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

Day 41: Yesod she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 41):
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 echad v’arbaim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the forty-first day, which makes five weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Forty-one: Yesod she b’Yesod (Foundation within Foundation) – GENITALS to GENITALS

The foundation of our life may be under a lot of stress right now, as coronavirus has attacked the structure of our days. It reminds me of other disasters that have had an effect on us over the years. Some disasters are physical in their effect, others are less structural. No matter what, the realities are consistently that if one foundation is affected, many other foundations will be changed. Let’s consider the effect of coronavirus on a family who has owned a home at the Jersey shore for generations. Over many years of summers spent at this beach house, grandparents and grandchildren, cousins and siblings, have built memories and family connections that are part of the framework of the family’s Foundation. This year, that may not occur. In addition, as we are unable to take care of the home because we are not able to be there, there may be effects on the physical home and its foundation. The family gatherings all happened within the structure of a building built on a different kind of Foundation, maybe one made of stones. As we go even further, we can realize that each component of a building’s Foundation requires a Foundation of its own. Each stone is composed of crystals arranged one upon another in its own kind of Foundation. At the end, we acknowledge that there is another invisible support under the building blocks of the world: the support of G-D.

As we consider Yesod she b’Yesod, we realize that each Foundation, such as the one of the family, relies on the strength and firmness of the other Foundations. If one falters, it will have an impact, large or small, on the other structures.  For this reason, it is important to recognize our reliance on each Foundation, and create our own strong yet flexible base to provide the best Foundations possible in all areas of our world. 

As we manage our way through this current pandemic, we lean on the Foundations we have built along the years, our connection to each other as well as our connection to G-d to give us the strength.

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

Day 40: Hod she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 40):
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 arbaim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’chamisha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the fortieth day, which makes five weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Forty: Hod she b’Yesod (Spendor within Foundation) – LEFT HIP to GENITALS

As we reach the 40th day of the counting of the Omer, we are reminded of multiple references in the Torah that involve this length of time, and the possibilities that can occur over it.  The great flood in Genesis lasts forty days and nights.  Moses remains on the mountain for forty days, listening to G-D’s instructions before returning with the stone tablets.  Both of these are experiences in which major transformations occur, not just for the individual, but also for the community.  Although change is difficult, it is possible, especially over time.

Building community is slow, tough work.  Just like creating a foundation of a house, when we are building our community, we slowly, carefully look to put in place people and systems that work for us, layering on top of previously placed systems to strengthen our unified foundation while valuing the unique contributions and precious peculiarities of each individual.  It is only through assembling many small bits of Amazing variety that we can build a firm base.  This is the core of Hod she b’Yesod.

Hod points to the order inherent in complex systems, such as that of the human body, weather systems, family systems, musical systems, etc.  Each has potential for the components to function together in Splendid orchestration, in mild disarray, or in total turmoil.  Hod she b’Yesod brings the Amazing variety and organization we encounter in our lives to our attention, to help us erect the structures of our lives and our world.

As a trained health care professional, I can’t help but think of the complexity of the human body.  The more I learned, and continue to learn, of the intricacies of the body’s systems, I have come to realize how much we rely on the Splendid varieties of cells, organs, hormones, and more, working in organized tandem, creating a firm Foundation of good health.  Today, take a moment to pause, and thank G-D for the body systems that are working well within us.  Even if you have a body system that is struggling, still take time to reflect on all the marvelous parts that are working well, and how they are still giving you a firm base to move through your days.

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

Day 39: Netzach she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 39):
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 tisha v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v arba’a yomim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-ninth day, which makes five weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

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

As my father, a carpenter by trade, taught me many times, you must build a strong Foundation for any structure if you expect it to last.  He would stress this over and over again, primarily because he knew how tedious and exhausting the work is when done correctly.  This is not just true with physical structures, but also with those more esoteric foundations within our own self, families, and communities.  Meticulous attention to what builds a stable base requires perseverance, courage, and Endurance.

All long-term goals require sustained effort to handle problems or obstacles that may interfere.   Building anything stable requires numerous determined steps, not just for the original building of the base, but constant reevaluation of the structure to confirm it is still strong and accurate for our needs.  We must be persistent in keeping our eye on our planned goal as we build and maintain our strong base. Anytime something changes we must reevaluate the situation, take any steps needed to alter the foundation we stand on to make sure it is still strong, and remember to constantly review it to know that we are standing on something solid again. This can happen in any areas of our lives, from the relationships we have nurtured to the foundation of our own selves which may need to be reviewed and fortified to handle the changes from external and/or internal factors.

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

Day 38: Tiferet she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 38):
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 shmona v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shlosha yomim l’Omer.

Today is the thirty-eight day, which makes five weeks and three days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-eight: TIferet she b’Yesod (Harmony within Foundation) – HEART to GENITALS

Someone who is unethical or immoral is often referred to as being “crooked” or “bent.” The opposite of course is that someone who is ethical and moral is one who stands straight and upright. When we look at the path of the sephirot of Tiferet and Yesod, we see they are located along the vertical path of the Middle Pillar in the center of our bodies.  This path from the Heart to Genitals keeps us centered, erect, and balanced, especially regarding ethical and moral situations.  Unfortunately, there are times in our life when we may become off balance, not quite crooked, but things may happen that send the structures we have carefully constructed of our lives into states of instability or in danger of collapse.  Traumatic life events can leave us feeling wobbly and uncertain, even when we think we were in good alignment and ready for any issues.  Today, we focus on how to use the harmony of Tiferet to contribute to the stability of the structures of our lives, to bring balance to our foundation again.

When tragedy strikes, people often feel as if they are coming apart.  Yet, over time, and with help, they can “put themselves back together again”, albeit in a permanently changed way.  Many people will remark that they feel stronger for the troubles they encountered. Often they are more determined and more confident because of the experiences.

Sometimes we aren’t the one who needs to find a way to bring balance and harmony back into our lives. There are times it is our friends, family, or even a stranger who needs that help. We can use Tiferet to help nurture another person through an emotional pain, toward healing.  We can listen with empathy and compassion, exchange a glance that really recognizes another human, give a hug that raises hope, or offer a prayer of support.  We have many opportunities to use our own Balance and Harmony to help another to build a strong Foundation for themselves. Together we can help ourselves and those around us to stand straight and balanced.

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

Day 37: Gevurah she b’Yesod
The Blessing (Day 37):
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 shiva v’shloshim yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’shnai yomim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-seventh day, which makes five weeks and two days of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-seven: Gevurah she b’Yesod (Strength within Foundation) – LEFT SHOULDER to GENITALS

The longevity and sturdiness of a good foundation requires being built with Strength and Discernment.  Carefully picking the right stones, considering their location and placing them with precision makes the difference between a long standing rock wall and a pile of rubble. This is just as true in our lives: making careful decisions, using Discernment of what we do and say, we can build a Foundation for a long-lasting marriage, a robust congregation, or a sturdy organization.

It takes a lot of skill to be able to adeptly choose the right course of action, and without the skills to also make the right action work, we can run into trouble completing the foundation properly. A man can logically “know” what to do to build a rock wall, but if he doesn’t have the skill to properly handle the rocks and place them correctly, just “knowing” what to do intellectually isn’t enough. Skills come in many forms, and all of them are important. A person may want to build a good relationship with a partner, may know what words should be said at what times, but if the skill of emotional connectedness isn’t also a part of it, the words may fall flat, and the choices fail to build the foundation.

We develop skills over time by practice, evaluation, feedback, and more practice.  Once well trained, we can ask ourselves how we can apply those skills.  How can we use our particular Strengths to repair the world, to make a stronger Foundation for everyone? Consider today what your Strengths are and reflect on how you are using those strengths to make a firm Foundation, one within yourself, your home, your work, your community, and your world.

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

Day 36: Yesod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 36):
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 shloshim v’shisha yom, shehem chamisha shavuot v’yom echad l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-sixth day, which makes five weeks and one day of the Omer.

Week Six- Yesod (Foundation)

Day Thirty-six: Chesed she b’Yesod (Lovingkindness within Foundation) – RIGHT SHOULDER to GENITALS

In our contemporary American language, there are at least three different meanings for the word “foundation.” 1. Structural Foundation – part of a building, usually below the ground, that transfers and distributes the weight of the edifice to the ground. 2. Legal Foundation – a legal entity, an institution formally set up by an endowment or trust, which distributes money or other resources to support specific projects or organizations. 3. Cosmetic Foundation – a type of cosmetic that is applied as the base layer for face makeup.

Each refers to the basis of something, a necessary aspect without which the rest of the system would not stand. Yesod is the sephira of spiritual Foundation.  It provides a stable platform which functions as a focus point that gathers, contains, and concentrates the Divine energy from the sephirot above it.  Standing firmly on this foundation, it is easier to hold onto our visions of a righteous society, of world peace, of communities filled with successful people caring about each other.

Chesed she b’Yesod reminds us to use our compassion to help one another.  As we prop each other up, the foundation of the world is strengthened.  The structural framework of a righteous life is supported by Love.  This can be seen in social action and civic involvement.  When we “take a stand” on an ethical, moral or political issue, Chesed she b’Yesod is at work.  We are reminded today that the stands we take on important issues are informed by the constant Lovingkindness flowing from G-d and our own spiritual Foundation.

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

Day 35: Malchut she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 35):
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 v’chamisha yom, shehem chamisha shavuot l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-fifth day, which makes five weeks of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-five: Malchut she b’Hod (Indwelling Presence within Splendor) – BETWEEN FEET/AT MOUTH to LEFT HIP

The sephira Malchut, often referred to as Kingdom/Sovereignty, acknowledges that the best kind of sovereignty, or in our more modern take of the term – leadership, arises from recognizing the Divine Presence within all creation, that we are all sparked with divinity, of godliness.

As Malchut influences Hod, we can see the magnificence of G-d within all life’s complexities. Every little piece is a part of a larger entity.  The vast mountain ranges throughout our world and the single grains of sand of the world’s beaches are all part of the same world, the one planet Earth. Although completely different in size and scope, they are each individually small aspects of a much larger whole. They are both part of a slow-moving cycle of change in rocks that has been going on since the formation of the planet. They are part of something much larger than a particle of sand or even a range of towering mountains, all with the spark of the divine.

The study of ecology, and the influence that each different animal, plant, bacteria, virus, air particle change, and more, can have on the others, provides a scientific basis for this same insight.  We are not completely separated from each other, or from any part of our surroundings.  Each unique aspect of G-D’s Splendor plays a part in the outcome of who we are, in our Manifestation.  Indwelling Presence reminds us to honor that Splendor, that Glorious Variety, that provides us with so much that we need.

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

Day 34: Yesod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 34):
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 v’arba’ah yom, shehem arba’ah shavuot v’shisha yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-fourth day, which makes four weeks and six days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-four: Yesod she b’Hod (Foundation within Splendor) – GENITALS to LEFT HIP

Yesod she b’Hod concentrates on the firm foundation that underscores the splendor in our lives.  A few years ago, a friend of mine found herself in a struggle with breast cancer.  She shared her journey with many of us through a kind of blog, allowing her to tell her story as well as creating a true recounting of her struggles and successes while she was “in-the-moment”.  Being a rabbi, she was very adept at writing her thoughts with clarity and focus, relating her true feelings to us through her words.  Unfortunately, although she initially recovered, ultimately her life ended due to the disease. But, we can look back at her story knowing that in the days of pain and uncertainty, she was still able to find positive moments to grace her life.

The interesting part of this for me, which relates to today’s theme of Yesod she b’Hod, is that her most positive writings, regardless of the struggles of the day, came from days in which she had taken walks in nature.  When she was feeling most vulnerable, these walks were very calming, reminding her of the spiritual foundation underlying the splendor of the natural world around her.  The unique and glorious variety of the plants and animals she encountered provided her with a stronger sense of her place in the world, and the strength of that kind of structure helped her to feel supported internally in addition to the external support she was being given.

Today, take a moment to observe the world around you, marveling at the solid foundation of which the variety of plants and animals are all a part of, allowing us to feel supported in all we do.

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

Day 33: Hod she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 33):
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 v’shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’chamishim yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-third day, which makes four weeks and five days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-three: Hod she b’Hod (Splendor within Splendor) – LEFT HIP to LEFT HIP

Today, on this 33rd day of the Omer, we celebrate the special holiday of Lag b’Omer.  “Lag” is not a Hebrew word; it is the numerical equivalent of the number 33.  It is formed from the combination of the Hebrew letter lamed for 30 and gimel for 3.  (LG – sound produced is LAG)  In Jewish history, a number of tragedies occurred during this 7 week period of the Counting of the Omer (any Google search will bring up tons of information on this so I won’t list it here).  To commemorate these calamities, it has become customary in traditional Jewish communities to observe a period of semi-mourning during the counting of the Omer and many festivities are not held during this time.  On the 33rd day though, Lag b’Omer, we stop our mourning for the day, and take this time to appreciate the myriad splendors of the world around us, to notice all the varieties of creation with gratitude.  It is a holiday of appreciating nature, and in Israel, people celebrate this by having picnics in the woods.

Hod she b’Hod mirrors the splendor of creation, the unfolding mystery of electrons within atoms within molecules within chemicals within cells within heart muscles.  We wonder at the mystery of why planes fly and if dogs have a sense of humor, speculate on the miracles of healing and the challenges of love.  It is a time to think like a young child, asking questions about the nature of reality, in delight and wonder.  Hod she b’Hod asks that we relish detail, noting the magnificent diversity of creation in all its aspects.

Today is the eighteenth day of the month of Iyar – the Chai (life) of the month.  Eighteen is a very special number in Judaism, celebrating all that is life. It is a special day for recognizing the Splendor of life, the awesomeness of our world and our place in it.

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

Day 32: Gevurah she b’Hod
The Blessing (Day 32):
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 shnaim v’shloshim yom, shehem arba’a shavuot v’arba’a yamim l’Omer.
Today is the thirty-second day, which makes four weeks and four days of the Omer.

Week Five- Hod (Splendor, Glory, Reverberation)

Day Thirty-two: Gevurah she b’Hod (Endurance within Splendor) – RIGHT HIP to LEFT HIP

All systems need constant, repetitive infusions of energy to maintain and to grow, allowing them to create glorious splendor.  Medical research is based on repeated attempts to address causes and cures of disease, taking into account each of the variables to be considered, persisting until the right combination is found.  Dogged efforts that are fraught with many failures are necessary to achieve positive results.

Many of our greatest inventions and achievements have come from this kind of enduring persistence (Netzach), followed by repeating the approaches with slight adjustments in response to the reverberating effects (Hod) that occur.  As I am writing this, I am thinking about a movie I watched that told the story of Thomas Edison and his persistence in creating the light bulb.  It was Netzach she b’Hod in his “Invention Factory” in Menlo Park, NJ as he tested more than 1600 materials in his search for the right material for the filament.  Imagine the Splendid variety of items he considered, from coconut fiber to fishing line to human hair, before his and his workers’ Endurance paid off in finding the perfect material – carbonized bamboo.  What a Glorious sight when he was able to light up 25 buildings in New York’s Financial District on September 4, 1882.

In our own lives, repetition and repeated focus play a key role in contributing to our growth.  The insistent energy of Netzach makes the continued change and variety of Hod possible.  If, for example, your goal is to be physically fit, you will need to apply significant amounts of preparation, learning, and practice to achieve it.  You may find that sometimes a change in your approach and strategy is necessary to move toward your desired end.  It can be due to an injury that alters what you can do, or from new information about a better technique that causes you to consider the variety of Splendid options available as you Persist and Endure.  Netzach she b’Hod reminds us that nurturing continuous optimism through many small careful decisions moves us toward our goals.

Today, look around your home.  Consider the amazing things around you, and how they were likely the result of Netzach she b’Hod.  Remember that when we allow Perseverance to influence outcomes, we can produce Splendid variety.