COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 30: Gevurah she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 30):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Ha yom shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’shnai yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirtieth ay, which makes four weeks and two days of the Omer

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty: Gevurah she b’Hod (Strength within Splendor) – LEFT SHOULDER to LEFT HIP

Maturity and acceptance are connected with the theme of this thirtieth day of the Omer, Gevurah she b’Hod.  We use Discernment to understand and accept how the world really works, the underlying configuration of the universe.  Informed choice is important whether we are choosing a career or ordering off a comprehensive menu at the deli.  In each case, regardless of being momentous or minor ones, we appreciate the opportunity we have to choose from many Splendid options.  Discerning which choices are right for who we are at different stages of our lives is a Gevurah she b’Hod task.

Today we are reminded to use our own strengths carefully, restraining the tendency to lose sight of the forest while contemplating the magnificence of one particularly marvelous tree.  To avoid being overwhelmed by Splendor, we must focus well, Discerning the appropriate options for this time and place.  In our personal lives, we recognize that internal strength is necessary to know that as our needs change, hanging on to old approaches dishonors our ability to grow.

Today’s theme touches me personally in relation to my career path(s), amplified even more this year. As a child born in the late 1960s, I always would tell my mother that, although I appreciated the work done by her generation to ensure more options for me as a woman in the US, I felt completely overwhelmed at times at the vastness of the choices I could make. The Splendor of what was available to me meant that I had to truly consider just what I wanted in life – that I had to Discern what path was the right one for me. I became a hospital pharmacist after high school, and worked happily for 10 years in that world. As I grew older, more options were put in my path, and yet again I found myself making a choice – I became a mother. I tried to continue my pharmacy career, but within me, something wasn’t right – it no longer fit me. Thankfully, I was able to let go of that “old approach”, and after a few turns, I found a new path to journey on – I became a massage therapist, working directly with people in need of my skills. After over 10 years of doing that wonderful work, I found myself in need of another decision to be made. My health was compromised and required me to rethink what I could do. I stopped the work, spent a few years with physicians finding a way to heal my fibromyalgia body (or at least control it) and then another moment came to my world to decide what to do. I was called upon to work with our synagogue in a high-level position and I did my best over 2 years to help them navigate not just changes in the temple, but in the world as well throughout Covid-19. When that came to an end last year, I found myself again at a point of making decisions that I am still working through. Although none of us are positive of each choice we make and if it’s the right one every time, I am so happy to know that Gevurah she b’Hod is here for me if and when I need it to discern what I can and should do, allowing me further growth, both in my work life as well as in all aspects of myself, spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually. I am very happy that today, as I consider this theme, I can look back on choices I have made and feel proud and content with them. This doesn’t mean that the Splendid variety of options not chosen are somehow bad or wrong, just that for myself, at each phase of who I am, I had the strength to Discern the right one for myself out of the diversity.

Today, consider a time when you were faced with a variety of tempting choices and you chose well.  Feel proud of making that decision.  If you find that the decision you made no longer fits you, take a step to consider the options you may have out of the vast and diverse possibilities.  It can be something major in your life, or something relatively minor, such as choosing to try the chicken marsala at your favorite restaurant instead of your usual chicken parmigiana.  Just being open to the idea that there is a glittering array of possibilities available to us in our life, and that we are in control of using our strengths to discern the best one for us is a wonderful thing.

*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”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 29: Chesed she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 29):
Baruch atah Adonai elohaynu melech ha’olam asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sephirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you, G-D, Source of Splendor, You make us holy through your mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer.

Hayom tisha v’esrim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-ninth day, which makes four weeks and one day of the Omer

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Twenty-nine: Chesed she b’Hod (Lovingkindness within Splendor) – RIGHT SHOULDER to LEFT HIP

Often the Lovingkindness we appreciate most is when it appears in unexpected ways. A smile from a friendly stranger, a call from an old friend, or a silent touch of condolence from a neighbor can brighten our day and shift our attention in a positive direction. The pairing of Chesed and Hod goes diagonally across the body, funneling overflowing Love through the heart, to be distributed in Splendid patterns in the world. Hod is like a prism, sorting and refracting the light of Chesed into Splended ordered array.

Like the famous words of Elizabeth Barrett Browning who asked: “How do I love Thee?  Let me count the ways.  I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.”, Chesed she b’Hod magnifies details of love.

G-D’s Lovingkindness is evident in the myriad blessings in our lives. Today, take note of some details of the blessings that abound in your world, and marvel at the variety of ways that these are exhibited. Like a prism, Hod shows us the many many reflections of an object. When paired with Chesed, Lovingkindness, even a simple object can bring love and joy when viewed in multiple ways. A flower, a sunset, a child’s happy smile, the sight of an old friend. These are the simple things that turn to big moments when viewed with the right mindset and blended with love.

*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”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 28: Malchut she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 28):
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 shmonim v’esrim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-eighth day, which makes four weeks of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-eight: Malchut she b’Netzach (Indwelling Presence within Endurance) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to RIGHT HIP

I am always amazed how relevant to our times the practices within our Judaism can be to our current modern days. Very often as we are Counting the Omer, reflecting on the aspects of G-d within us and our world, it is at a time when we are reflecting a lot on our world and dealing with aspects that we may not be prepared for, or at least that we don’t think we are prepared. Right at this moment, we find ourselves at the 28th day of the Omer, at Malchut she b’Netzach. It is here that we consider the knowledge of G-d’s constant and available Presence which give us courage to Endure disasters. Tragedies are being reported every day, from horrific gun shootings that kill innocent people, to abusive and harrowing treatment of our more vulnerable citizens related to race, sexuality and gender, and so many more.

When tragedy strikes, it is sometimes unimaginable that the ordinary world goes on, that people can care about anything outside of the tragedy. It is at times like this that the mundane actions of everyday life can make the world at large seem callous in the face of our personal suffering. Even though some of us may be facing something major in our lives, our “tragedy” can be seen as mundane in the eyes of someone who is suffering a more devastating experience. Here is a great example from a fairly recent time in my life. My daughter graduated from college 2 years ago in a remote virtual experience from our home rather than with her peers and teachers in one location together due to the pandemic. When she began college, there was a matriculation ceremony to mark their entry into school and one of the big things was that they would expect the same kind of marking of their experience when they graduated. Unfortunately no one knew then that a pandemic would shatter that expectations. Our lamentation of the loss of this experience and the pain and suffering we felt would seem completely callous and irrelevant to someone who at the same time was experiencing the death of a loved one due to coronavirus. And to us, a person who was upset about not being able to spend time at the shore with friends may have seemed to be trivial compared to both of our situations. And so on. We find a way to continue on, all of us, in our own unique way for our own unique situation. It is Malchut she b’Netzach which helps us to remember the spiritual source of strength that helps us persevere through pain, anger and fear.

Today, consider how G-d’s presence influences you. What area of your world is filled with your Constant Energy (Netzach) and how has this Indwelling Presence (Malchut) influenced you to Persevere? Even though there may be times when it is difficult to continue on, we Endure with the support of G-d’s ever present Divine Energy.

*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”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 27: Yesod she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 27):
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 shiva v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-seventh day, which makes three weeks and six days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-seven: Yesod she b’Netzach (Foundation within Endurance) – GENITALS to RIGHT HIP

Ego has a bad reputation. It is often categorized as something negative. We are given the belief that to have an “ego” means you are arrogant and self-centered. This doesn’t fully represent the real meaning of ego. Ego truly refers to our self-esteem as well as our attitudes of self-importance. We should all strive for a positive self-esteem. A well-formed ego is the Foundation for a charitable, confident, wise and self-reflective person.

Yesod she b’Netzach helps us stand on a firm Foundation, while still allowing us to keep moving forward with Endurance toward our goals. A healthy ego helps us to make the choices necessary to achieve this.

The great line that “practice makes perfect” really should be thought of more as the idea that “repetition leads to success”, which doesn’t require an absolute of perfection as the only measure of success. When we have a clear sense of a goal with a sturdy Foundation to start from, it becomes easier to expend the effort to Persevere, to Endure, to reach that goal. Yesod she b’Netzach helps us move small mountains every day.

*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”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 27: Yesod she b’Netzach
The Blessing (Day 27):
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 shiva v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-seventh day, which makes three weeks and six days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-seven: Yesod she b’Netzach (Foundation within Endurance) – GENITALS to RIGHT HIP

Ego has a bad reputation. It is often categorized as something negative. We are given the belief that to have an “ego” means you are arrogant and self-centered. This doesn’t fully represent the real meaning of ego. Ego truly refers to our self-esteem as well as our attitudes of self-importance. We should all strive for a positive self-esteem. A well-formed ego is the Foundation for a charitable, confident, wise and self-reflective person.

Yesod she b’Netzach helps us stand on a firm Foundation, while still allowing us to keep moving forward with Endurance toward our goals. A healthy ego helps us to make the choices necessary to achieve this.

The great line that “practice makes perfect” really should be thought of more as the idea that “repetition leads to success”, which doesn’t require an absolute of perfection as the only measure of success. When we have a clear sense of a goal with a sturdy Foundation to start from, it becomes easier to expend the effort to Persevere, to Endure, to reach that goal. Yesod she b’Netzach helps us move small mountains every day.

*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”

COUNTING THE OMER – This prayer is traditionally recited between sundown and sunrise of each day.

Day 24: Tiferet she b’Netzach

The Blessing (Day 24):
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 arba’a v’esrim yom, shehem shlosha shavuot v’shloshim yomim l’Omer.
Today is the twenty-fourth day, which makes three weeks and three days of the Omer

Week Four – Netzach (Endurance, Perserverance, Continual Energy)

Day Twenty-four: Tiferet she b’Netzach (Harmony within Endurance) – HEART to RIGHT HIP

Tiferet she b’Netzach is the state of having a balanced approach to life to assist in our ability to endure, persist, and ultimately thrive. Our life is filled with a multitude of changing circumstances that cause us to make adjustments to continue on. Having a sense of internal Harmony and Balance enables us to make these small, or large, changes in our lives and help us in our Persistence to live our lives to our best ability.

I am a very lucky woman to have found a partner in life who I love dearly, and who loves me as well. We have been together since we met in 1992. I recall those first months, and years, as a wonderful time of learning about each other, and falling in love – deeply. But, staying in love is trickier. There have been struggles, as many couples have, as our lives have changed since having children, changing jobs, getting involved in business issues that take more time than you ever imagine, etc. Not only have external factors changed in our lives, there are changes that have occurred in each of us as we have matured and learned from new experiences.

Maintaining any long-term relationship under the stresses of balancing all different demands requires frequent adjustments, and open responses to each other’s needs as well as our own. There is an understanding of our own Harmony, of what Balances ourselves as well as our relationship, and this has a direct effect on the Enduring respect and love we have for the other person. When we don’t respect what is in our deepest hearts, we cannot have a strong relationship filled with honesty and beauty.

Today, consider relationships in your own life.  How do the scales in your situations function?  Are they balanced?  If not, is there a way to bring them into a harmonious place so that you can continue to move forward?  Can a sense of this Balanced Harmony help you to making a better, lasting relationship that can Endure?  If so, take a moment to reflect on ways that you can work toward this goal.

*Much of today’s writing is found in or inspired by Rabbi Min Kantrowitz’s amazing book “Counting the Omer: A Kabbalistic Meditation Guide”