According to the Torah (Lev. 23:15), we are obligated to count the days from Passover to Shavu'ot. This period is known as the Counting of the Omer. An omer is a unit of measure. On the second day of Passover, in the days of the Temple, an omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering.
It's that time of year, again. We are in the first week of seven, counting 49 days until we arrive at the holiday of Shavuot and commemorate the giving of the Torah. Just as we are commanded to see ourselves as if we were the slave in Egypt, so too are we commanded to see ourselves as if we received the Torah directly from God.
In an effort to deepen our connection to Shavuat (or perhaps to Passover? or perhaps to both?), the mystics have taken 7 of God's attributes and layered them into one another providing us with an amazing array of connections between the qualities themselves and the qualities of God and subsequently of human being. Each week we are asked to focus on one of the attributes and it's relationship to the other 6. Each attribute is held by, strengthened by and elevated by the other 6. Each week we are given the mitzvah, the privilege, opportunity and responsibility of taking a journey through our soul.
The 7 attributes in order by week are:
- Chesed - Loving-kindness
- Gevurah -- Justice and discipline
- Tiferet - Harmony, compassion
- Netzach - Endurance
- Hod - Humility
- Yesod - Bonding
- Malchut - Sovereignty, leadership
It's customary to recite a blessing before each day is counting. Counting happens in the evening.
BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.
Today is the ________ day.
Thursday evening we counted 6 days. Friday evening we will count 7.
The focus of week 1 is on "Chesed" - loving kindness.
There are many different writings, meditations and teachings around the Omer. I have been following Simon Jacobson for years. I like it/him because he gives a short teaching (that's easy to absorb) and then follows it with an "exercise for the day" (that's usually personally relevant). In order for me to fully count each day of the Omer, I must include action. You can sign up to receive a daily teaching in your "inbox" and there is even an "app" available.
Here's what Simon Jacobson has to say for days 6 and 7:
Day 6: Yesod of Chesed
For love to be eternal it requires bonding. A sense of togetherness which actualizes the love in a joint effort. An intimate connection, kinship and attachment, benefiting both parties. This bonding bears fruit; the fruit born out of a healthy union.
Exercise for the day: Start building something constructive together with a loved one.
Day 7: Malchut of Chesed
Mature love comes with - and brings - personal dignity. An intimate feeling of nobility and regality. Knowing your special place and contribution in this world. Any love that is debilitating and breaks the human spirit is no love at all. For love to be complete it must have the dimension of personal sovereignty.
Exercise for the day: Highlight an aspect in your love that has bolstered your spirit and enriched your life - and celebrate.
And here's what I have to say:
Love takes a ton of effort. It can only work when it is between the right people. Whether the love is between life partners, parents and children, siblings, friends or even teacher and student, love is A LOT of work. A lot of work! So make sure the other person is worth it.
In order for me to full love and be loved I need to engage all of myself. These attributes are a good reflection of all of me. But, there is one attribute that is missing - HUMOR. Humor has been an essential part of loving myself and loving others.
Here's what I have found to be true regarding love:
1. Love all of myself (if I want to love anyone else). 2. Engage the other from a place of compassion (even when you are right). 3. Give as much love as I can, as often as I can. (because it feels good).
4. Acknowledge how grateful to love many and be loved by many.
4. Acknowledge how grateful to love many and be loved by many.
Shabbat will move us into week 2 - Gevurah - justice and discipline.
Google "counting the Omer" and you will find a wide array of choices. See who/what resonates most strongly with you. Feel free to even mix it up. No need to stay with just one teacher.
Mekor Ha'chayiim, Source of Life, as we move through Shabbat let us be open to the power of love and the need to open ourselves up to it's fullness. May we act on our gratitude for all of the love in our lives. May our compassion for others extend to the "other" we don't yet know.
Shabbat shalom u'mevorach, Laurie
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