Congregation Beth Mordecai
Congregation Beth Mordecai
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
An inclusive congregation affiliated with the Conservative Movement.
Your Jewish Home for the Soul!
April 30, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"We know that each individual is part of a large, harmonious system that has been unfolding for millions of years. We honor our ancestors’ struggles to harmonize contradictions, to find calm in paradox, and we are grateful to them for capturing some of that struggle in writing. The Talmud, for example is full of legal discussions, chronicling attempts to resolve opposing opinions about the proper interpretation of Jewish law. It also contains hundreds of stories and anecdotes, examples of the attempts of our ancestors to choose honorable ways to live their lives. Study of sacred texts and wisdom literature is at the heart of the Jewish spiritual path" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.100) For other days of the Omer,[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : balance chesed harmony hesed jewish text learning love lovingkindness omer online learning sacred text tiferet חסד תפארת
April 29, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
April 28, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 13 -- יסוד שבגבורה (Foundation within Discernment/Strength)
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : omer online learning
By bethmordecai no comments.
"Today we focus on the diversity in our lives, and those times when we thought of that variety as confusing or bewildering. Remember a time when you visited a city for the first time, anticipating with delight the sights and sounds that brought you there, but instead, realized that you were lost and perplexed. Strange customs, odd street layouts, unusual odors and unfamiliar language can disorient us. We want familiar patters to help us understand a place, so we can be more omfortable. Information in the form of a map or a phrasebook helps us recognize te patters within the apparent chaos. Splendid variety is wonderful as long as we discern the underlying patterns"(Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : bangkok g'vura g'vurah gevura gevurah hod home omer online learning smog splendor strange city thailand גבורה הוד
April 25, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Judgment out of balance can lead to severity, cruitely, critical gossip, enmity or violence. Without harmonizing influences, judgment is the source of prejudice and intolerance. Adding heart and balance to the strength of discernment helps us to remember that appropriate choices are necessary if we are to live with others harmoniously, acting with righteous intent toward others and ourselves" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.78). For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : balance borders constraint discernment g'vurah gevura gevurah harmony relationships restraint strength t'fillin tefillin tiferet גבורה תפארת תפילין
April 24, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Every morning, traditional Jews don t’fillin (phylacteries; small boxes containing verses from the Bible). One box is placed on the head; the other bound to the upper arm with long leather straps. After the appropriate blessings are recited, the t’fillin are left on throughout the weekday morning prayer service. Wearing t’fillin represents the energy of G’vurah she b’G’vurah. T’fillin binds the wearer in a strong connection, constraining distractions and directing thoughts toward God. T’fillin are external reminders of our inner choices of restraint" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.75). For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : bar and bat mitzvah constraint discernment g'vurah gevura gevurah omer online learning physical restraint strength t'fillin tefillin wrap גבורה תפילין
By bethmordecai no comments.
"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. Those choices can sweeten our appreciation of our choices" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide p.71). For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : chesed control discernment g'vurah gevurah hesed impulse love omer online learning restraint strength גבורה חסד
April 23, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"There are many Hasidic stories about ordinary people finding God in everyday activities. This reminds us that the concept of an indwelling God means that God is close to us, and according to some sources, dwells in every aspect of creation. In Deuteronomy 30:15, God reminds us that the Torah is not distant or baffling but rather “No, the thing is very close to you , in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.” Today we an stop and pay close attention to some small task, recognizing that even in the most mundane of daily activities, we can increase our awareness of the presence of God in our lives" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide pp.62-63). For other days of the[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : appearance chesed God hesed Indwelling Presence love lovingkindness reality small tasks חסד מלכות שכינה
April 22, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Yesod is the sephira of foundation, and also of reproductive energy, of sexual energy. Yesod within Hesed brings awareness of the future, the generative energy of continuity, within lovingkindness. The foundation of the future is built on the creative continuity of the past. Jewish tradition teaches us that each generation stands on the shoulders of the last. Thus we are able to see further into the future by standing on a firm foundation. Today we remember that this entire pyramid of generations is upported by story, memory, and love. Without the founation, the pyramid, like a tower of cheerleaders, can tumble. The parade of generations is like a caravan over time, where precious cargo is guarded and passed on at each[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation generations love lovingkindness omer online learning past stories חסד יסוד
April 20, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
“Splendor can be envisioned as a brilliant varied display, whether of insights, objects or beings. Lovingkindness and compassion also appear ina splendid diversity of types and patterns. Hod sheb'Hesed can be experienced in the astonishing variety of ways Divine care is manifested in the world" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.54).For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : care chesed diversity God hesed hod love lovingkindness manifestation omer online learning splendor הוד חסד