counting

April 18, 2014
By bethmordecai
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Counting the Omer — Day 3: Balance (תפארת) within Lovingkindness (חסד)

"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

counting

April 17, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 656: To Count and Not To Count

(4/17/14) Human beings love to count. Whether we are counting sheep in our sleep or attendees at services, there is something built into our DNA that enjoys the act of counting. It soothes us and it gives us a sense of accomplishment, especially when we reach a desired number at the end of our counting. Yet, Judaism teaches us that while counting is an inevitable part of life, we must also be wary of the dangers of putting too much stock in numbers.   As the Magen Avraham, a 17th century Polish commentator on the Shulkhan Arukh, writes in one of his long comments on Orah Hayyim (156:2), it is forbidden to count Jews: אסור למנות ישראל אפילו אינו מכוון למנות רק להטיל גורל אפילו[...]