai yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-fourth day, which makes six weeks and two days of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-four: Gevurah she b’Malchut (Strength within Indwelling Presence) – LEFT SHOULDER to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

Gevurah gives us the Strength needed to make wise choices, to use our best Judgment.  Good Judgment is something we develop over time through experience, learning, guidance and prayer.  At 51 years old, having had many different careers and life experiences, I know that my judgment today, and my strength of will and of character, have been a result of what I have learned over those years. My connections to people and to G-d have helped to bring me to a place of readiness to walk and talk with that Strength and Discernment – Gevurah she b’Malchut.

Today, we contemplate how to use good Judgment to promote our principles in the world.  As we know, Malchut is the outward Manifestation of the Divine energy within us as seen through our actions and words.  When do you step forth and explicitly state your own values?  When do you act to reinforce them?  How do you respond to injustice?  When are you silent?  When do you speak?  The influence of Gevurah on Malchut is the keystone to answering these questions.

Gevurah is like a kind of focusing apparatus for us, helping us to Discern the important aspects from the overwhelming din of everything around us.  For example, it is very easy to allow our emotional lives to become like a roller coaster, barely in control.  We compare ourselves to others and are dissatisfied with our lives.  We want more than we have, we become greedy or self-critical.  If we can refocus our perceptions, open to the enchantment of surprise, the magic of mystery, we can discern the touch of G-D around us.

The input of Gevurah helps our spiritual strength to grow in proportion to our awareness of G-D’s Indwelling Presence. Today, take 10 minutes of time to refocus yourself and feel, accept, and enjoy more awareness of Holy energy in your life.

**Much of today’s email has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 43: Chesed she b’Malchut
The Blessing (Day 43):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Everything, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arbaim v’shlosha yom, shehem shisha shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer.

Today is the forty-third day, which makes six weeks and one day of the Omer.

Week Seven – Malchut (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation)

Day Forty-three: Chesed she b’Malchut (Lovingkindness within Indwelling Presence) – RIGHT SHOULDER to BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH

Here we are – the final week of the counting of the Omer.  We pause for a moment, reflecting on the work and preparation we have done over the last six weeks since we began the journey of moving with intention toward our spiritual harvest.  Malchut is the sephira of Manifestation.  It is located at the bottom of the tree of life, where it receives the fruits of the past six weeks of spiritual growth.  The base of the tree is also where roots and trunk connect, reminding us that strong, deep roots keep every tree alive and upright.  Our focus over the last six weeks has created a deeper appreciation of this connection as well as the influence of G-D’s constant Presence within us.

Although at times over the last six weeks we may feel we made great strides in our pursuit of understanding and insight into ourselves and our connections with G-d. Judaism insists, however, that mere contemplation is not enough.  The insights and knowledge we receive must be used to transform the world.  This happens in the sefirah of Malkhut, where all that we have learned and understand is brought into an actualized reality in some form, as action or words.  We think, we organize, and finally, we speak and act.  This Manifestation, when done as a response to the Divine intent, becomes the mirror of Keter (Crown – the uppermost sephira of Kabbalah located at the fontanel of the skull, the opening that connects us to the Divine energy and G-D’s will).  As the mirror of Keter, this Manifestation becomes not only a vision of G-D’s will, but a reality of human effort to perform G-D’s will.

This final week of the Omer is like Shabbat, a time of reflection and peace, of spiritual contemplation.  As we do a final repetition of the cycle of the Tree of Life for this year, we take this opportunity to revisit each of the sephirot in preparation for receiving revelation on Shavuot (the day we celebrate the giving of the Torah to our people).

The first Sephirot we consider in this week of Malchut is Chesed. Chesed (lovingkindness) influences Malchut (manifestation) when we recognize the protecting compassion of G-D as our ideal parent – guiding, counseling, influencing, loving, guarding.  Today, we remember that the caring Presence always surrounds and shields us through Lovingkindness.

We can all consider how Lovingkindness influences our Actions and G-D’s Presence within them.  There is a line from a Beatles song that reminds us: “The love you take is equal to the love you make.”  Today, consider the wisdom of offering a spontaneous hug, making fleeting eye contact with an old woman on the street, or giving tzedakah (charity) anonymously and how Chesed influences these Actions.  The recipients of these acts of compassion are not only those who have been identified as “needy”, but all of us.  In this way, we are completing G-D’s desire for Lovingkindness in the world.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 42: Malchut she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 42):
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 shnaim v’arbaim yom, shehem shisha shavuot l’Omer.

Today is the forty-second day, which makes six weeks of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Forty-two: Malchut she b’Yesod (Indwelling Presence within Foundation) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to GENITALS

The sephira of Yesod is sometimes called the “Righteous One.” This comes from the statement in Proverbs 10:25 that says “The righteous is an everlasting Foundation.”  It is our Foundational beliefs that make us able to stand and be counted as one who is righteous, who is virtuous and moral. Daniel Matt wrote in his book Essential Zohar that ”One pillar extends from earth to heaven.  Its name is Righteous One, named for the righteous.  If there are righteous people in the world, the pillar is strengthened; if not it is weakened.  It upholds the entire world…If it weakens, the world cannot endure.  So, if the world contains just one righteous person, that person sustains the world.”

Malchut she b’Yesod has us consider how the Indwelling Presence of G-d within us has an effect on our Foundational beliefs of morality, our desire for righteousness. It is our opportunity to strengthen our own pillar, our own Foundation, so we can walk and talk (actions of Malchut) with morality. If our actions through Malchut do not reflect our actual foundational beliefs, there is still an effect on those beliefs. Our internal foundation can begin to crumble. The actions we take in the world must be in line with our Indwelling Presence, our spark of divinity, to keep our Foundation strong and intact.

Malchut reminds us that a spark of G-D dwells within us, inspiring and stirring us.  When we recognize this Indwelling Presence is providing stability to our personal Foundation, we can trust in our capabilities to meet challenges and tackle difficult tasks with confidence.  Machut she b’Yesod allows us to stand tall and strong in G-D’s influence.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 41: Yesod she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 41):
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 echad v’arbaim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-first day, which makes five weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Forty-one: Yesod she b’Yesod (Foundation within Foundation) – GENITALS to GENITALS

The foundation of our life may be under a lot of stress right now, as coronavirus has attacked the structure of our days. It reminds me of other disasters that have had an effect on us over the years. Some disasters are physical in their effect, others are less structural. No matter what, the realities are consistently that if one foundation is affected, many other foundations will be changed. Let’s consider the effect of coronavirus on a family who has owned a home at the Jersey shore for generations. Over many years of summers spent at this beach house, grandparents and grandchildren, cousins and siblings, have built memories and family connections that are part of the framework of the family’s Foundation. This year, that may not occur. In addition, as we are unable to take care of the home because we are not able to be there, there may be effects on the physical home and its foundation. The family gatherings all happened within the structure of a building built on a different kind of Foundation, maybe one made of stones. As we go even further, we can realize that each component of a building’s Foundation requires a Foundation of its own. Each stone is composed of crystals arranged one upon another in its own kind of Foundation. At the end, we acknowledge that there is another invisible support under the building blocks of the world: the support of G-D.

As we consider Yesod she b’Yesod, we realize that each Foundation, such as the one of the family, relies on the strength and firmness of the other Foundations. If one falters, it will have an impact, large or small, on the other structures.  For this reason, it is important to recognize our reliance on each Foundation, and create our own strong yet flexible base to provide the best Foundations possible in all areas of our world. 

As we manage our way through this current pandemic, we lean on the Foundations we have built along the years, our connection to each other as well as our connection to G-d to give us the strength.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 40: Hod she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 40):
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 arbaim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’chamisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the fortieth day, which makes five weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Forty: Hod she b’Yesod (Spendor within Foundation) – LEFT HIP to GENITALS

As we reach the 40th day of the counting of the Omer, we are reminded of multiple references in the Torah that involve this length of time, and the possibilities that can occur over it.  The great flood in Genesis lasts forty days and nights.  Moses remains on the mountain for forty days, listening to G-D’s instructions before returning with the stone tablets.  Both of these are experiences in which major transformations occur, not just for the individual, but also for the community.  Although change is difficult, it is possible, especially over time.

Building community is slow, tough work.  Just like creating a foundation of a house, when we are building our community, we slowly, carefully look to put in place people and systems that work for us, layering on top of previously placed systems to strengthen our unified foundation while valuing the unique contributions and precious peculiarities of each individual.  It is only through assembling many small bits of Amazing variety that we can build a firm base.  This is the core of Hod she b’Yesod.

Hod points to the order inherent in complex systems, such as that of the human body, weather systems, family systems, musical systems, etc.  Each has potential for the components to function together in Splendid orchestration, in mild disarray, or in total turmoil.  Hod she b’Yesod brings the Amazing variety and organization we encounter in our lives to our attention, to help us erect the structures of our lives and our world.

As a trained health care professional, I can’t help but think of the complexity of the human body.  The more I learned, and continue to learn, of the intricacies of the body’s systems, I have come to realize how much we rely on the Splendid varieties of cells, organs, hormones, and more, working in organized tandem, creating a firm Foundation of good health.  Today, take a moment to pause, and thank G-D for the body systems that are working well within us.  Even if you have a body system that is struggling, still take time to reflect on all the marvelous parts that are working well, and how they are still giving you a firm base to move through your days.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 39: Netzach she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 39):
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 tisha v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v arba’a yomim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-ninth day, which makes five weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-nine: Netzach she b’Yesod (Endurance within Foundation) – RIGHT HIP to GENITALS

As my father, a carpenter by trade, taught me many times, you must build a strong Foundation for any structure if you expect it to last.  He would stress this over and over again, primarily because he knew how tedious and exhausting the work is when done correctly.  This is not just true with physical structures, but also with those more esoteric foundations within our own self, families, and communities.  Meticulous attention to what builds a stable base requires perseverance, courage, and Endurance.

All long-term goals require sustained effort to handle problems or obstacles that may interfere.   Building anything stable requires numerous determined steps, not just for the original building of the base, but constant reevaluation of the structure to confirm it is still strong and accurate for our needs.  We must be persistent in keeping our eye on our planned goal as we build and maintain our strong base. Anytime something changes we must reevaluate the situation, take any steps needed to alter the foundation we stand on to make sure it is still strong, and remember to constantly review it to know that we are standing on something solid again. This can happen in any areas of our lives, from the relationships we have nurtured to the foundation of our own selves which may need to be reviewed and fortified to handle the changes from external and/or internal factors.

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.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 37: Gevurah she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 37):
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 shiva v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shnai yomim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-seventh day, which makes five weeks and two days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-seven: Gevurah she b’Yesod (Strength within Foundation) – LEFT SHOULDER to GENITALS

The longevity and sturdiness of a good foundation requires being built with Strength and Discernment.  Carefully picking the right stones, considering their location and placing them with precision makes the difference between a long standing rock wall and a pile of rubble. This is just as true in our lives: making careful decisions, using Discernment of what we do and say, we can build a Foundation for a long-lasting marriage, a robust congregation, or a sturdy organization.

It takes a lot of skill to be able to adeptly choose the right course of action, and without the skills to also make the right action work, we can run into trouble completing the foundation properly. A man can logically “know” what to do to build a rock wall, but if he doesn’t have the skill to properly handle the rocks and place them correctly, just “knowing” what to do intellectually isn’t enough. Skills come in many forms, and all of them are important. A person may want to build a good relationship with a partner, may know what words should be said at what times, but if the skill of emotional connectedness isn’t also a part of it, the words may fall flat, and the choices fail to build the foundation.

We develop skills over time by practice, evaluation, feedback, and more practice.  Once well trained, we can ask ourselves how we can apply those skills.  How can we use our particular Strengths to repair the world, to make a stronger Foundation for everyone? Consider today what your Strengths are and reflect on how you are using those strengths to make a firm Foundation, one within yourself, your home, your work, your community, and your world.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 36: Yesod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 36):
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 shloshim v’shisha yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-sixth day, which makes five weeks and one day of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-six: Chesed she b’Yesod (Lovingkindness within Foundation) – RIGHT SHOULDER to GENITALS

In our contemporary American language, there are at least three different meanings for the word “foundation.” 1. Structural Foundation – part of a building, usually below the ground, that transfers and distributes the weight of the edifice to the ground. 2. Legal Foundation – a legal entity, an institution formally set up by an endowment or trust, which distributes money or other resources to support specific projects or organizations. 3. Cosmetic Foundation – a type of cosmetic that is applied as the base layer for face makeup.

Each refers to the basis of something, a necessary aspect without which the rest of the system would not stand. Yesod is the sephira of spiritual Foundation.  It provides a stable platform which functions as a focus point that gathers, contains, and concentrates the Divine energy from the sephirot above it.  Standing firmly on this foundation, it is easier to hold onto our visions of a righteous society, of world peace, of communities filled with successful people caring about each other.

Chesed she b’Yesod reminds us to use our compassion to help one another.  As we prop each other up, the foundation of the world is strengthened.  The structural framework of a righteous life is supported by Love.  This can be seen in social action and civic involvement.  When we “take a stand” on an ethical, moral or political issue, Chesed she b’Yesod is at work.  We are reminded today that the stands we take on important issues are informed by the constant Lovingkindness flowing from G-d and our own spiritual Foundation.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 35: Malchut she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 35):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shloshim v’chamisha yom, shehem chamisha shavuot l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-fifth day, which makes five weeks of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-five: Malchut she b’Hod (Indwelling Presence within Splendor) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to LEFT HIP

The sephira Malchut, often referred to as Kingdom/Sovereignty, acknowledges that the best kind of sovereignty, or in our more modern take of the term – leadership, arises from recognizing the Divine Presence within all creation, that we are all sparked with divinity, of godliness.

As Malchut influences Hod, we can see the magnificence of G-d within all life’s complexities. Every little piece is a part of a larger entity.  The vast mountain ranges throughout our world and the single grains of sand of the world’s beaches are all part of the same world, the one planet Earth. Although completely different in size and scope, they are each individually small aspects of a much larger whole. They are both part of a slow-moving cycle of change in rocks that has been going on since the formation of the planet. They are part of something much larger than a particle of sand or even a range of towering mountains, all with the spark of the divine.

The study of ecology, and the influence that each different animal, plant, bacteria, virus, air particle change, and more, can have on the others, provides a scientific basis for this same insight.  We are not completely separated from each other, or from any part of our surroundings.  Each unique aspect of G-D’s Splendor plays a part in the outcome of who we are, in our Manifestation.  Indwelling Presence reminds us to honor that Splendor, that Glorious Variety, that provides us with so much that we need.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 34: Yesod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 34):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shloshim v’arba’ah yom, shehem arba’ah shavuot v’shisha yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-fourth day, which makes four weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-four: Yesod she b’Hod (Foundation within Splendor) – GENITALS to LEFT HIP

Yesod she b’Hod concentrates on the firm foundation that underscores the splendor in our lives.  A few years ago, a friend of mine found herself in a struggle with breast cancer.  She shared her journey with many of us through a kind of blog, allowing her to tell her story as well as creating a true recounting of her struggles and successes while she was “in-the-moment”.  Being a rabbi, she was very adept at writing her thoughts with clarity and focus, relating her true feelings to us through her words.  Unfortunately, although she initially recovered, ultimately her life ended due to the disease. But, we can look back at her story knowing that in the days of pain and uncertainty, she was still able to find positive moments to grace her life.

The interesting part of this for me, which relates to today’s theme of Yesod she b’Hod, is that her most positive writings, regardless of the struggles of the day, came from days in which she had taken walks in nature.  When she was feeling most vulnerable, these walks were very calming, reminding her of the spiritual foundation underlying the splendor of the natural world around her.  The unique and glorious variety of the plants and animals she encountered provided her with a stronger sense of her place in the world, and the strength of that kind of structure helped her to feel supported internally in addition to the external support she was being given.

Today, take a moment to observe the world around you, marveling at the solid foundation of which the variety of plants and animals are all a part of, allowing us to feel supported in all we do.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 33: Hod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 33):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shloshim v’shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’chamishim yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-third day, which makes four weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-three: Hod she b’Hod (Splendor within Splendor) – LEFT HIP to LEFT HIP

Today, on this 33rd day of the Omer, we celebrate the special holiday of Lag b’Omer.  “Lag” is not a Hebrew word; it is the numerical equivalent of the number 33.  It is formed from the combination of the Hebrew letter lamed for 30 and gimel for 3.  (LG – sound produced is LAG)  In Jewish history, a number of tragedies occurred during this 7 week period of the Counting of the Omer (any Google search will bring up tons of information on this so I won’t list it here).  To commemorate these calamities, it has become customary in traditional Jewish communities to observe a period of semi-mourning during the counting of the Omer and many festivities are not held during this time.  On the 33rd day though, Lag b’Omer, we stop our mourning for the day, and take this time to appreciate the myriad splendors of the world around us, to notice all the varieties of creation with gratitude.  It is a holiday of appreciating nature, and in Israel, people celebrate this by having picnics in the woods.

Hod she b’Hod mirrors the splendor of creation, the unfolding mystery of electrons within atoms within molecules within chemicals within cells within heart muscles.  We wonder at the mystery of why planes fly and if dogs have a sense of humor, speculate on the miracles of healing and the challenges of love.  It is a time to think like a young child, asking questions about the nature of reality, in delight and wonder.  Hod she b’Hod asks that we relish detail, noting the magnificent diversity of creation in all its aspects.

Today is the eighteenth day of the month of Iyar – the Chai (life) of the month.  Eighteen is a very special number in Judaism, celebrating all that is life. It is a special day for recognizing the Splendor of life, the awesomeness of our world and our place in it.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 32: Gevurah she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 32):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shnaim v’shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’arba’a yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-second day, which makes four weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-two: Gevurah she b’Hod (Endurance within Splendor) – RIGHT HIP to LEFT HIP

All systems need constant, repetitive infusions of energy to maintain and to grow, allowing them to create glorious splendor.  Medical research is based on repeated attempts to address causes and cures of disease, taking into account each of the variables to be considered, persisting until the right combination is found.  Dogged efforts that are fraught with many failures are necessary to achieve positive results.

Many of our greatest inventions and achievements have come from this kind of enduring persistence (Netzach), followed by repeating the approaches with slight adjustments in response to the reverberating effects (Hod) that occur.  As I am writing this, I am thinking about a movie I watched that told the story of Thomas Edison and his persistence in creating the light bulb.  It was Netzach she b’Hod in his “Invention Factory” in Menlo Park, NJ as he tested more than 1600 materials in his search for the right material for the filament.  Imagine the Splendid variety of items he considered, from coconut fiber to fishing line to human hair, before his and his workers’ Endurance paid off in finding the perfect material – carbonized bamboo.  What a Glorious sight when he was able to light up 25 buildings in New York’s Financial District on September 4, 1882.

In our own lives, repetition and repeated focus play a key role in contributing to our growth.  The insistent energy of Netzach makes the continued change and variety of Hod possible.  If, for example, your goal is to be physically fit, you will need to apply significant amounts of preparation, learning, and practice to achieve it.  You may find that sometimes a change in your approach and strategy is necessary to move toward your desired end.  It can be due to an injury that alters what you can do, or from new information about a better technique that causes you to consider the variety of Splendid options available as you Persist and Endure.  Netzach she b’Hod reminds us that nurturing continuous optimism through many small careful decisions moves us toward our goals.

Today, look around your home.  Consider the amazing things around you, and how they were likely the result of Netzach she b’Hod.  Remember that when we allow Perseverance to influence outcomes, we can produce Splendid variety.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 31: Tiferet she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 31):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom echad v’shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’shlosha yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-first day, which makes four weeks and three days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-one: Tiferet she b’Hod (Harmony within Splendor) – HEART to LEFT HIP

The sum is greater than the parts. What a wonderful idea, but how does it translate when considering Tiferet she b’Hod, Beauty within the Splendor? It is the multitude of individual small bits of Beauty that are necessary to produce overall Splendor. I’ll use something from my childhood to illustrate this point.

My father is an avid lover of nature and its wonders, and he instilled this love of awesomeness of the universe in his children through some unconventional ways.  I can vividly recall summer afternoons when we would be caught in a rainstorm while driving home from a day of swimming in the local woods.  My father knew where each great naturally made swimming hole was from the creeks that flowed in the mountains surrounding our home in the valley of Wilkes-Barre, PA.  He would take us and the neighborhood children out for fantastic adventure-filled afternoons away from the cement and tile public pools that were found in the city.

Sometimes on those summer afternoons, we would be caught in a rainstorm.  He would pull our car to the side of the road, and we would watch as the raindrops would fall on the front windshield, making a dance as they each took a different path down the glass.  Although they essentially were the same chemical composition of oxygen and hydrogen (H2O), each was uniquely awesome, a variation of size and intensity, some reflecting light and shimmering while others remained dark and heavy to the eye.  They would play and dance together, creating a beautiful sight, the Harmony of each unique drop combining to create a Splendorous effect, and he would engage us in conversations about the sight and how awesome it was.

To magnify the joy and beauty to be found in this rather “mundane” event, he would have us all get out of the car (we were still in our bathing suits) and play in the rain along the side of the road.  He felt it was important for us to remember that we are part of the interplaying beauty and harmony of each unique part of the universe, and that it was appropriate to show our appreciation for it, rather than to hide away from it under umbrellas or in shelter.  (Obviously, this would not be in a thunderstorm, although he did love to bring us out to watch lightning on the porch, but that’s another story!) Don’t get me wrong – he didn’t elaborate in those words, yet I know this is exactly what he wanted to impart to us. That we are part of a bigger universe, and that we must appreciate each small piece for what it is as well as what role it plays to create the bigger aspect. The sum is greater than the parts, even when the parts are beautiful themselves.

We can consider this same concept by looking at the amazing way individual people, each with their own strengths and idiosyncrasies, can come together to work toward a wonderful goal.  Each individual talent, when pulled together, can create something greater than just the sum of the individual parts.  It is Harmony within the Splendor that is the cause of this beautiful magnificent world when brought together in this way.

Today, as Tiferet influences Hod, we remember that all life is a balancing act that contributes to the universe’s impressive and infinite variety, each part interconnected to the dynamic whole.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 30: Gevurah she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 30):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’shnai yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirtieth ay, which makes four weeks and two days of the Omer

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty: Gevurah she b’Hod (Strength within Splendor) – LEFT SHOULDER to LEFT HIP

Maturity and acceptance are connected with the theme of this thirtieth day of the Omer, Gevurah she b’Hod.  We use Discernment to understand and accept how the world really works, the underlying configuration of the universe.  Informed choice is important whether we are choosing a career or ordering off a comprehensive menu at the deli.  In each case, regardless of being momentous or minor ones, we appreciate the opportunity we have to choose from many Splendid options.  Discerning which choices are right for who we are at different stages of our lives is a Gevurah she b’Hod task.

Today we are reminded to use our own strengths carefully, restraining the tendency to lose sight of the forest while contemplating the magnificence of one particularly marvelous tree.  To avoid being overwhelmed by Splendor, we must focus well, Discerning the appropriate options for this time and place.  In our personal lives, we recognize that internal strength is necessary to know that as our needs change, hanging on to old approaches dishonors our ability to grow.

Today’s theme touches me personally in relation to my career path(s), amplified even more this year.  As a child born in the late 1960s, I always would tell my mother that, although I appreciated the work done by her generation to ensure more options for me as a woman in the US, I felt completely overwhelmed at times at the vastness of the choices I could make.  The Splendor of what was available to me meant that I had to truly consider just what I wanted in life – that I had to Discern what path was the right one for me.  I became a hospital pharmacist after high school, and worked happily for 10 years in that world.  As I grew older, more options were put in my path, and yet again I found myself making a choice – I became a mother.  I tried to continue my pharmacy career, but within me, something wasn’t right – it no longer fit me.  Thankfully, I was able to let go of that “old approach”, and after a few turns, I found a new path to journey on – I became a massage therapist, working directly with people in need of my skills.  After 10 years doing that wonderful work, I found myself in need of another decision to be made. My health was compromised and required me to rethink what I could do. I stopped the work, spent a few years with physicians finding a way to heal my fibromyalgia body (or at least control it) and then another moment came to my world to decide what to do. Currently, I am working with our synagogue in a new high-level position as I try my best to help them navigate not just changes in the temple, but in the world as well. Although none of us are positive of each choice we make and if it’s the right one every time, I am so happy to know that Gevurah she b’Hod is here for me if and when I need it to discern what I can and should do, allowing me further growth, both in my work life as well as in all aspects of myself, spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually.  I am very happy that today, as I consider this theme, I can look back on choices I have made and feel proud and content with them.  This doesn’t mean that the Splendid variety of options not chosen are somehow bad or wrong, just that for myself, at each phase of who I am, I had the strength to Discern the right one for myself out of the diversity.

Today, consider a time when you were faced with a variety of tempting choices and you chose well.  Feel proud of making that decision.  If you find that the decision you made no longer fits you, take a step to consider the options you may have out of the vast and diverse possibilities.  It can be something major in your life, or something relatively minor, such as choosing to try the chicken marsala at your favorite restaurant instead of your usual chicken parmigiana.  Just being open to the idea that there is a glittering array of possibilities available to us in our life, and that we are in control of using our strengths to discern the best one for us is a wonderful thing.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 29: Chesed she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 29):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom tisha v’esrim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-ninth day, which makes four weeks and one day of the Omer

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Twenty-nine: Chesed she b’Hod (Lovingkindness within Splendor) – RIGHT SHOULDER to LEFT HIP

Often the Lovingkindness we appreciate most appears in unexpected ways.  A smile from a friendly stranger, a call from an old friend, or a silent touch of condolence from a neighbor can brighten our day and shift our attention in a positive direction.  The pairing of Chesed and Hod goes diagonally across the body, funneling overflowing Love through the heart, to be distributed in Splendid patterns in the world.  Hod is like a prism, sorting and refracting the light of Chesed into Splended ordered array.

Like the famous words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning who asked: “How do I love Thee?  Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”, Chesed she b’Hod magnifies details of love.

G-D’s Lovingkindness is evident in the myriad blessings in our lives.  Today, take note of some details of the blessings that abound in your world, and marvel at the variety of ways that these are exhibited. Like a prism, Hod shows us the many many reflections of an object. When paired with Chesed, Lovingkindness, even a simple object can bring love and joy when viewed in multiple ways. A flower, a sunset, a child’s happy smile, the sight of an old friend. These are the simple things that turn to the big when viewed with the right mindset and blended with love.

*The basis of the information in today’s topic comes from and is inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 28: Malchut she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 28):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shmonim v’esrim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-eighth day, which makes four weeks of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-eight: Malchut she b’Netzach (Indwelling Presence within Endurance) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to RIGHT HIP

I am always amazed how relevant to our times the practices within our Judaism can be to our current modern days. The Torah portion often seems to be related to the exact things going on around us. So often our Counting the Omer, reflecting on the aspects of G-d within us and our world, is at a time when we are reflecting a lot on our world and dealing with aspects that we may not be prepared for, or at least that we don’t think we are prepared. Right at this moment, we find ourselves at the 28th day of the Omer, at Malchut she b’Netzach. It is here that we consider the knowledge of G-d’s constant and available Presence which give us courage to Endure disaster. Although not the same as an earthquake or other phenomenon, I think we can all agree that COVID-19 is a disaster of sorts, both health and economic.

When tragedy strikes, like some of us are experiencing now, it is sometimes unimaginable that the ordinary world goes on, that people can care about anything outside of the tragedy. It is at times like this that the mundane actions of everyday life can make the world at large seem callous in the face of our personal suffering. Even though some of us are facing major milestones without the same experience we expected, our tragedy is mundane in the eyes of someone who is suffering a more devastating experience. For example, my daughter is graduating from college in a remote virtual experience from our home rather than with her peers and teachers in one location together, just as they began 4 years ago. Our lamentation of the loss of this experience and the pain and suffering we are feeling can seem completely callous and irrelevant to someone who at the same time is experiencing the death of a loved one due to coronavirus. And to us, a person who is upset about not being able to spend time at the shore with friends may seem to be trivial compared to both of our situations. And so on. We find a way to continue on, all of us, in our own unique way for our own unique situation. It is Malchut she b’Netzach which helps us to remember the spiritual source of strength that helps us persevere through pain, anger and fear.

Today, consider how G-d’s presence influences you. What area of your world is filled with your Constant Energy (Netzach) and how has this Indwelling Presence (Malchut) influenced you to Persevere? Even though there may be times when it is difficult to continue on, we Endure with the support of G-d’s ever present Divine Energy.

*The basis of the information in today’s topic comes from and is inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 27: Yesod she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 27):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shiva v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-seventh day, which makes three weeks and six days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-seven: Yesod she b’Netzach (Foundation within Endurance) – GENITALS to RIGHT HIP

Ego has a bad reputation. It usually is seen as something negative, that to have an “ego” means you are arrogant and self-centered. This doesn’t fully represent the real meaning of ego. Ego is defined as self-esteem as well as self-importance attitudes. We should all strive for a positive self-esteem. A well-formed ego is the Foundation for a charitable, confident, wise and self-reflective person. Yesod she b’Netzach helps us stand on a firm Foundation, while still allowing us to keep moving forward with Endurance toward our goals. A healthy ego helps us to make the choices necessary to achieve this.

The great line that “practice makes perfect” really should be thought of more as the idea that “repetition leads to success”, which doesn’t require an absolute of perfection as the only measure of success. When we have a clear sense of a goal with a sturdy Foundation to start from, it becomes easier to expend the effort to Persevere, to Endure, to reach that goal. Yesod she b’Netzach helps us move small mountains every day.

*The basis of the information in today’s topic comes from and is inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 26: Hod she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 26):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shisha v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’chamisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-sixth day, which makes three weeks and five days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-six: Hod she b’Netzach (Endurance within Endurance) – LEFT HIP to RIGHT HIP

As we went over during the first week, there is a true link between Netzach and Hod that is quite different in comparison to the other sephirot. The distinctions between Chesed (Lovingkindness) and Gevurah (Strength) are crisp and separate as the right and left arms.  These arms are able to act independently and uniquely from the other.  Netzach (Endurance/Victory) and Hod (Splendor/Glory), however, are less easily separated, and the distinction between them is blurry.  This is well reflected in their bodily positions as right and left hips, since the movement of one inevitably causes movement of the other through their connection by the pelvis.  While we can move the right arm without requiring any movement from the left arm, the same is not true of our hips.  When we try to move the right hip, the left hip MUST also move to accommodate the new position.  Netzach cannot work independently of Hod.  Endurance cannot operate alone.

Hod, sometimes referred to as Humility, can be expressed in a willingness to yield to something and to make dynamic changes to adjusting situations.  Yielding, a result of Humility, is an essential element of Enduring.  Standing fast can sometimes be a formula for destruction.  Think of a tall strong oak tree in a hurricane.  Its inability to bend with the wind may cause it to be uprooted, yet a flexible reed, which yields to the wind, can survive without a problem.  The reed Endures because of its Humility; its willingness to move in a different way allows it to stay firmly planted in the ground.

Today, consider your willingness to bend in a situation while still standing strong in your ideals. This is Hod she b’Netzach.

*The basis of the information in today’s topic comes from and is inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 25: Netzach she b’Netzach

The Blessing (Day 25):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom chamisha v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’arba’ah yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-fifth day, which makes three weeks and four days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-five: Netzach she b’Netzach (Endurance within Endurance) – RIGHT HIP to RIGHT HIP

The energy of Netzach she b’Netzach is awesome.  It is like the explosion at the birth of a star, sending light years of energy out into the future, expanding the universe.  It is like ripples in a pond, or sound waves, projecting out from a source, undulating, enduring.  Netzach, which is often translated as Eternity, has a way of making us reach for the impossible even as we know it may be an exercise in futility.  Netzach is an acknowledgement of staying in it for the long haul and becoming painfully aware of how impossible the task ahead truly is – and still going forward.

When we are in the midst of some kind of uncertainty such as where we are with COVID-19 right now, or possibly some kind of personal turmoil, such as grieving the death of a close family member, suffering with seasonal allergies that make your head hurt with no end in sight, or the seemingly endless teenage years (which can feel like forever for both the teen AND the parent!), our pain and confusion seem inexhaustible.  We can find ourselves thinking that this transient feeling actually is a permanent one; that it will never end.

Netzach she b’Netzach gives us long-term perspective, reminding us to look past the immediate, and know that we will Persevere and move forward. Even more than ever we must use Netzach to meet our challenges, knowing that we will persist against the odds.  Today, let us all reflect on G-D’s constant energy within us to Endure. 

*The majority of the information in today’s topic comes from Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 24: Tiferet she b’Netzach

The Blessing (Day 24):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom arba’a v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shloshim yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-fourth day, which makes three weeks and three days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-four: Tiferet she b’Netzach (Harmony within Endurance) – HEART to RIGHT HIP

Tiferet she b’Netzach is the state of having a balanced approach to life to assist in our ability to endure, persist, and ultimately thrive. Our life is filled with a multitude of changing circumstances that cause us to make adjustments to continue on.  Having a sense of internal Harmony and Balance enables us to make these small, or large, changes in our lives and help us in our Persistence to live our lives to our best ability.

Most of us are at a point now where our increased time with loved ones, although certainly wonderful on one hand as we may be able to have more time to spend with those closest to us, can be challenging to our relationships. I hear often from friends that this “together all the time” with their spouse is lovely, but ENOUGH! Admittedly, it is mostly women who I have heard this from, but I believe that is more likely because men would be less inclined to say such a thing to me because I am a woman! I have heard from men though who have said similar things about being at home with their school-age children. They say the togetherness is wonderful and they are happy to have this quality time with their kids, but it is definitely challenging as well.

Due to external factors which have changed in our lives, we can understand the situation and effect. But, this doesn’t consider that there are changes that have occurred INSIDE each of us as we are maturing and learning from these new experiences.  Maybe your spouse is struggling to find meaning in her day now that she is not working outside the home so she is scrutinizing you and your home more than she ever did before. Or maybe your child is missing the freedom from his family that going to school allowed him, and he may at first have been silent and melancholy, but now has become quarrelsome. Maintaining any long-term relationship under the stresses of balancing all different demands requires frequent adjustments, and open responses to each other’s needs as well as our own.  There is an understanding of our own Harmony, of what Balances ourselves as well as our relationship, and this has a direct effect on the Enduring respect and love we have for the other person.  When we don’t respect what is in our deepest hearts, we cannot have a strong relationship filled with honesty and beauty.

Today, consider relationships in your own life.  How do the scales in your situations function?  Are they balanced?  If not, is there a way to bring them into a harmonious place so that you can continue to move forward?  Can a sense of this Balanced Harmony help you to making a better, lasting relationship that can Endure?  If so, take a moment to reflect on ways that you can work toward this goal.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 23: Gevurah she b’Netzach

The Blessing (Day 23):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shloshim v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shnai Yinin l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-third day, which makes three weeks and two days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-three: Gevurah she b’Netzach (Discernment within Endurance) – LEFT SHOULDER to RIGHT HIP

Today we recognize how judgment and Discernment motivate Endurance.  In times of danger, when survival completely depends on diligent choices, it is imperative to find a way to focus, strengthen and channel any waning energy to Endure. Nothing could be more appropriate in our world right now than this. When we are all getting worn down from the experience of what COVID-19 has brought to our lives, it is easy to want to relax the rules a bit. This experience is daunting and exhausting for everyone. Now more than ever we need to make the right choice, the diligent choice to do what is necessary to keep the curve of this disease flattened, or at least flatter. That takes a lot of focus and strength to continue through and endure this new life.

Personally, especially today, I am exhausted. Along with a relatively small group of staff, I am working hard every day to try to do what I can to keep our congregants engaged and connected while also working in a completely unique situation that there is no playbook for from the synagogue archives. Every day I am tasked to make decisions that are affecting others. And although I try hard to get it right, some days that doesn’t happen. Today is one of those days. It is at these times that I pull upon my Gevurah, my strength and choices to guide me through Netzach to endure and persevere.

Tomorrow will come. We will endure. It is with proper strength and diligent decision making that we will get through this together. For now though, I’m going to discern what’s most important for me to persevere so I can continue to do what I can every day. I’m going to unplug, listen to my body and its pains, and get some sleep. By making that choice I can have the strength to continue on. Good night!

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 22: Chesed she b’Netzach

The Blessing (Day 22):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shnaim v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-second day, which makes three weeks and one day of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Today begins a new week of the Counting of the Omer, one that is associated with Netzach, the energy of persistence and endurance.  At this time, many of us may be struggling to continue with the count of the Omer.  It is like the Wednesday or Hump Day of our practice, where the novelty has worn off, but the end is not visible yet.  It is perfect that this week we will concentrate on Netzach, on endurance and perseverance, as we may need to push through this middle time of our 49 day count. The energy of Netzach is constant, forceful, enduring; it is the kind of energy we need to overcome obstacles.  Netzach energy is not random, but rather it is organized toward a particular goal. This energy (Netzach) is in full force whenever we are called upon to meet the challenge presented to us with confidence and calm.

Day Twenty-two: Chesed she b’Netzach (Lovingkindness within Endurance) – RIGHT SHOULDER to RIGHT HIP

Chesed she b’Netzach is energy infused with love.  Many of us know well the phrase that is repeated 26 times in Psalm 136 – “G-d’s mercy endures forever.”  As we are created in G-D’s image, we are inspired and committed to tikkun olam, improving the world.  This work requires a lot of Enduring stamina.  When this energy is powered by Love and Kindness, it keeps us going, even when we hit difficult times.

With one of my careers having been in the health profession, I have seen first hand the perserverance and endurance of some of our medical professionals to carry on through both dangerous and exhausting situations. Being in the hospital with many of these workers, I’ve seen what it takes to give your own energy, fueled by compassion, to another human being. I’ve watched nurses pull double shifts to care for a person who is in crisis. I’ve watched doctors head back into the operating room after a full day of work to perform an unexpected surgery to save a person’s life. And I’ve constantly been in awe of our first responders, the EMTs and paramedics who provide emergency support in what are not always the cleanest of environments, from helping someone who collapsed on a dirty street of a city to seeing them work amidst the chaos of a tragedy such as an earthquake or a bombing. Right now, our healthcare workers are being pushed to the limit to care for the continued emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, and it is Chesed she b’Netzach that they will draw upon to perservere with compassion.

Not all of us will be called upon to endure through such extreme experiences.  But, we all have moments in our lives when we know that Chesed has fueled us through Netzach to carry on and endure.  A parent who stays up for hours in the middle of the night to soothe a colicky infant, or the exhausted caregiver who is fueled by love to endure helping an ailing family member in their time of crisis, or even the underpaid and under-appreciated teacher who continues to give his energy to students who are distracted and sometimes rude.  Chesed feeds Netzach to energize us when we have little rest or reinforcement, insufficient support, or lack of appropriate recognition, so we can carry on working toward a better world.  May we all find ourselves open to this extra boost of energy when we need it most, and use it to repair the world.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 21: Malchut she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 21):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Harmony, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom echad v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot l’Omer. Today is the twenty-first day of the Omer, which makes three weeks of the Omer.

Week Three – Tiferet (Harmony, Balance, Beauty)

Day Twenty-one: Malchut she b’Tiferet (Indwelling Presence within Harmony) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to HEART

This Indwelling Presence of G-D is an ideal counsel, judicious yet informed by the spirit of compassion in Harmony.  It reminds me of the wise leader who understands how to get the most positive from everyone – by using Balanced consideration of all factors.  It is the kind of guidance that takes into account not just the goal to be achieved, but the effect each approach may have on those involved.  It is guidance without domineering control – a leadership that places dignity of compassion as a main tenet. This is something that I admit I strive to do as a leader. I don’t always hit the mark, I am sure. But I try, always, to be open to hear the other side, just accept that my initial way may not be appropriate, and to try to find the solution to any situation that is best for everyone. I never liked as a volunteer, a student or a child to be told that “it’s just the way we do it” or “because I said that’s how we will do it.” I know that things aren’t always able to be equal, but there needs to be some kind of Balance and Harmony in what we do together. That is what today’s theme makes me consider – how to bring that aspect into our lives to create a world of Balance.

Malchut she b’Tiferet calls us to our role as stewards of the earth: it reminds us to care for the earth, animals, other people. It also reminds us to care for OURSELVES appropriately and with respect.  Kabbalistic tradition teaches that humans are in partnership with G-D to help perfect the world and that neither G-D nor humans can do it alone.  Today’s theme of Malchut she b’Tiferet reminds us that both our own dignity and the dignity of the one who is benefiting from our action must be considered for Harmony to be achieved.

Many of us are much better at taking care of others than we are at admitting we need help.  It is difficult for many of us to graciously receive the caring of others.  We must recognize that, by moving past this difficulty, by seeking and accepting counsel and support, we can reach a new state of deep understanding and inner serenity.

Personally, I am fond of guided meditations, and I am most drawn to those that envision an outdoor beautiful natural environment as part of the meditative space.  As we imagine a place that is quiet, calm, with outer stillness, we recognize how this mirrors an inner tranquility.   My favorite meditative space, both physically when available to me, as well as internally within my minds’ eye, is in a cool forest, at springtime, near a gently moving brook or creek, at midday.  This is where I am most comfortable and at peace.  It is a space I visited often as a child growing up with a father who loves the outdoors, and for me, this is the space I most connect to the feeling of Indwelling Presence within Harmony.

Today, especially with the current pandemic as well as tragic events that occur too often in our world, it can be hard to find that space of Harmony and Beauty, of inner tranquility.  Now, more than ever, we need to reconnect ourselves to our own inner guidance, so we can be balanced and capable of continuing our call to actions that will help sustain, balance, and heal the world.  On this day of Malchut she b’Tiferet, take 10 minutes of personal time to sit up straight, breathe in 3 deep cleansing breaths, and imagine a place where you feel most comfortable and peaceful.  Remember that there is a Beauty within each of us to be found and to be shared with others, and that we are called upon to participate through acts of healing that will help bring Balance and Harmony to the world, to our community, to our family, and to ourselves.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 20: Yesod she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 20):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Harmony, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom esrim yom, shehem shnai shavuot v’shisha yamim l’Omer. Today is the twentieth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Three – Tiferet (Harmony, Balance, Beauty)

Day Twenty: Yesod she b’Tiferet (Foundation within Harmony) – GENITALS to HEART

People like myself who meditate often use the expression “to be centered” as a goal to be achieved through their practice.  It indicates a state of positive feelings, of calm and clear thought.  As a massage therapist, I was taught to start my work with a strong base foundation, at the Root Chakra, which is considered to be the body’s center of gravity, located just below the navel, along the mid-line energy path between Yesod and Tiferet.  Some Jewish sources will even locate Yesod in this location, although traditionally Yesod is to be based at the genitals, the organs of reproduction and generational continuity.

Yesod she b’Tiferet implies the kind of Foundational strength required for a Balanced life.  Foundation within Harmony is our “base camp” for spiritual exploration, a source of supplies and preparations needed before we can explore and journey. We know that it is easier to think clearly and calmly when the space around us is quiet and safe, but that isn’t always the way our lives work. Yesod she b’Tiferet, the affect of our Foundation on our Harmony and Balance allows us to access the building blocks of our Foundation, created from our core values and beliefs, to help us find a calming effect on our Heart to bring us to a state of Balance, even when things around us are not calm.

The opposite of Harmony is chaos and discord.  Many of us have some area of disarray in our lives.  Today is a good day to identify your internal column of strength that keeps you connected to your purpose, a Foundational value that helps you to work toward Harmonizing the discord in your life.  Today, take one small step toward firming up the basis of a relationship that you care about.

Yesod she b’Tiferet is a state of being well grounded yet balanced.  It gives us the poise to stand up and express our individuality.  We encounter fresh opportunities to examine who we are in relation to changed circumstances, such as a new intimate relationship, a new job, or a new leadership in a community group we are actively involved in.  As we encounter unfamiliar situations, we react, change, and then develop a new sense of Balance.  When we are secure in our deepest values, our core Foundations are strong and it is easier to adapt to changing circumstances.  Today we recognize that it is Yesod she b’Tiferet that supports this aspect of our lives.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 19: Hod she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 19):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Beauty, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shisha asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot v’chamisha yamim l’Omer. Today is the nineteenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Three – Tiferet (Harmony, Balance, Beauty)

Day Nineteen: Hod she b’Tiferet (Splendor within Harmony) – LEFT HIP to HEART

Have you ever had those moments when you get a glimpse of something in a new way, and realize the sheer beauty of it all? Like when you see a flower growing by your porch, and stop all of a sudden at the vibrant color that is there in front of you. We pass it multiple times a day (at least we did when we could be out often!), yet we do not realize the amazing features of it until that one moment when we are struck by it. This may only last for a second, a millisecond even, but it is profound, and that moment changes you. Your soul sings at this moment, with a connection to the appreciation of the beauty of life. I read once that if you are balanced and together in your mind and spirit, life is beautiful for you no matter what happens in your world.

There are many ways that we can celebrate the Splendor of diversity, and appreciate the Beauty of it, not just observing nature around us.   From the Jewish tradition of reading the Five Books of Moses (the Torah) every year in weekly sections to possibly something that your family does every year, like coming together at the same house each year to celebrate the Fourth of July, we can see how these repeating and similar patterns can expose a Splendid order yet each time can bring new wisdom into our lives.  This continuation of traditional patterns help to maintain the Balance and Harmony we cherish.

I know for all of us right now, the traditional patterns have been disrupted. But, like the pebble tossed into calm waters, a ripple will appear, but over time it will return to the calm waters again. That is kind of what we are experiencing. The patterns of our lives have been interrupted but overall we are going to return to the calm waters once again.

Each spring is different, and each has its own Beauty.  With Hod she b’Tiferet, we recognize the Splendid, varied order within Harmony. There is an underlying order within every beautiful object.  I most came to appreciate this when I was in high school, observing for the first time the intricate order of things when I looked at them through a microscope.  The further I looked at things down to their cellular level, the more I came to appreciate the Splendor within everything around us, and how easily this Balance can be disturbed.  Both in science and in spirit, more of the hidden is revealed every day.  However, each day the diversity of the planet is decreasing as a result of habitat destruction, poor management, and indiscriminate actions.  When we do not honor the wonder of variety, we destroy it. Earth Day may have been celebrated last week, but today is another great moment to think of how we can honor the variety of our world and care for it for ourselves and for future generations. Life and the Earth are filled with wonderous variety and harmonious splendor, and Hod she b’Tiferet reminds us to embrace that Splendor and bring Balance and Harmony to our world.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 18: Netzach she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 18):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Beauty, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shmona asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot v’arba’ah yamim l’Omer. Today is the eighteenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Three – Tiferet (Harmony, Balance, Beauty)

Day Eighteen: Netzach she b’Tiferet (Endurance within Harmony) – RIGHT HIP to HEART

Today is the eighteenth day of the Omer. Ah – 18! What a fantastic number. At 18 years old, many of us feel like we are at the cusp of our lives. We are old enough to visualize our future and we are heading out to meet that future with the energy and optimism of youth. In Judaism, 18 is associated with Chai – LIFE! It is the complete energy of all that is life, and many of you may hear the wonderful Jewish toast “L’Chaim – TO LIFE” triggered in your memory and feel that energy that comes with those words.

Yet, we also know that life isn’t always easy. It takes all aspects of G-d in us to make it through intact. That is what these sephirot represent. So today, on the eighteenth day of the Omer, as we examine the influence of Netzach (Endurance) on Tiferet (Harmony/Balance) it is a wonderful time to consider how G-d’s energy of Enduring constancy in Balance is what, literally, enlivens us.

Netzach (Endurance) helps us to overcome obstacles in our path so that we can succeed.  On this day of Chai (life) we find that overcoming obstacles in our life’s path is easier when we are in Harmony. There are sparks of G-D in all things.  If we can remember this important teaching, it will help to soften apparent obstacles, diminish the intensity of these challenges and bring us to a place of Balance and Harmony. There have been times in all of our lives when we have had to expend much energy toward a specific goal, resulting in something wonderful. After the labor of Netzach, whether physical work, emotional struggle, or spiritual effort, we feel great joy at the Beauty of what has been born from our efforts.

Today, as you focus on the life force within, recall with delight something that you struggled hard to create. May the Beauty of your work bring a smile upon your face.  Today, allow yourself to feel the joy of accomplishment and creativity, the fullness of Heart that comes from persevering and succeeding through Endurance.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 17: Tiferet she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 17):
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 shiva asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot shlisha yamim l’Omer. Today is the seventeenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and three days of the Omer.

Week Three – Tiferet (Harmony, Balance, Beauty)

Day Seventeen: Gevurah she b’Tiferet (Harmony within Harmony) – HEART to HEART

There is a common idiom in the English language – in your heart of heart(s), which refers to the deepest depths of one’s conscience or emotions.  What we find there is often a surprise even to ourselves.  Prayer can be a wonderful way to reach this area deep inside of ourselves and see the truth that lies within.  The Hebrew word that means “to pray” is l’hitpallel.  It is a reflexive verb, meaning that it refers to the self and not to an external entity or attribute.  Although we are often praying to our G-d, for many of us we know that we are also praying to G-d to help us to make our own way through whatever our situation. Praying is a way to access our own deepest inner strength, searching within ourselves for the answer we know exists there.

Tiferet she b’Tiferet is the pairing of intimate reciprocity as we try to align ourselves in perfect balance, being true to our Heart of Heart.  When we know ourselves well, we appreciate our best qualities, strive toward improvement and forgive ourselves when necessary.  We love ourselves with full knowledge of who we are and wish to be.  We aspire to cherish those we love the same way.

Today, take a moment to sit quietly, take a few deep, cleansing breaths, and close your eyes.  Listen intensely to what you hear both around you as well as what you hear coming from within yourself.  When ready, open your eyes and really observe what is in front of you.  Consider what you heard within your heart of heart, the true center of your inner harmony.  As you go on with your day, be true to what you hold in your heart’s core.  Focus on knowing and accepting your own inner beauty, bringing together that inner vision and our external reality on the path toward wisdom.

*Inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 16: Gevurah she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 16):
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 shisha asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot v’shnai yamim l’Omer. Today is the sixteenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and two days of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Sixteen: Gevurah she b’Tiferet (Discernment within Harmony) – LEFT SHOULDER to HEART

Gevurah she b’Tiferet reminds us that structure and discipline are essential ingredients in harmony and balance. The word halacha which means “to walk” refers to the Jewish legal principles that guide us in the proper way “to walk” through the world.  When the essence of the law is interpreted well and honored by the community, people live in greater harmony. This encourages us that the discernment of what we choose and the structure which we instill in our world is meant to exist to create harmony, not chaos.

Another way we can consider Gevurah she b’Tiferet is in relation to our environment.  The earth is a beautiful, but delicate, planet.  The fragility of the earth’s ecological balance is something that many of us are more acutely aware of and have taken active steps to alter our lives, even with small decisions that influence the earth’s condition.  It is an intricate dance, and we Discern our role within it.  From conservation to recycling efforts, the planting of trees and and the decreasing of toxic waste, Gevurah she b’Tiferet helps us to find the courage to act appropriately to help regain earth’s Harmony.

Today, consider the essence within some aspect of your life, discerning the unnecessary parts that may be keeping you from harmony.  Remove these extra and possibly negative parts as much as possible, just as the gardener prunes the tree.  This will allow the inner beauty of your life to shine through in true harmony and balance.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 15: Chesed she b’Tiferet

The Blessing (Day 15):
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 chamisha asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer. Today is the fifteenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks and one day of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Fifteen: Chesed she b’Tiferet (Lovingkindness within Harmony) – RIGHT SHOULDER to HEART

We have reached the 3rd week of counting the Omer, which focuses on Tiferet, the sephira of harmony and balance.  Our first week, which focused on Chesed, reminded us to recognize and celebrate the existence of compassion and lovingkindness in our lives.  The second week, which focused on Gevurah, concentrated on considering the strengths needed to assess a situation and discern right action and good judgment.  This third week, the week of Tiferet, reminds us to walk a balanced path and to seek equilibrium in the world around us.  We will work to recognize balance and create harmony this week.

Tiferet is located at the Heart/Sternum, on the centerline of our body which is called the Pillar of Balance. As we consider the word balance, we realize that balance is an active verb, not a passive one.  Learning to walk, riding a bicycle, holding a yoga position, or surfing a wave requires a physical awareness of the subtle shifts of weight necessary to maintain our balance because there are slight changes always occurring around us.  This even is true on the emotional, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of our lives.

In Chesed she b’Tiferet, compassion fills our hearts. Our Heart Center (Tiferet) takes and stores the overflowing love of our Compassion (Chesed) in the center of our bodies in an embrace. This provides us with a feeling of balance and harmony that plays out through the rest of our world and our connections with others.

Chesed she b’Tiferet can be felt best through touch, such as when an old person touches the skin of a newborn child, when a gardener nurtures a tender seedling, or when a family member holds the hand of a dying relative.  It is revealed in the acts of tzedakah (righteous charity), for it is by caring for each other that we express our own appreciation for the gift of life.

Especially now, during this very difficult time due to the coronavirus pandemic, we can feel how much we miss this ability to touch and be touched. We are all looking for different ways to still feel that flow of compassion and love to bring us to a place of balance in our lives. It is not easy, nor is it an equal substitute. Today, let us all acknowledge how we miss the opportunity to hold each other’s hand, to give a hug to a friend, and the multiple ways we feel connected to each other and provide our link of lovingkindness and compassion that fills our hearts. It is okay to miss this – it proves that this is something valuable to us, and that we can feel appreciation for this cherished link that is temporarily not there for us in the same way. This, itself, is one of the best ways to honor the Chesed she b’Tiferet connection.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 14: Malchut she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 14):
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 arba’a asar yom, shehem shnai shavuot l’Omer. Today is the fourteenth day of the Omer, which makes two weeks of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Fourteen – Malchut she b’Gevurah (Indwelling Presence within Discernment) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to LEFT SHOULDER

Malchut is often translated as Kingdom, Dominion, or Sovereignty. It is about Authority, and in relation to Gevurah it can convey a sense of authoritarian strength. However, we can also see how these words can denote loving protection and respectful care-taking.  As I consider this idea, I see an image of an old Kingdom with a castle surrounded by a moat and high walls, with those inside protected by the physical structure as well as the rules of the land. The responsibilities of Sovereignty include making both rules and guidelines, which have significant distinctions.

Rules have clear definitions, making it easy to follow them and easy to know if you’ve broken one. A guideline, however, advises a way of looking at something or suggests that we consider different ideas to shape our actions. For example, a 10pm curfew is a rule. But, “be home at a reasonable hour” is a guideline and is open to interpretation. We use our Indwelling Presence to help us to Discern the right course of action in our world of guidelines and to recognize the rules in our journey that help to shape our lives and steer our course.

The sephira of Malchut is also associated with Shechina, the feminine aspect of the Indwelling Presence of G-D. Malchut she b’Gevurah conveys the fact that the Holy Presence is close to us in all our decisions and judgments. Shechina is sometimes described as having wings. If we imagine those wings wrapping around us as in a hug, we can see how the embrace both restrains our actions and protects us.

Life choices may be made a little easier when we recognize that G-D holds us in a constant, strong, loving embrace. And, as we are created in G-D’s image, we too can hold someone close, protectively, tenderly, and with our own Strength. Today, either physically in your arms or spiritually in your heart, hold someone close in an embrace. Do the same for yourself, wrapping your arms around yourself in a hug and feel how you are made strong by both your own personal Indwelling Presence as well as Shechina, the Indwelling Presence of G-D. 

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 13: Yesod she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 13):
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 shlosha asar yom, shehem shavuah echad v shisha yamim l’Omer. Today is the thirteenth day of the Omer, which makes one week and six days of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Thirteen – Yesod she b’Gevurah (Foundation within Strength) – GENITALS to LEFT SHOULDER

Yesod, our Foundation, is a base of support where we can stand firm and strong to be able to make and discern our choices in life. (Gevurah is about Strength and about Discernment.) Another aspect of Yesod is about Bonding – as Yesod is placed in a space which is a focal point that bonds together the other sephirot. A well formed Foundation bonds itself together as well as to the base on which it itself sits. For example, consider a cement block that will be used as the Foundation for a building. If the cement block is not mixed well, the elements do not bond well together, creating a weak Foundation. But even if the cement is bonded fantastically together, and it seems like a perfect base, if it is on a weak piece of earth that can not support or bond with the cement block, we are still left with a poor Foundation.

What makes the best Foundation? Is it one that is stiff and unmoving, unwilling to bend? A stiff foundation structure may fail if there is an earthquake, but a flexible one will move along with the shifts in the surface of the earth, keeping the building intact and its occupants safe. It is STRONGER because of this! We each stand on our own individualized spiritual base, constructed of knowledge, experience and practice, which is best developed through the elasticity of careful distinction, not the rigidity of dogma.

Today, consider your own Foundation. Is it flexible? Has it stiffened over the years from negative life experiences? Have you done enough to keep your Foundation strong? How you used your Foundation to influence your choices, your Discernment, and to make you Stronger?

A good exercise is to nourish your Foundation through a meditative movement. The first thing you do when you meditate is create a firm Foundation. Sitting, standing, laying down, it doesn’t matter – you become keenly aware of your connection to the earth, our Foundation. This feeling of being strongly grounded allows for an empowering connection with the universe. It props us up, supports our vision and gives us the confidence to recognize right action in a clear way. So take a moment, standing (or sitting) straight, raise your hands above your head, reaching as high as you can. At the same time bring your awareness to the contact between your feet and the earth. Feel both grounded and connected with a link between the above and the below, between the past and the present. This will take a moment, but will be a wonderful reminder that you are strong because your foundation makes you strong, allowing you to make choices to move upward and forward in the world.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 12: Hod she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 12):
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 shnaim asar yom, shehem shavuah echad v chamisha yamim l’Omer. Today is the twelfth day of the Omer, which makes one week and five days of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Twelve – Hod she b’Gevurah (Splendor within Discernment) – LEFT HIP to LEFT SHOULDER

Hod she b’Gevurah expresses radiance through firmness.  These are qualities such as we encounter in wise elders, in works of art whose beauty seems eternal, in impressive mountains, in the abiding truth of cultural traditions, and inside ourselves when we are clear and strong about our spiritual connection.

As we currently observe Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day (4/20/20 evening into 4/21/20 day), we remember the splendor that has been lost along with those millions of lives.  The knowledge and memories that have gone with those who perished should be considered as we commit ourselves to vigilantly combating injustice in all its forms.  We are grateful to be alive, to savor precious memories, and to focus on creating new ones.  We cannot recreate the Splendor that is gone, but we can preserve and honor what we remember, battle intolerance, and live honorable lives while working to build a society based on justice.

It is interesting to me that in Israel, this day is called Yom HaShoah v’HaGevurah – Holocaust and Heroism Day, the Memorial Day for the Holocaust and for Acts of Courage (Resistance/Strength).

What a fitting day this is for us to consider Hod she b’Gevurah, the Splendor within Strength.  We recall those who fought back by using discernment and resistance during this terrible period of our history.

Last week, we pondered the positioning of Hod in the Left Pillar (Pillar of Severity), just below Gevurah.  As we considered with Gevurah, in a society where most people are right-handed, the left side of the body is sometimes considered vulnerable.  However, as we contemplate the Left Pillar, we find that it is a path of radiant strength.  Our apparent vulnerabilities are often secret strengths, and those who triumph through the power of truth & honesty are celebrated as the unexpected heroes of Glory and Splendor.

Hod is also considered not just as Splendor, but also as Humility and Awe.  Most of us have pondered the meaning of life at some point, and many of us may have considered it often as we find our place in society.  Our consideration of what life truly is about may change as we move from teenager to adult, from single to married to parent, from student to teacher.  Regardless, we consider the splendid variety available to us in this complex universe.  With Humility and Awe today, and as we remember the Holocaust, let us spend a few minutes considering again, in gratitude and appreciation, the amazing universe we inhabit together, and the Strength we draw from it and from each other.

*Much of today’s email has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 11: Netzach she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 11):
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 echad asar yom, shehem shavuah echad v arba’ah yamim l’Omer. Today is the eleventh day of the Omer, which makes one week and four days of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Eleven – Netzach she b’Gevurah (Endurance within Strength) – RIGHT HIP to LEFT SHOULDER

Netzach she b’Gevurah is like the quiet, constant flow of a river that wears down the stones, or will discern a path to go around them and still get downstream, to the future space.  The strength and power of the water has an effect on the immediate area of which it comes in contact, yet it also holds on to some of its enduring strength to affect and provide for things further downstream.

The persistent effects of time and effort (Endurance) give us Strength. This Endurance (Netzach) within Discernment and Strength (Gevurah) is consistently seen in the terms of physical fitness. We often hear the term “endurance” when in the context of running. Anyone who participated in Track and Field activities in school recalls that there is an absolute difference between the approach to being a sprinter and being a long-distance runner. Both take power and strength, but long distance running specifically needs the aspect of endurance to accomplish the task at hand. Weight lifting is similar. We can lift a very heavy weight a limited number of times when it is outside of our long-term endurance. The stronger our endurance is, the stronger our ultimate strength can become.

This does not only apply to gym class related activities though. As we consider what other areas we need to have strength and power that is influenced by our ability to endure over time, we can come up with a myriad of different examples. Social workers is one area that comes to my mind when I consider the need to endure over time with strength and discernment. Social workers navigate on behalf of others that are not able to do so for themselves. Young children, often in dire situations, and individuals suffering with mental illness are among their main client base, and to help them usually requires choosing what is available at the time, continuing to evaluate and alter to provide them with strength and power in what can feel like (or be) powerless situations, and to continue this on their behalf over extended time. They are truly in it “for the long haul” with their clients, working tirelessly to fight for them and to endure struggles on their behalf to bring about the best outcome for them and for our society.

Many times it is the push from our endurance that gives us the strength to carry on. Especially when we are dealing with painful situations, such as regaining the ability to walk after an accident or loving again after a painful divorce.  But it also can be in more enjoyable accomplishments as well, such as running the last mile of a marathon.  Take a moment today to recall how your unique energy and endurance gave you strength to overcome a problem at some time in your life.

The wisdom of Netzach she b’Gevurah reminds us that dealing successfully with the unexpected gusts that life’s winds may blow at us is based on our own experiences in coping with other comparable life situations.  Sailing through life is not a breeze, but concentrated hard work, like trimming the sails to fit the wind and the seas.  Many times we may not have experience of our own to draw upon for the strength we need.  Learning from how others may have coped with a similar adversity can help us to find our own ways to endure and gain the strength we need to cope.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 10: Tiferet she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 10):
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 asara yomim, shehem shavuah echad v shlosha yamim l’Omer. Today is the tenth day of the Omer, which makes one week and three days of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength)

Day Ten – Tiferet she b’Gevurah (Harmony within Discernment) – HEART to LEFT SHOULDER

Tiferet she b’Gevurah is the way that we keep ourselves from engaging in overly harsh reactions. Without balance and Harmony, Discernment can become callous judgment, a source of prejudice and intolerance. Tiferet she b’Gevurah is the interaction and combination of Harmony and Power. Power without heart leads to cruelty; heart without power is fragile. The connection between harmony and discernment asks that we carefully weigh and measure our choices, recognize the heart’s desire, and seek the courage to pursue it in balance.

Parents often struggle with maintaining a balanced approach to discipline. Now, with so many parents and children finding themselves together for more hours of a day than they are used to (especially for our older children), it is understandable that each is trying to exert his/her own power and strength through the day. Often this will end with the parent claiming ultimate power due to his/her position and age. I can hear my own father’s voice saying to me as a teenager “because I said so.” This isn’t really a balanced approach, even if in the end he was right. It is sometimes hard to allow ourselves to use discernment in situations. Especially lately, when so many other areas of our adult lives are not in our authority, we seek to control and hold on to the power we believe we should have without question. This can lead to problems though, as it sets up an adversarial situation that creates a win-lose scenario, rather than a win-win scenario, or more accurately a compromise-compromise scenario.

We move in a positive direction when we take the initiative to repair a damaged relationship, when we take responsibility for our part in a misunderstanding, or when we negotiate in either our work or our personal lives, seeking a harmonious solution. Many of us have an area of our lives that can be improved if there were more understanding, bringing our strength to a space of balance in a situation. Today, take one step toward bringing that harmony into reality. If we can bring balance into our power struggles with others, we may find a path to take that we were unaware existed. And this may be the road BEST traveled for us all.

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.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 8: Chesed she b’Gevurah

The Blessing (Day 8):
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 shmonah yomim, shehem shavuah echad v yom echad l’Omer. Today is the eighth day of the Omer, which makes one week and one day of the Omer.

Week Two – Gevurah (Discernment, Restraint, Strength) This is the second week of the Omer, which focuses on Gevurah.  On the Tree of Life, traditional interpretations describe that each aspect of G-D’s consciousness was revealed in a certain order, with Chesed being the first aspect to be shown.  As we briefly reviewed last week on Day 2, Gevurah represents discernment, strength, restraint, and focus. It discerns the right course of action, rather than blindly condemning or acting judgmental.  Gevurah can be visualized as a set of sieves or filters, each slightly more selective than the prior, thereby screening out the irrelevant, distracting, or harmful and allowing what is helpful and good to pass through.  In this way, Gevurah was revealed immediately after Chesed as a way to funnel the forceful flow of Lovingkindness, so we can apply it to our lives and in the world in a way that is effective and focused. This week, we encounter each sephirot for the second time, but with slight changes in the approach.  Last week we considered each in relation to how it influences Chesed (Lovingkindness).  This week, we will focus on how each has an impact on Gevurah (Discernment). Interestingly, Gevurah is associated with the LEFT ARM or SHOULDER.  So often it is the right arm that is considered to be the one of strength, as most people are right-handed and the right arm becomes the stronger.  So why is the LEFT ARM/SHOULDER associated with Gevurah?  It may be because Gevurah refers to a different kind of strength; a more subtle kind of strength; the strength to direct without dominating, to restrain impulsive actions with thoughtfulness rather than physical power.

Day Eight- Chesed she b’Gevurah (Lovingkindness within Discernment) – RIGHT SHOULDER to LEFT SHOULDER

Chesed she b’Gevurah involves caring about others while being clear about our own boundaries.  It also involves making good judgments by looking beneath the surface of a situation, seeking the loving solution to difficult problems.  A great example is the Judgment of Solomon.  King Solomon was confronted with two women, each claiming that the infant they brought before him belonged to her.  King Solomon used Chesed she b’Gevurah to discern a loving decision.  He suggested that the baby be divided in two and they each take half, knowing that the true mother would reject the suggestion, as she would rather give up her claim to him than bear to have her child hurt.  King Solomon’s judgment has long been an example of profound wisdom; his suggestion was not to seek the appearance of fairness, but rather an answer through which love would be revealed.

 By discerning and restraining our impulses we can more deeply understand the deep flow of love within them.  Each time we stop ourselves from impulsive behavior in realization that such behavior could harm someone we love, we are acting from Lovingkindness within Discernment.  We judge our actions, choose with love, sure that those choices lead to harmony and healing.

**Much of today’s email has come from and been inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 7: Malchut she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 7):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shiva yomim l’Omer, shehem shavuah echad l’Omer.
Today is the seventh day of the Omer, which makes one week of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day Seven – Malchut she b’Chesed (Indwelling Presence/Manifestation within Lovingkindness) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to RIGHT SHOULDER

Malchut is the final of the sephirot that we are accessing through our Counting of the Omer. It is referred to as Indwelling Presence of G-d, and it is the manifestation of G-d’s attributes through us here in our Physical world. This is the sephira that is the reflection of all the other sephirot. It is not G-d’s direct actions, but rather our OWN actions that are guided by G-d’s attributes within us. Malchut is not only mapped as between the feet, but also at the mouth. It is G-d acting THROUGH us, by our ACTIONS (forward movement visualized between our feet) and by our SPEECH (mouth).

It is not just what we do, but what we say that is meant to be a reflection of G-d within us. This is what it means by the saying “we are made in G-d’s image.” All that we do should be a reflection of G-d within us if we are open to allow each of the sephirot, the attributes of G-d, to flow fully to their end. This end is at Malchut. Here we experience and exhibit two things at once – both exaltedness (as we are acting as G-d’s reflection) and humility (as we are aware of our own humble role.)

Today is the seventh day of the Omer, the first resting point in our counting. After a week of freedom from slavery, we pause, remember the seed of eternal love placed within each of us, and take the time to honor its Source. On this seventh day, we mark the completion of a week of counting the Omer and we begin renewed, ready to move closer toward the future, knowing ourselves more intimately and honestly than we might have the week before our journey began. It is truly the process of the work, the traveling on this journey that is the important piece. Not necessarily the destination. As we open ourselves up to respecting each of these attributes of G-d deep inside ourselves, we change the direction of our journey. We also change, even in subtle ways, the effect on the people and the world around us.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths and consider how you may have changed this week. Have you opened yourself up to providing the level of compassion and loving-kindness that you wish to give to the world? A great visualization for this is the moon and how it reflects light on us. The moon is like Malchut – it does not give off anything of its own being, but rather it takes the light of the sun and reflects it back off in beauty. We are like the moon with G-d as the sun. We take G-d’s emanations, the sephirot, and reflect the attributes back into the world through Malchut. How have you reflected Chesed, lovingkindness, into the world this week? Like the moon at night, that which we can reflect back on our society can illumine the darkest of time. Choose to reflect compassion and kindness back into the world. Allow Malchut to influence Chesed and be that source of loving care for others.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 6: Yesod she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 6):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the sixth day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day Six – Yesod she b’Chesed (Foundation within Lovingkindness) – GENITALS to RIGHT SHOULDER

Yesod is Foundation, that which everything is built upon.  It is also the sephira of reproductive energy, of sexual energy, which is why it is located in the region of the genitals.  Yesod is the Foundation of generations to come. Yesod she b’Chesed brings awareness of the future, the generative energy of continuity, within Lovingkindness. Yesod is so completely linked to the creation of things, and when linked within Chesed, anything we create, including future generations, can be positive and filled with great possibility.

As we consider Yesod she b’Chesed, it is a perfect time to reflect on our foundational values. Are we exerting compassion and caring in a way that is reflective of our inner foundation, the sacred ground upon which we have developed into the person we are deep inside? Are we reflecting our true selves by our acts of lovingkindness in the world? We all have probably experienced the situation where we act appropriately because we know it’s the right thing to do (our foundation keeps us in check), but we might not have done it with the full amount of compassion and caring that would really have been an outward show of who we really are inside. This usually happens when we are overwhelmed, when we are exhausted. I take comfort in knowing that my foundation is strong and will carry me through moments like that, yet I appreciate the gentle reminder to engage Chesed in these acts. This is what changes both the feeling for the recipient of our deeds as well as our own feeling about doing the right thing.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths and consider how you can access and strengthen your spiritual foundation to keep it strong. Doing this, building your foundation in kindness can give you the inner strength to keep moving forward. We understand that if we withdraw ourselves emotionally from other people and their problems, we internally can become hard and harsh. I find myself hearing the portion from the Haggadah where “G-d hardened Pharoah’s heart” and appreciate the philosophical commentaries I’ve read about this troubling passage. My favorite interpretation is that Pharoah actually hardened his own heart many times by his actions, creating deeper damage to his foundation each time by not treating the slaves with any understanding or kindness (without Chesed). Over time, his foundation became such that it was no longer allowing him to be open to hearing G-d. In this way, Pharoah actually hardened his own heart against G-d. May you be reminded of the strength of your own foundation and the benefit to yourself and to others when you act on your core beliefs with compassion and kindness.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 5: Hod she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 5):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom chamisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the fifth day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day Five – Hod she b’Chesed (Splendor/Clarity/Acceptance within Lovingkindness) – LEFT HIP to RIGHT SHOULDER

Hod is often referred to that of “Splendor”, “Majesty”, and “Glory”.  It symbolizes the intellectual, rational part of the brain as opposed to the emotions that are represented in Netzach. Because it relates to the intellectual aspect of our brain, it forces us to look at things with clarity and ultimately with acceptance. Hod is something that is not as strongly developed in our youth – it is developed and matured over time from our experiences and our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Hod, with its level of clarity, of acceptance, and ultimately of seeing the majesty and splendor in things, helps us to fully give to the world as much Chesed as we possibly can with a full heart. When we can open-heartedly accept the obstacles that exist, we are able to better work through any situation with care and compassion. It is this level of acceptance that allows us to see the true splendor of what we are able to accomplish, how we are able to act with compassion, with caring, with Chesed, even when there are obstacles to manage and overcome. The line between Hod (left hip) and Chesed (right shoulder) crosses through our Tiferet (heart), showing how once we accept our obstacles, once we can still see the splendor and awesomeness of what we are able to still give through our lovingkindness and our compassionate ways, our heart is filled.

If you are feeling like this is very similar, yet slightly different from yesterday’s conversation about Netzach and its influence on Chesed, you are correct. Hod and Netzach are connected in a way that the other sefirot are not. These two sephira, Hod and Netzach, are located as our Left and Right Hip. These two areas are linked physically with our pelvis, and one can not move without influencing the other. We can move our right shoulder independently of the left shoulder, but we can not move our right hip independently of the left hip. Go ahead – give it a try. This is why these two sephirot, although unique, are linked forever as well.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths and consider a challenge that you are currently facing. Something that requires compassion and a loving approach to have the best outcome. What are the obstacles that are possibly preventing a free flow of Chesed to the situation? Rather than look to rationalize that you can ignore this obstacle, accept that this obstacle exists and give yourself permission that you are allowed to be frustrated by where you are in the moment. Then, with that acceptance that this is a problem, consider how you can still open your heart to allow compassion and care to flow through and maybe change the situation. Not everything can be changed easily, but by accepting any challenges as they are is not the same as giving up. It is the step needed to allow you to move forward with Chesed, with lovingkindness in any situation. Often, this alone can make the shift needed to effect a change to any situation.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 4: Netzach she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 4):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom arba’a yomim l’Omer.
Today is the fourth day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day Four- Netzach she b’Chesed (Persistence/Endurance within Lovingkindness) – RIGHT HIP to RIGHT SHOULDER

Netzach is endurance; the fortitude and patience to follow through on our passions.  Rabbi Min Kantrowitz has said that Netzach is divine fuel, the endurance that helps compassion to flow: a kind of spiritual oil that smooths the rough places. Today we focus on celebrating the steadfastness of G-D’s flow of loving energy. Today we contemplate the enduring power of compassion and commit ourselves to using it wisely. 

Emotional endurance is needed to express Lovingkindness in the world, especially in demanding and difficult situations. We need at times to recognize that it is not our own emotional needs that may be satisfied in a specific moment. Instead, we are being given the Endurance to allow Lovingkindness to flow out of us. 

There are times when you wish to be able to give fully with Chesed, with tenderness and consideration of others, yet the reality is that this can sometimes be exhausting. Just as Gevurah teaches us to utilize strength and discernment to influence the amount of Chesed we give to others, so too does Netzach influence our experience; when we wish to give compassion and caring, yet our emotional, physical and/or spiritual exhaustion seems to be keeping us from completing that desire. This can often happen when the immediacy of a situation has worn off and the long-haul aspect is in place. Although there are plenty of COVID-19 examples I could use, I’m going to go with another type of example to show what I mean.

When a social justice issue comes to the surface for someone, usually due to a sudden awareness to a problem from first-hand experience or maybe a moving news article, the first days/weeks/months may be strongly influenced by a free-flowing Chesed, compassion, that is enough to spur you to action in some way. You may get very involved, read up on the subject to learn more, advocate to lawmakers, participate in marches, and so on. But this is difficult for most of us to sustain, no matter how much we may care about the cause. It’s the exhaustion that sets in as well as the pull from other factors that usually cause most of us to fall away from something that we feel strongly about. This is when Netzach, persistence and endurance come to full force to influence our Chesed, our compassion. Our resolve to persevere helps us to continue to get/stay involved, to make the phone calls to educate others on the cause, to work with lovingkindness to make the change.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths and take a moment to think of something important to you that you have let fall away due to exhaustion, negativity or reluctance to continue to fight. Dig deep within yourself for that extra measure of Netzach, of endurance, to flow through you and join with Chesed so you may continue what you truly want to achieve with compassion and caring in the universe. We all get exhausted; we all lose sight of that which is very important to us – but it is never truly gone. Sometimes we just need to be open to the awareness of our need for a little extra resolve to get back to the important things in our lives.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 3: Tiferet she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 3):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shlisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the third day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day Three- Tiferet she b’Chesed (Harmony within Lovingkindness) – HEART to RIGHT SHOULDER

As we seek Tiferet she b’Chesed, Harmony within Lovingkindness, we search our deep, centered inner compassion to find the decent, caring and honorable person we are within. There is a Jewish law called pikuach nefesh which teaches that “saving a life” is above all other Jewish laws and that even our sacred laws of Shabbat, and others, may be broken to accomplish this. This idea can be extended to honoring our own life worth by having compassion on ourselves and forgiving ourselves for anything that is causing us to feel unbalanced or unworthy. Harmony and Balance (Tiferet) within us is affected by our need to approach it with Lovingkindness (Chesed.)

In addition to the effect of Tiferet she b’Chesed on ourselves, we can also consider it in relation to others. Special long-term friendships usually last and become strong because of compassion (Chesed) being balanced. Friends see the flaws in each other, yet compassionately they help the other to transform and progress. This compassion can be accepted and returned, not out of our neediness, guilt or fear, but with a sense of harmonious exchange.

Life as an adult is a balancing act. We feel stressed and pulled in multiple directions at all times. This Passover season, I was blessed to have someone share with me an article that reminded me that it’s okay if my Passover Seder wasn’t a grand event, staged and produced in an amazing way through the technology available. That it is okay to not have all the usual items I would have prepared for the meal on our table. That I need to exercise loving compassion on myself and that it is okay not to have everything possible done. That it’s more important to be balanced than to be “perfect.” With all the articles and online posts telling us of the “productive” ways we can be handling the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that are keeping us at home, the pressure to still accomplish something can be overwhelming. Tiferet she b’Chesed reminds us that self-compassion is a necessary ingredient to keeping everything in balance.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths and say a silent prayer of gratitude to G-d for the compassion to know that you have a space of balance within you, if you can forgive yourself for anything you feel you didn’t do as well as you’d like, for any errors you have made. Allow lovingkindness to help bring you to a space of balance and harmony. By doing this, you are fulfilling a great act, and potentially fulfilling the law of pikuach nefesh, saving a life, saving yourself.

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 2: Gevurah she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 2):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b”mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom shnai yomim l’Omer.
Today is the second day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day two – Gevurah she b’Chesed (Strength/Discernment within Lovingkindness) – LEFT SHOULDER to RIGHT SHOULDER

Gevurah she b’Chesed, also stated as Strength (or Discernment) within Lovingkindness. It’s about recognizing that our desire to give our love in its entirety, without any kind of boundaries, can result in something that is actually dangerous to ourselves. We shouldn’t ignore our own needs for the needs of another, at least not in an extended time frame. It’s not about putting your “wants” ahead of others, but recognizing that you can not give ALL of yourself out of love without reserving some piece to sustain yourself.

The amazing people who are giving of themselves to all of us right now during the COVID-19 pandemic MUST NOT give so much of themselves that they are destroyed in the process. If they work only out of lovingkindness (Chesed), doing things just for the purpose of providing free-flowing care, there would be no structure or direction, no plan to how to provide the most without burning themselves out in the process.

I love that Gevurah is at our Left Shoulder, and Chesed is at our Right Shoulder. I think of it in terms of when we work out with a weighted pulley system. If I only work with my right arm, holding onto a pulley that has more and more pounds added to it, I will eventually topple to the right from the sheer weight. But, if my left arm is holding onto another pulley in the other direction of similar or equal weight, I am able to remain relatively upright and equalized.

As a meditative practice, take a few deep breaths while sitting in a comfortable place.  Breathe slowly, and with each breath focus on how G-D provides us exactly what we need, no more, no less.

Gevurah provides the clarity of the edges and boundaries of flowing Chesed.  Together, they dance in balance, providing exactly what is needed at the right time.

Counting the Omer, an ancient custom that was once virtually ignored, is making a comeback in Reform Judaism.  It is a meaningful way to mark time, express gratitude, refocus priorities, and contemplate deeply the meaning and purpose of our existence.  I’ve been doing this ritual for about 9 years now, and each year I find myself longing for the re-connection with myself and with G-d that I experience through this process.  It is so powerful for me that we begin just as we celebrate our liberation from Egypt.

The Hebrew word for Egypt, mitzrayim, means the “narrow or tight place”, and when I begin I am reminded of the narrowness that often enslaves us, and the work I will do to reach an ultimate level of expansiveness.  This process helps me to reach the inner depths to that ultimate goal.  Whatever your personal situation, we all have something that enslaves us, some “tight place” in our lives.  In this time of the Coronavirus Pandemic that has restricted and affected us all, it may be hard to see beyond this one global enslavement. But for some of us, there may be other issues that are affecting us, some that are amplified by the COVID-19 crisis, and others that existed before this all began. It might be a restrictive relationship, a job that stifles our creativity or expression, a health challenge that limits us, a reduction of income, a painful past experience that has left emotional tension in its wake, or something else either in or out of our control that limits our choices, or feels like a limitation to us.  Some of these things may change, and some may always be in our lives.  We can learn how to move away from the tight places in our lives, away from those parts of ourselves that are enslaved, by considering the many gifts we have in our lives.  This journey is about finding a more open space within ourselves where we can fully appreciate all that we have and all that we are, and can feel our connection to each other, to our world and to G-d with humility and thankfulness.

I will use the concept of the sephirot, what I think of as the qualities of G-d that are within each of us, as a framework for the journey.  Each week concentrates on a specific sephira, and each day we consider that sephira in relation to one of the other sephirot.  The sephirot are “mapped” on the human body as well, so you know “where” they are concentrated within us.

We begin with Chesed – Lovingkindness

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day. Day one begins after the 2nd night Seder, on April 9, 2020 this year. (I apologize for the delay in getting this blog written, but I only decided to do it after I began my annual ritual this year.)

Day 1: Chesed she b’Chesed

The Blessing (Day 1):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b”mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Lovingkindness, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the first day of the Omer.

Week One – Chesed (Lovingkindness, Compassion, Grace)

Day one – Chesed she b’Chesed (Lovingkindness within Lovingkindness) – RIGHT SHOULDER to RIGHT SHOULDER

Chesed she b’Chesed represents the kind of unconditional love that we all deserve. Sometimes we can be afraid to open ourselves up wide enough for love to enter, but today we will try to overcome that fear to allow G-D’s love to enter us all.  Love is the single most powerful component in life. Love allows us to reach above and beyond ourselves.  Chesed she b’Chesed represents the experience of pure limitless, boundless love. As recipients of sparks of Divine Love, each of us is invited to spread Lovingkindness wherever we go.

We can ask ourselves – How can I spread Lovingkindness through my words, my actions, my decisions, and my attitudes?  How can I inspire others to be more caring to themselves and to each other?

Today we focus in feelings of caring, kindness, and loving witness without boundaries.

Both giving and receiving are necessary parts of sharing Lovingkindness, so we should seek the balance between getting and giving love.

Breathing slowly, take a few deep breaths, and with each breath focus on how you are being sustained at this moment by the unconditional love of G-D.  As you relax into your breathing, imagine a “tight place” within yourself opening and receiving the unconditional love and support of G-d.  As you exhale, try to imagine this dark area opening wide and on the inhale, imagine the space filling with a bright light of love and worthiness.