‘Omer’ Category

Omer

May 20, 2018
By Beth Mordecai
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Each Day Counts

This week we begin reading the book of Bamidbar or Numbers in the Torah.  The second verse of the portion includes God’s commandment to Moses to count the number of families traveling in the desert.  The medieval, French commentator, Rashi tells us that God wished to count the children of Israel often because we are so dear to Him.  With each counting, God was able to acknowledge each person or family. Perhaps this is similar to a teacher constantly counting children on a field trip.  The teacher looks to each child with care and makes sure no one is missing. This Saturday night, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot.  We have been counting every day from Passover to Shavuot.  Tonight[...]

Category : Omer Rabbi Rabbi's Journal Shavuot

Omer

June 3, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 49: Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה)

Day 49 -- מלכות/שכינה שבמלכות/שכינה (Indwelling Presence within Indwelling Presence) Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote beautifully on revelation: "The nature of revelation, being an event in the realm of the ineffable is something which words cannot spell, which human language will never be able to portray. Our categories are not applicable to that which is both within and beyond the realm of matter and mind. In speaking about revelation, the more descriptive the terms, the less adequate is the description. "Revelation is a mystery for which reason has no concepts. "Collecting the memories of the sparks of illuminations we have perceived, the installments of insight that have been bestowed upon us through the years, we will find it impossible to remain certain of the impossibility of revelation." Today[...]

Category : Omer Online Learning Shavuot
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Omer

June 2, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 48: Foundation (יסוד) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה) + Teaching for Day 47

Day 48 -- יסוד שבמלכות/שכינה (Foundation within Indwelling Presence) + Teaching from Day 47 Day 47 We can understand how Hod, the s’firah of splendor, influences Malkhut/Sh’khinah in the magnificent variety of ways the Source of all reality is apparent in our lives. Any ancient Jewish sources recognize the validity of this diversity in Torah interpretation. The Mishnah (Pirkei Avot 5:22) says: “Ben Bag Bag said: ‘Turn it over and again turn it over, for all is within.” Today we remember that multiple interpretations are important, that minority opinions need to be recorded and that anything can be viewed though a variety of lenses (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guidep.223). Day 48 The best foundations are not rigid, but are designed[...]

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Omer


By bethmordecai
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Daily Counting of the Omer 2014/5774

Check out some teachings by Rabbi Saks from this year's count of the Omer! To download a copy of the omer calendar so that you can count alongside Rabbi Saks, please cklick here for the calendar and please click here for the blessings Today's Count: Day 49 -- מלכות/שכינה שבמלכות/שכינה (Indwelling Presence within Indwelling Presence) Calendar of Days Day 1 -- חסד שבחסד (Lovingkindness within Lovingkindness) Day 2 -- גבורה שבחסד (Discernment/Strength within Lovingkindness) Day 3 -- תפארת שבחסד (Balance within Lovingkindness) Omer Online Learning videos-archive
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Omer

May 30, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 45: Harmony (תפארת) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה)

Day 45 -- תפארת שבמלכות/שכינה (Harmony within Indwelling Presence) The harmony and balance of God’s creation surrounds us, manifest in every leaf, every frog, every tear, every sigh, if only we pay attention. Rabbi David Cooper, in his book Entering the Sacred Mountain, describes such an experience: “I began to see the creation anew, as if my entire visual field had melted and softened into a magnificent Renoir, and all my senses were bathed in the warm waters of divine harmony.” Look around with all your subtle senses and recognize the harmonies of Creation happening now, still (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guidep. 219).

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Omer

May 28, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 43: Lovingkindness (חסד) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה)

Day 43 -- חסד שבמלכות/שכינה (Lovingkindness within Indwelling Presence) The flow of lovingkindness into the world is never-ending, like the stars wandering along their paths in the sky or gentle ripples in a constantly refreshed natural spring. It is no surprise that a person who exudes Hesed, lovingkindness, is called a Hasid, a righteous person, a person whose caring is continuous. We understand how Hesed influences Malkhut/Sh’khinah when we recognize the protecting compassion of God as our ideal parent — guiding, counseling, influencing, loving, guarding. The Source of Presence can be experienced as the sheltering wings of Sh’khinah; these wings protect, but do not smother. Today, we remember that the caring Presence always surround and shields us (Counting the Omer:[...]

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Omer

May 27, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 42: Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה) within Foundation (יסוד)

Day 42 -- מלכות/שכינה שביסוד (Indwelling Presence within Foundation) The s’firah of Y’sod is sometimes called “Righteous One,” based on the statements in Proverbs 10:25: “The righteous is an everlasting foundation.” In Daniel Matt’s book Essential Zohar, this idea is elaborated: “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.” Today, Malkhut/Sh’khinah sheb’Y’sod, we invite the Divine Presence to increase our desire for righteousness, to strengthen the pillar that upholds the world. Today we remember that majesty infuses the structure of[...]

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Omer

May 26, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 41: Foundation (יסוד) within Foundation (יסוד)

Day 41 -- יסוד שביסוד (Foundation within Foundation) Each component of a building’s foundation requires a foundation structure of its own. If mdd of stone, each stone is composed of crystals, arranged one upon another. The chemical composition of the crystal remains stable, and the molecules and atoms within each chemical behave predictably. Because each component rests reliably on the next, a stone remains a stone, and the component parts do not rearrange themselves to become cabbage or mud or bubble gum. This is Y’sod sheb’Y’sod, foundation within foundation. Y’sod sheb’Y’sod recognizes that there is invisible support under the building blocks of the world; we call that support God (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guidep. 199).

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Omer

May 25, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 40: Splendor (הוד) within Foundation (יסוד)

Day 40 -- הוד שביסוד (Splendor within Foundation) The great flood described in Genesis lasts forty days and forty nights, the same period of time as Moses remained on the mountain listening to God’s instructions before descending with the stone tablets. The Bible is telling us that forty days is sufficient time for a major transformation to occur. Today, the fortieth day of counting the Omer, we are reminded of that potential. Although all change is difficult, and people have personal histories and goals that influence their ability and desire to change, transformation is possible. In the context of religious or spiritual community, change is complex. Individual childhood memories, religious experiences and familial expectations influence each person, leaving them with a fondness for remembered[...]

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