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 30, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat Naso 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- The Relationship Between the Mundane and the Holy
Judaism teaches that there is a separation between "hol," what is mundane in life, and "kodesh," what is holy. Yet, is this separation permanent? Are there ways to connect the mundane to the holy, to make each act of life a sanctification of God? Join us for this week's Parashah class as we use the teachings of Hasidic master R. Tsaddok Hakohen of Lublin on Parashat Naso to explore this question.
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : clerics expectations holiness holy israelites levites mundane naso online learning online parshah class potential rabbis weekly torah portion נשא
May 29, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 44 -- גבורה שבמלכות/שכינה (Strength/Discernment within Indwelling Presence)
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : discernment g'vura g'vurah gevura gevurah God Indwelling Presence malkhut omer online learning sh'khina sh'khinah shekhina shekhinah strength גבורה מלכות שכינה
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 27, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 42 -- מלכות/שכינה שביסוד (Indwelling Presence within Foundation) The s’firah of Y’sod is sometimes called “Righteous One,” based on the statements in Proverbs 10:25: “The righteous is an everlasting foundation.” In Daniel Matt’s book Essential Zohar, this idea is elaborated: “One pillar extends from earth to heaven. Its name is Righteous One, named for the righteous. If there are righteous people in the world, the pillar is strengthened; if not, it is weakened. It upholds the entire world…If it weakens, the world cannot endure. So if the world contains just one righteous person, that person sustains the world.” Today, Malkhut/Sh’khinah sheb’Y’sod, we invite the Divine Presence to increase our desire for righteousness, to strengthen the pillar that upholds the world. Today we remember that majesty infuses the structure of[...]
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation God Indwelling Presence malkhut omer online learning presence sh'khinah shekhina shekhinah y'sod yesod יסוד מלכות שכינה
May 26, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 41 -- יסוד שביסוד (Foundation within Foundation) Each component of a building’s foundation requires a foundation structure of its own. If mdd of stone, each stone is composed of crystals, arranged one upon another. The chemical composition of the crystal remains stable, and the molecules and atoms within each chemical behave predictably. Because each component rests reliably on the next, a stone remains a stone, and the component parts do not rearrange themselves to become cabbage or mud or bubble gum. This is Y’sod sheb’Y’sod, foundation within foundation. Y’sod sheb’Y’sod recognizes that there is invisible support under the building blocks of the world; we call that support God (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p. 199).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : foundation omer online learning y'sod yesod יסוד
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 23, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Parashat B'midbar 2014/5774 (Triennial I) -- Size Doesn't Matter
In this week's Torah portion we read how the Tent of the Meeting is the place for Israel to gather and the place to house God's Presence in their journey through the desert. But how can one small place contain so many people and so much glory? It seems too small! Yet, there are other places in the Bible where "what is less is able to contain what is more." Can this teach us about the importance of "size" in the Bible, especially given the small size and great impact of the Jewish people? Is it possible that when it comes to things that[...]
Category : Online Learning Online Parashah Class Tag : b'midbar bamidbar chosen people numbers online learning online parashah class parashah parsha parshah size tent of meeting weekly torah portion במדבר
By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 38 -- תפארת שביסוד (Harmony within Foundation) The s’firot of Tiferet (Harmony) and Y’sod (Foundation) are located along the vertical path in the lower center of our bodies; this keeps us centered, erect, and balanced. It reflects a basis for actions within us, keeping us upright, prepared for appropriate response. By connecting the heart and the center of sexuality, this pairing also suggests that our sexual actions and feelings must be ethical and harmonious. Tiferet sheb’Y’sod reminds us to conduct the sexual aspects of our lives with integrity and impeccability (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p. 188).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : balance foundation harmony omer online learning tiferet y'sod yesod יסוד תפארת
May 22, 2014 By bethmordecai no comments.
Day 37 -- גבורה שביסוד (Strength/Discernment within Foundation) Building a firm foundation requires strength, whether it is a building or a personal relationship, a community or a spiritual practice. This kind of strength is not just muscle power. The difference between a long lasting rock wall and a pile of rubble is in the accurate selection and placement of stones and meticulous application of mortar. This is also true in our lives; using careful discernment we can build the foundation for a long lasting marriage, a robust congregation, or a sturdy organization (Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide, p.184).
Category : Omer Online Learning Tag : discernment foundation g'vura g'vurah gevura gevurah omer online learning strength y'sod yesod גבורה יסוד
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