Netzach, endurance. Yesod, foundation. Netzach she’b’yesod. An enduring foundation. History doesn’t repeat. But it does rhyme, says historian Timothy Snyder. So the present isn’t exactly like the past. But it does hold a few echoes. A few things that sound alike. Hearing the rhymes: personally, I call that “historical imagination.” Sure, people lived differently in…
Balance: Omer 38
Tiferet: Balance. Yesod: Foundation. Tiferet she’b’yesod: Balance as a foundation. Where is the point of balance? Where do our bodies find their foundation? In ballet class, we learned: balance is up. You stand on strong feet. Then you lift up through your legs, torso, chest. Your eyes look up, too. And when you rise on…
Subconscious Mind: Omer 37
Gevurah, judgment. Yesod, foundation. Gevurah she’b’yesod. Good judgment is part of a good foundation. Ideally, says Aristotle, good judgment is also a habit. You learned it, gradually. First, your elders decided for you. Then, they gave you advice. Caught you when you fell. And finally, your good habits were in place. At age 40. Well,…
Love Imperfect: Omer 36
Chesed, love. Yesod, foundation. Chesed she’b’yesod, love that’s the foundation! We all know love is the foundation. Children need it to thrive. To feel secure as they explore and learn. So they don’t see the world as a threat. And thus, defensively, turn on everyone they meet. Adults need love too. Because, at any age,…
Going Home: Omer 35
Malchut, another name for Shechinah, Dweller. Divine Dweller, that is. Thus, a Divine Presence. Hod, Splendour. Shechinah she’b’hod, Divine Presence in Splendour. But Shechinah isn’t just any Divine Presence. It’s like the presence of a loving mother. One who follows you into exile. Physical exile, but also spiritual exile. Emotional exile. She cries for you…
Role Models: Omer 33
Spoiler alert: I’ll be talking about Lag B’Omer. And Rabbi Akiva. Soon. But first, today’s Omer quality. Hod. Splendor. Also Gratitude. And Humility. Hod she’b’Hod? What can we make of that? Practically speaking, I mean. Something simple, personal and real that’s a perfect blend of splendour, gratitude, and humility. Here’s an idea: finding a role…
Persona: Omer 32
Netzach: Success. Hod: Humility. Netzach she’b’hod: Successful humility. Or, in other words, a good public persona. Sometimes, I do think about my persona. I’m a local person, but I’m also a public person. I’m a parent. And I write, speak, teach, organize, lead things, help a bit with pastoral care. So, I know a lot…
Humility: Omer 31
Tiferet. Beauty. Some say balance. Because on the tree of sefirot, love and judgment both flow into it. Tiferet sits in the middle, like a perfectly balanced heart. Hod. Literally, splendor. Also, almost literally, gratitude. What’s a perfect balance between those two definitions? Some say it’s humility. Tiferet she’b’hod. Finding balance through humility. Okay, I’m…
Creator? You there? Omer 30
Gevurah. Judgment, boundary, form. Hod. Splendor. Gevurah she’b’hod. Forms of splendor. The tradition of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, describes God as infinite energy. So infinite that It fills all space and time. Thus, It leaves no room for anything else. Except it also holds everything else. So, It’s formless, forming, and formed all at the same…
Less than Love: Omer 29
Chesed. Divine love. Hod. Divine splendor. Chesed she’b’Hod. The love that’s part of divine splendor. Can I start out sermonizing? Just a little bit? About one of my favourite parts of Torah? If I promise to come back to real life at the end? Moses says to God, “Show me your Presence.” God says, “No…