Sefirat HaOmer

Counting One Day at a Time

[sefirathaomer]

Discipline of Discipline: How can you be more focused?

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Don't forget to count the Omer over Chag!

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What is glorious about your love?
What do you bring to the table?

[sefirathaomer]

"More than all that you guard, Guard your mind, For it is the source of life. Put crooked speech away from you; Keep devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look forward, Your gaze be straight ahead. Survey the course you take, And all your ways will prosper.

Proverbs 4:23-26

(Translation by JPS Tanakh)

[sefirathaomer]

There is love and there is beautiful love. True love includes empathy and compassion which makes it a beautiful love. Love is often fostered in expectation of reciprocity. Real love is expressed even when one gets nothing in return; even when the other doesn’t deserve love. Tiferet is giving also to those that have hurt you. It acknowledges the discipline of gevurah and says that, nevertheless, compassionate love calls for helping all.

Exercise for the day: Offer a helping hand to a stranger.

Chabad.org

http://m.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/276675/jewish/Omer-3.htm

[sefirathaomer]

This is from the students of Aaron: Hillel says: Love peace and pursue peace, love all creatures and draw near to torah. ~Mishnah Avot 1:12

[sefirathaomer]

Thanks for counting.

See you next year!

Shabbat Shalom!

[sefirathaomer]

Day 22 Chesed of Netzach Loving-Kindness of Endurance

Right after Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut, we can reflect on how Israel, its citizens, and Jews everywhere endure.

[sefirathaomer]

Still Counting

After a hiatus, I'm back! Keep counting.

[sefirathaomer]

Not just love but compassion has to drive discipline. Love comes from recognizing one's merits and positive qualities (discipline channels and directs those strengths and weeds out the negative). Compassion is unconditional love. It is love just for the sake of love, not considering the others position. Tiferet is a result of total selflessness in the eyes of G-d. You love for no reason; you love because you are a reflection of G-d. Does my discipline have this element of compassion? Exercise for the day: Be compassionate to someone you have reproached.

Chabad http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/276681/jewish/Omer-10.htm Day 10

Tiferet shebeGevurah Compassion of Discipline Q. How can you give criticism that really shows your compassion? Do: Give or ask for critique from someone you care about.

[sefirathaomer]

“Only in Israel does the readout for the bus tell you what day of the Omer it is :)” -Originally shared by Shira Rosenblum Day 9 Gevurah shebeGevurah Judgement/Limitation of Judgement/Limitation Q. How do you limit yourself? Do: Recognize a way that you are limited and think of a way that it makes you the person that you are.

[sefirathaomer]

Week 2 - Gevurah If love (chesed) is the bedrock of human expression, discipline (gevurah) is the channels through which we express love. It gives our life and love direction and focus. Take a laser beam: Its potency lies in the focus and concentration of light in one direction rather than fragmented light beams dispersed in all different directions. Gevurah - discipline and measure - concentrates and directs our efforts, our love in the proper directions. Another aspect of gevurah is - respect and awe. Healthy love requires respect for the one you love.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/276679/jewish/Omer-8.htm

[sefirathaomer]

Day 6 of the Omer (Sunday night/Monday) Yesod of Chesed Foundation/Connection of Loving-Kindness Q. How can you strengthen your connection to others? Do: Find a hidden connection with someone you know.

[sefirathaomer]

Pesach is a celebration of the Exodus, in which God demonstrates God's power by, for example, dividing the Red Sea. Do you think witnessing miracles alone can create faith in God?

USCJ http://goo.gl/ka7jIk Day 6 Yesod of Chesed Foundation/Connection of Loving-Kindness

[sefirathaomer]

Day 5: Splendor/Humility of Loving-Kindness

Day 5 of the Omer. Hod of Chesed Splendor/Humility of Loving-Kindness Q. How have you been made a better person through love? Do: Share with a loved one how they have made you better.

[sefirathaomer]

One name for Shavuot is Atzeret, which means a concluding festival. What does this suggest about the relationship between Pesach and Shavuot?

USCJ http://goo.gl/ka7jIk

Day 5

Hod of Chesed Splendor/Humility of Loving-Kindness

[sefirathaomer]

Day 4 of the Omer (Friday Night/Saturday) Netzach of Chesed  Endurance of Loving-Kindness  Q: How do you endure? In what ways do you make it through the ups and downs? Do: Express yourself to a loved one.