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June 2, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
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 Guide, p.223). Day 48 The best foundations are not rigid, but are designed[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : hod malkhut omer online learning sh'khinah shekhinah y'sod yesod הוד יסוד מלכות שכינה
May 25, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
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[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation hod omer online learning splendor y'sod yesod הוד יסוד
May 19, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 34 -- יסוד שבהוד (Foundation within Splendor)
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation hod omer online learning y'sod yesod הוד יסוד
May 18, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 33 (Lag Ba-Omer!) -- הוד שבהוד (Splendor within Splendor) Hod sheb’Hod asks us to recognize the myriad splendors of the world around us…the splendor within the splendor. In his book Lights of Holiness, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook says: “The whole is constituted of numberless particulars, particular individuals and particular communities. The whole cannot achieve its highest fulfillment except through the perfection of its particular individuals, and the particular communities, whether large or small, of which it is constituted.” Hod sheb’Hod mirrors the splendor of creation, the unfolding mystery of electrons within atoms within molecules within chemicals within cells within heart muscles. We wonder at the mystery of why planes fly and whether dogs have a sense of humor. we speculate about the nature of fire, the miracles of[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : hod omer online learning splendor הוד
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 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
April 28, 2014 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 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