COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.
Day 23: Gevurah she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 23):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Endurance, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Hayom shloshim v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shnai Yinin l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-third day, which makes three weeks and two days of the Omer
Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)
Day Twenty-three: Gevurah she b’Netzach (Discernment within Endurance) – LEFT SHOULDER to RIGHT HIP
Today we recognize how judgment and Discernment motivate Endurance. In times of danger, when survival completely depends on diligent choices, it is imperative to find a way to focus, strengthen and channel any waning energy to Endure. We all recently experienced this in our world when we were confronted with a global pandemic. When we are all getting worn down from the experience of what COVID-19 had brought to our lives, it was easy to want to relax the rules a bit. This experience was (and is) daunting and exhausting for everyone. Then, as now, we need to make the right choice, the diligent choice to do what is necessary to keep the curve of this disease flattened, or at least lessen its chances of rebounding again. That takes a lot of focus and strength to continue through and endure this new life.
COVID-19 is not the only example of this need to use our strength and discernment to endure. We find this in any events which require long term energy. It can be pushing through to prepare for a marathon, continuing forward on a social justice issue when you feel your efforts aren’t making a difference, or just making it through a work day where you are struggling with a project that feels like it will never be completed.
Tomorrow will come. We will endure. It is with proper strength and diligent decision making that we get through this things. In any of these situations we face in life, we must discern what’s most important for us to persevere so that we can continue to do what we can every day. Sometimes that may mean we need to unplug, to listen to our body and its pains, or our minds and its fears, and most importantly to get some sleep. By choosing to make our own health a priority we can have the strength to continue on.
*Much of today’s writing is found in or inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”
Yedi'a 