Day 6: Yesod sheb'Chesed, Foundation within Loving-kindness
The week of chesed is almost over. Why do we start counting the Omer with a week dedicated to loving-kindness? Why not start with one of the other six? Think about the Exodus for a minute. Imagine you are an Israelite, having just been freed from slavery, with a long walk through the desert between you and the Promised Land. You can have all the strength, beauty, ambition, humility, connection, and leadership you want, but you're not going to get very far in a hot desert filled with hostile nations by yourself. You are going to need friends, people you trust, and people who aren't going to drive you crazy, to make it on this journey. Judaism starts with community and the foundation of any cohesive community is loving-kindness. In that light, it makes sense to start with chesed as the foundation of our spiritual growth, step one in a seven-week period of self-reflection and improvement.
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| The Judean Desert |
In light of Shabbat, today will be a double post to cover yesterday, day 4 of the Omer, and day 5.
Day 4: Netzach sheb'Chesed, Ambition within Loving-kindness
Have you ever been so focused on getting something done that you inadvertently blew off a friend or coworker? Day 4 of the Omer is all about balancing your ambition with kindness. Don't lose sight of your relationships on your way to the top.
Day 5: Hod sheb'Chesed, Gratitude/Majesty within Loving-kindness
Tonight, we say goodbye to Shabbat and re-enter the regular week. After a stressful week of work and other activities to be inevitably followed by another stressful week, I am grateful for the restfulness of Shabbat. Abraham Joshua Heschel said, "The Sabbath must all be spent 'in charm, peace, and great love...'"
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| My Shabbat Table |
On a typical Friday night, I light the candles and recite the blessing while my husband, an excellent cook, finishes dinner. We sing Shalom Aleichem or Lecha Dodi depending on our moods, bless the wine, wash our hands with our wash cup from Jerusalem, and say ha-motzi to bless the challah (this week we blessed the matzah for Passover). We eat, we talk, we enjoy the freedom from obligation that comes with Shabbat.
I love Friday nights. My goal is to carry the majesty and love of Shabbat into the week with me. Shavua tov!
Day 3: Tiferet sheb'Chesed, Harmony within Loving-kindness
First things first: check out the first and second days of the Omer.
Congress: known lately for not getting anything done. Why? They don't listen to each other and seem to have no desire to compromise on anything. Today, let's think about how harmonious our lives could be if our congressmen showed a little kindness to each other. How can you foster harmony and balance in your life (at work, at home, etc) by showing a little love?
