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May 28, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
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:[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : chesed God hesed Indwelling Presence kingship love lovingkindness malkhut omer online learning presence sh'khinah shekhina shekhinah חסד מלכות שכינה
May 21, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 36 -- חסד שביסוד (Lovingkindness within Foundation) In honor of Uncle Mark Einhorn, z"l
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : chesed foundation hesed lovingkindness mark einhorn omer online learning y'sod yesod חסד יסוד
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
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 24, 2014 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 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
By bethmordecai no comments.
"Imagine standing at the shore of the ocean, watching the waves move in, following each other with continuous motion, each wave almost identical, yet each subtly unique. A long successful relationship is like that, moments following moments, creating memories through multiple acts of caring, enduring, love, Netzah she b’Hesed. It is fascinating to recall that actions to advance social justice are called movements. Effective movements succeed through the combination of endurance and compassionate action" (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.51)" This day's counting was counted during Friday night's service on April 18th, 2014For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : chesed endurance hesed lovingkindness netzach netzah ocean omer online learning s'firat ha-omer sefirat ha-omer waves חסד נצח
April 18, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Knowing the right amount of love to give can be like the story of Goldilocks and the three bears. Sometimes we give open hearted love and can feel overwhelmed, sometimes we give "tough love" and can feel callous, but when we have the right balance of opening our heart out of love and creating boundaries out of love, then our love can feel just right (ORIGINAL)" For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : balance beauty chesed chessed counting glory goldilocks and the three bears hesed just right love lovingkindness omer online learning sefirat ha-omer tiferet חסד תפארת
April 17, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
"Just as too much water can drown a plant, and too little can parch it, the precise irrigation that an observant gardener provides can nurture strong plants without wasting water. Similarly, Gevurah, careful discernment, can fine-tune the flow of Hesed, aiming it for clarity, shape, and effectiveness. Hesed alone would be like drowning in spiritual chicken soup. Instead, the soup needs to be carefully ladled out, into manageable portions (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.42)" For other days of the Omer, please click here
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : borders boundaries burn out chesed direction discernment flow gardener gevurah hesed love lovingkindness online learning strength water גבורה חסד