COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.
Day 42: Malchut she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 42):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Foundation, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.
Ha yom shnaim v’arbaim yom, shehem shisha shavuot l’Omer.
Today is the forty-second day, which makes six weeks of the Omer.
Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)
Day Forty-two: Malchut she b’Yesod (Indwelling Presence within Foundation) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to GENITALS
The sephira of Yesod is sometimes called the “Righteous One.” This comes from the statement in Proverbs 10:25 that says “The righteous is an everlasting Foundation.” It is our Foundational beliefs that make us able to stand and be counted as one who is righteous, who is virtuous and moral. Daniel Matt wrote in his book Essential Zohar that ”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.”
Malchut she b’Yesod helps us to consider how the Indwelling Presence of G-d within us has an effect on our Foundational beliefs of morality, our desire for righteousness. It is our opportunity to strengthen our own pillar, our own Foundation, so we can walk and talk (actions of Malchut) with morality. If our actions through Malchut do not reflect our actual foundational beliefs, there is still an effect on those beliefs. Our internal foundation can begin to crumble. The actions we take in the world must be in line with our Indwelling Presence, our spark of divinity, to keep our Foundation strong and intact.
Malchut reminds us that a spark of G-D dwells within us, inspiring and stirring us. When we recognize this Indwelling Presence is providing stability to our personal Foundation, we can trust in our capabilities to meet challenges and tackle difficult tasks with confidence. Machut she b’Yesod allows us to stand tall and strong in G-D’s influence.
*The basis of the information in today’s topic comes from and is inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”
Yedi'a 