counting-the-omer – The Tree of Life

Omer: Day 30 Stand Humble

Gevurah shebbe Hod: Power within Splendor

The splendor of the L-RD is energized by the eternal source of Life that is synonymous with G-d’s existence: He existed before the beginning and brought all into being. Because He created us, the strength that we have as human beings, should be drawn only from Him through the performance of mitzvot.

The strength (gevurah) of humility (hod), contrary to misconceptions, is not found in cowardice, nor timidity. We should be aware of the potential for false humility, that manifests as emotional imposters in our hearts, claiming that we may not be worthy enough, courageous enough, or strong enough to stand up for our own integrity in HaSHem.

Omer Count: Day 26 – Resilience in Adversity

hod shebbe netzach

The quality of humility in regard to endurance may be envisioned as a bamboo tree yielding to a strong wind in a storm, signifying, that endurance in the face of life’s challenges may also require resilience. When we are able to acknowledge our limitations in the face of adversity, then we may be compelled to gather inner strength.

Acknowledgment of our limitations may compel us to renew our strength through a resilient spirit. Our resilience in the face of adversity may depend upon an added measure of assistance from outside of our own resources, in order to persist with any worthy endeavor.

The splendor of hod represents the light of G-d, that shines upon us when we humble ourselves in respect to Him. (We mirror his light). By recognizing our limitations, we may receive His blessing to endure, with a little help from Above. In G-d’s eyes, when we reach out to Him, we are being dependent in a good way.

Omer Count: Day 20 – Building Wisely

Yesod shebbe Tiferes

What foundation have I built in order to bring harmony, meaning, and an overall sense of peace into my life? Am I the sort of person that permits myself “to go with the flow,” in hope that if I trust in the Universe, everything will work out for the best? Or, do I have a set of tangible principles, rules, and guidelines in my life, that governs my lifestyle, so that I might decide how to respond to the events in my life, rather than letting them passively shape me? Am I able to make wise decisions, based upon higher truths? Or do I go with the whim of my feelings, letting my emotions rule me instead?

“Build Thou the walls of Jerusalem” (Psalm 51:20, JPS 1917 Tanach). The walls of our foundation that will preserve our inner sense of peace are the protective measures that we put in place to preserve our values, so that the sanctity of our lives is not diminished by outside factors. A strong foundation built upon wisdom is necessary, in order to navigate the challenges of life. From where is your harmony derived in your life? Upon what kind of foundation do you build your peace of mind? Do you have a lasting peace of mind? Is there something that will contribute to the restoration of your soul, when you might be thrown off balance by the world?

Harmony and inner peace must be maintained, through returning, and returning again, each and every day of our lives to our central focus in life. If our focus is on G-d, then true peace is attainable through His presence.

Omer Count: Day 18 – Centering

netzach shebbe tiferes: endurance within harmony

The center will not hold: my sense of balance will be thrown off, if my center is based upon a sense of self. Yet, a transcendent focus will support a sense of balance, by way of transcending ourselves, so that a higher perspective may be gained. A greater sense of fulfillment than our own selfish pursuits must ensue from surrender to a transcendent G-d, a higher cause or a person.

The ego thrives on pride, and a sense of accomplishment attributed to the efforts made by oneself. Yet, because we are limited beings, this kind of image, focused only on self will not endure. True harmony within may only endure through help from Above; otherwise, the weight of our own worries and concerns in this world, may become overwhelming. We may overestimate our sense of self-importance, if we rely on our own emotional, intellectual and moral reserves.

G-d would like us to depend on Him. “Cast your burdens upon the L-RD, and He will sustain you” (Psalm 55:23). For, “His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). Therefore, G-d may serve as a prolific resource, so that we may endure.

Omer Count: Week 3 – Tiferes

tiferes – harmony, balance, and compassion
Omer Count: Week Three – An Exploration of Tiferes

In consideration of the nearly polar opposites of chesed (loving-kindness) and gevurah (judgment), tiferes (harmony) has the potential to infuse these two “emotional attributes,” into a blend of synergistic harmony that has as its substance, the beauty of moderation, balance, and right amounts of the elements necessary, to bring about reconciliation with all things.

This is why tiferes, seems to me, to be akin to ahavah (love); although, it is traditionally associated with compassion. Incidentally, what is the relationship between love and compassion? There is self-love, love of objects (especially our own possessions), love of pleasure, and love of the merely subjectively satisfying as opposed to love of virtue, that requires a certain degree of mesiras nefesh.

Compassion permits us to love others with a certain degree of selflessness, and has the ability to negate our selfishness, and break down the separateness between ourselves and others. Something for ourselves, and the rest of the world to consider.

Note: These are my personal reflections on the implications of the middot (emotional attributes). These reflections are not meant to be comprehensive, inasmuch that they are not based upon any one particular system. Nor, may these ideas be characterized as authoritative, because I profess to being a student, not a teacher. I hope to inspire others to delve into an exploration of their own personality, for the sake of tikkun hanefesh (rectification of the soul).

Shalom Aleichem.

day 6 – counting of the omer

Day 6 – yesod (foundation) shebbe chesed (love) – the nature of giving

The foundation of love rests upon our ability to give to others. The quality of our love towards others is empowered by how we give. The reciprocity of love is strengthened by the give and take in a relationship. An ever-flowing pattern develops, akin, by way of analogy, to the way water circulates on the earth.

“All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again” (Ecclesiastes 1:7). When water evaporates, the droplets ascend to rakia (sky), from where they are condensed within rainclouds; then, the water droplets fall back to the earth in a continuous cycle. This natural exchange is symbolic of the reciprocity of an ideal relationship.

A healthy relationship requires both individuals to have a reciprocal attitude of giving.

Day 5 – counting of the omer

day 5 – counting of the omer – hod shebbe chesed

The attribute of hod has to do with the character trait of humility. When we humble ourselves before G-d, then His splendor may shine through us. Also, hod is likened to the quality of sincerity in our lives. A certain amount of sincerity is required to be humble; when we are sincere about our abilities, without exaggerating our talents, nor our accomplishments, this will pave the way towards an honest assessment of ourselves.

From this point of humility within, we may express loving-kindness towards others. Conversely, haughtiness does not foster kindness. When we humble ourselves, can we truly allow HaShem’s splendor to inspire us to give to others. Therefore, in expressing kindness toward others, we are actually reflecting the Image of G-d, whose splendor flows to all who observe His commandments. This is explained in chassidus, as the mitzvah (good deed) drawing down His light through the presence of the Shechinah.

Let the light of G-d radiate out toward others through acts of loving-kindness.