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!
May 16, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Picture yourself sitting in a warm room, looking out at a spectacular snowfall. As the flakes land on the window in front of you, imagine they are moving in time to their own rhythm, a choreographed sprinkling of light and ice, dancing to the musical score of that particular storm. Each individual snowflake is unique, a variation on a symmetrical structure of simple chemical composition of oxygen and hydrogen: H2O. Yet it is the multitude of individual small bits of beauty that are necessary to produce overall splendor. This is one way to think of how Tiferet operates within Hod" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p. 160). For other days of the Omer, Omer Online Learning
May 15, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
“Maturity and acceptance are connected with the theme of this thirtieth day of the Omer, G’vurah sheb’Hod. We use discernment to understand and accept how the world really works, the underlying configuration of the universe. We assess our options when evaluating alternatives from among many choices. Informed choice is important whether we are choosing a career or ordering off a comprehensive menu at the kosher deli. In each case, whether momentous or minor, we appreciate the opportunity we have to choose from many splendid options. As spiritual seekers, we may be attracted to a variety of spiritual paths and practices throughout our lives. We may find a certain text full of answers at one life stage when, earlier, it seemed obscure or[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : discernment g'vurah gevurah hod omer online learning splendor strength גבורה הוד
May 14, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Hesed sheb’Hod magnifies details of love. In her famous poem, Elizabeth Barrett Browning asks: “How do I love Thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.” God’s lovingkindness is evident in the myriad blessings in our lives. We pay attention to the intimate details of blessing’s flow today: the pulse inout veins, a child’s giggles, the changing light of a flickering Havdalah candle, the wings of a butterfly in the sunlight, distinctive spices in a tasty meal, subtle variations in our lovers’ glances or the differing pitches in the sound of a babbling stream" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p154). For other days of the Omer, Omer Online Learning Tag : chesed hesed hod lovingkindness omer online learning splendor הוד חסד
May 13, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 28 -- מלכות/שכינה שבנצח: Indwelling Presence within Endurance Midrash Exodus Rabbah states: Tehre is no place where the Divine Presence is not.” Traditional prayer echoes this idea: “The whole world is filled with God’s glory.” To some people, God is always present and always available. Others wait in anticipation, as the Song of Songs says: Kol Dodi Hinei Zeh Bah (The voice of my Beloved, here it comes). Perhaps these are really the same idea, as Divine Energy is constant and yet always arriving (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.146).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : endurance God Indwelling Presence malkhut netzach netzah omer online learning shekhinah victory מלכות נצח שכינה
May 12, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 27 -- יסוד שבנצח: Foundation within Endurance
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : endurance foundation netzach netzah omer online learning victory y'sod yesod יסוד נצח
May 11, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 26 -- הוד שבנצח: Splendor within Endurance Jewish tradition sometimes describes our bodies as garments for our souls. Our bodies, each of them unique, are the splendid containers, the Hod for the Netzah of our spiritual energy (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.139).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : endurance hod netzach netzah omer online learning splendor victory הוד נצח
May 9, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat B'har 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- What's a Jubilee?
In this week's Torah portion we read about the "yoveil," the commemoration of the Jubilee every 50 years. But what is a Jubilee? Where does the term come from and what is it all about? Join us as we discuss the physical and spiritual qualities of the Jubilee and its message for our day.
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : b'har behar blasts d'ror jubilee liberty online learning online parashah class parsha parshat Rosh Hashanah shofar yoveil בהר דרור יובל שופר תרועה
By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 24 -- תפארת שבנצח: Harmony within Endurance “Tiferet is the gathering place for the desires of our hearts. When simple longing becomes fervent yearning, we find fresh fortitude to pursue our goal…The halutzim, the early settlers of modern Israel, had similar perseverance. Finding malarial swamps and unoccupied rocky hills oat the site of their future homes, they pursued their dreams moving boulders one at at imd, draining marshes and reclaiming land. Their longing gave them forces and vigor, Tiferet she b’Netzah” (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, pp.132-133).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : balance endurance harmony netzach netzah omer online learning tiferet victory נצח תפארת
May 8, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 23 -- גבורה שבנצח: Discernment/Strength within Endurance “Prudent judgement contributes to persistence. Deciding what to add and what to remove is key to good editing. When we take a political stand, change jobs, or try a different approach in a stuck relationship, it is rigorous consideration of the options that helps us persist. Today we appreciate our ability to understand complex situations and evaluate alternatives, certain that thoughtful choices will increase the possibilities of success” (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.130).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : discernment endurance g'vurah gevurah netzach netzah omer online learning strength victory גבורה נצח
May 7, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 22 -- חסד שבנצח: Lovingkindness within Endurance On any path toward self-improvement, persistence is key. Gyms and health clubs experience an upsurge of interest, enrollment and attendance every January as people resolve to exercise, lose weight, and get fit after the indulgence of the winter holiday season. By March, the enthusiasm has usually waned, replaced by boredom, hard work, slow progress and the distractions of early spring. Preparing for revelation, which we do during the counting of the Omer, is a spiritual path that requires stamina. In Hesed sheb’Netzah, that stamina is powered by love, as in Psalm 136 where the phrase “God’s love endures forever (ki l’olam hasdo) is repeated twenty-six times. Created in God’s image, we are inspired and committed to tikkun loam, helping others,[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : endurance God's love endures forever gym lovingkindness netzach netzah omer online learning psalm 136 success חסד נצח