Posts Tagged ‘love’

love

September 30, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Rosh Hashanah 5775 Sermon — Let Us Sing Our Songs Together

Let Us Sing Our Songs Together Rosh Hashanah 5775 – September, 25 2014* Rabbi Ari Saks Congregation Beth Mordecai   Picture this. You are an Israelite in approximately 1600 BCE. You, your family, and your people have just escaped the torture and slavery of the Egyptians with the help of God and Moses, and as you turn back from reaching the other side of the Red Sea , you hear the deafening, vicious sound of waves devouring your Egyptian pursuers, until the last of them are no longer seen. You stand there aghast, not knowing what to say…you are free! After a moment or two of reality sinking in, you feel this overwhelming urge to shout out for joy. To sing praises of thanksgiving, of joy,[...]

Category : Rabbi Rosh Hashanah Sermons
Tag :

love

May 28, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 43: Lovingkindness (חסד) within Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה)

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 :

love

April 30, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 15: Lovingkindness (חסד) within Harmony (תפארת)

"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 :

love

April 24, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 8: Lovingkindness (חסד) within Discernment/Strength (גבורה)

"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 :

love

April 23, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 7: Indwelling Presence (מלכות/שכינה) within Lovingkindness (חסד)  

"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 :

love

April 22, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 6: Foundation (יסוד) within Lovingkindness (חסד)

"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 :

love

April 20, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 5: Splendor (הוד) within Lovingkindness (חסד)

“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 :

love

April 18, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

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 :

love

April 17, 2014
By bethmordecai
no comments.

Counting the Omer — Day 2: Discernment (גבורה) within Lovingkindness (חסד)

"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 :

love

November 29, 2013
By bethmordecai
no comments.

DAY 517: The Meaning of Love

DAY 517: The Meaning of Love   V'ahavta et Adonai Elohekha                     וְאָהַבְתָּ אֶת ה' אֶלֹקֶיך              You shall love the Lord Your God (Deut 6:5)   V'ahavta L'reiakha Kamokha                         וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעָךָ כָּמוֹך         You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev 19:15)   Dear Hevreh,   Love is one of the most powerful words we have at our disposal -- just ask any couple how the first time they said "I love you" to one another changed their relationship forever. Whether it's through our own experience or through our culture, we are quite aware of the emotional power of love. Yet, in addition to[...]

Category : Rabbi's Journal
Tag :