April 11th, 2020
Justice, Discipline, Restraint and Awe
After the miraculous Exodus from Egypt, the Jewish people spent 49 days preparing for the most awesome experience in human history – the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Just as the Jewish peoples’ redemption from Egypt teaches us how to achieve inner freedom in our lives; so too, this 49 day period, called ‘Sefirat Ha-Omer’ the Counting of the Omer, is a time of intense character refinement and elevation.
During this time, the aspect of the human psyche that most requires refinement is the area of the emotions. The spectrum of human experience consists of seven emotional attributes, or sefirot. This week we continue Sefirat Ha’Omer, utilizing the seven dimensions of the seven emotional attributes. The first week after Pesach was dedicated to examining the aspect of chesed, loving-kindness. The second week corresponds to the emotional attribute of gevurah, discipline or justice.
If love (Chesed) is the bedrock of human expression, discipline (Gevurah) is the channel through which we express love. It gives our life and love direction and focus. Gevurah – discipline and measure – concentrates and directs our efforts, our love in the proper directions.
Day 8 – Chesed of Gevurah: Lovingkindness in Discipline
The underlying intention and motive in discipline is love. Why do we measure our behavior, why do we establish standards and expect people to live up to them – only because of love. Chesed of gevurah is the love in discipline; it is the recognition that your personal discipline and the discipline you expect of others is only an expression of love. It is the understanding that we have no right to judge others; we have a right only to love them and that includes wanting them to be their best. Ask yourself: when I judge and criticize another is it in any way tinged with any of my own contempt and irritation? Is there any hidden satisfaction in his failure? Or is it only out of love for the other?
Exercise for the day: Before you criticize someone today, think twice: Is it out of concern and love?
Day 9 – Gevurah of Gevurah: Discipline in Discipline
Examine the discipline factor of discipline: Is my discipline reasonably restrained or is it excessive? Do I have enough discipline in my life and in my interactions? Am I organized? Is my time used efficiently? Why do I have problems with discipline and what can I do to enhance it? Do I take time each day for personal accounting of my schedule and accomplishments?
Exercise for the day: Make a detailed plan for spending your day and at the end of the day see if you’ve lived up to it.
Day 10 – Tiferet of Gevurah: Compassion in Discipline
Underlying and driving discipline must not only be love, but also compassion. 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.
Day 11 – Netzach of Gevurah: Endurance in Discipline
Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious. Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Do I follow through with discipline? Am I perceived as a weak disciplinarian?
Exercise for the day: Extend the plan you made on day two for a longer period of time listing short-term and long-term goals. Review and update it each day, and see how consistent you are and if you follow through.
Day 12 – Hod of Gevurah: Humility in Discipline
The results of discipline and might without humility are obvious. The greatest catastrophes have occurred as a result of people sitting in arrogant judgement of others. Am I arrogant in the name of justice (what I consider just)? Do I ever think that I sit on a higher pedestal and bestow judgement on my subjects below? What about my children? Students?
Exercise for the day: Before judging anyone, insure that you are doing so selflessly with no personal bias
Day 13 – Yesod of Gevurah: Bonding in Discipline
For discipline to be effective it must be coupled with commitment and bonding. Both in disciplining yourself and others there has to be a sense that the discipline is important for developing a stronger bond. Not that I discipline you, but that we are doing it together for our mutual benefit.
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate to your child or student how discipline is an expression of intensifying your bond and commitment to each other.
Day 14 – Malchut of Gevurah: Nobility of Discipline
Discipline, like love, must enhance personal dignity. Discipline that breaks a person will backfire. Healthy discipline should bolster self-esteem and help elicit the best in a person; cultivating his sovereignty. Does my discipline cripple the human spirit; does it weaken or strengthen me and others?
Exercise for the day: When disciplining your child or student, foster his self-respect
During the third week of Counting the Omer, we examine the emotional attribute of Tiferet or compassion.
This day by day analysis will give you the ability to take an objective look at your subjective emotions. Seeing their strong and weak points will in turn enable you to apply yourself to the development and perfection of these feelings as you grow towards emotional and spiritual maturity.
This is an excerpt from “A Spiritual Guide to Counting the Omer” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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April 10th, 2020
Harmony and Compassion
During the third week of Counting the Omer, we examine the emotional attribute of Tiferet or compassion. Tiferet blends and harmonizes the free outpouring love of Chesed with the discipline of Gevurah (discussed last week). Tiferet possesses this power by introducing a third dimension – the dimension of truth, which is neither love nor discipline and therefore can integrate the two. Truth is accessed through selflessness: rising above your ego and your predispositions, enabling you to realize truth. Truth gives you a clear and objective picture of yours and others’ needs. This quality gives Tiferet its name, which means beauty: it blends the differing colors of love and discipline, and this harmony makes it beautiful.
Day 15 – Chesed of Tiferet: Lovingkindness in Compassion
Examine the love aspect of compassion. Ask yourself: Is my compassion tender and loving or does it come across as pity? Is my sympathy condescending and patronizing? Even if my intention is otherwise, do others perceive it as such? Does my compassion overflow with love and warmth; is it expressed with enthusiasm, or is it static and lifeless?
Exercise for the day: When helping someone extend yourself in the fullest way; offer a smile or a loving gesture.
Day 16 – Gevurah of Tiferet: Discipline in Compassion
For compassion to be effective and healthy it needs to be disciplined and focused. It requires discretion both to whom you express compassion, and in the measure of the compassion itself. It is recognizing when compassion should be expressed and when it should be withheld or limited. Discipline in compassion is knowing that being truly compassionate sometimes requires withholding compassion. Because compassion is not an expression of the bestower’s needs but a response to the recipient’s needs.
Exercise for the day: Express your compassion in a focused and constructive manner by addressing someone’s specific needs.
Day 17 – Tiferet of Tiferet: Compassion in Compassion
True compassion is limitless. It is not an extension of your needs and defined by your limited perspective. Compassion for another is achieved by having a selfless attitude, rising above yourself and placing yourself in the other person’s situation and experience.
Am I prepared and able to do that? If not, why? Do I express and actualize the compassion and empathy in my heart? What blocks me from expressing it? Is my compassion compassionate or self-serving? Is it compassion that comes out of guilt rather than genuine empathy? How does that affect and distort my compassion? Test yourself by seeing if you express compassion even when you don’t feel guilty.
Exercise for the day: Express your compassion in a new way that goes beyond your previous limitations: express it towards someone to whom you have been callous.
Day 18 – Netzach of Tiferet: Endurance in Compassion
Is my compassion enduring and consistent? Is it reliable or whimsical? Does it prevail among other forces in my life? Do I have the capacity to be compassionate even when I’m busy with other activities or only when it’s comfortable for me? Am I ready to stand up and fight for another?
Exercise for the day: In the middle of your busy day take a moment and call someone who needs a compassionate word. Defend someone who is in need of sympathy even if it’s not a popular position.
Day 19 – Hod of Tiferet: Humility in Compassion
If compassion is not to be condescending, it must include humility. Hod is recognizing that my ability to be compassionate and giving does not make me better than the recipient; it is the acknowledgment and appreciation that by creating one who needs compassion G-d gave me the gift of being able to bestow compassion. Thus there is no place for haughtiness in compassion.
Do I feel superior because I am compassionate? Do I look down at those that need my compassion? Am I humble and thankful to G-d for giving me the ability to have compassion for others?
Exercise for the day: Express compassion in an anonymous fashion, not taking any personal credit.
Day 20 – Yesod of Tiferet: Bonding in Compassion
For compassion to be fully realized, it needs bonding. It requires creating a channel between giver and receiver; a mutuality that extends beyond the moment of need. A bond that continues to live on. That is the most gratifying result of true compassion.
Do you bond with the one you have compassion for, or do you remain apart? Does your interaction achieve anything beyond a single act of sympathy?
Exercise for the day: Ensure that something eternal is built as a result of your compassion.
Day 21 – Malchut of Tiferet: Nobility in Compassion
Examine the dignity of your compassion. For compassion to be complete (and enhance the other six aspects of compassion) it must recognize and appreciate individual sovereignty. It should boost self-esteem and cultivate human dignity. Both your own dignity and the dignity of the one benefiting from your compassion.
Is my compassion expressed in a dignified manner? Does it elicit dignity in others? Do I recognize the fact that when I experience compassion as dignified it will reflect reciprocally in the one who receives compassion?
Exercise for the day: Rather than just giving charity, help the needy help themselves in a fashion that strengthens their dignity.
This is an excerpt from “Counting the Omer – A Spiritual Guide” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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April 8th, 2020
Endurance
During the fourth week of counting the Omer, we examine and refine the emotional attribute of endurance known as Netzach. Netzach means endurance, fortitude and ambition and is a combination of determination and tenacity. It is a balance of patience, persistence and guts. Endurance is also being reliable and accountable, which establishes security and commitment. Without endurance, any good endeavor or intention has no chance of success. Endurance means to be alive, to be driven by what counts. It is the readiness to fight for what you believe, to go all the way. This, of course, requires that endurance be closely examined to ensure that it is used in a healthy and productive manner.
Day 22 – Chesed of Netzach: Lovingkindness in Endurance
For anything to endure it needs to be loved. A neutral or indifferent attitude will reflect in a marginal commitment. If you have difficulty making commitments, examine how much you love and enjoy the object that requires your commitment. Do I love my work? My family? My choices?
For endurance to be effective it needs to be caring and loving. Does my endurance cause me to be, or seem to be, inflexible? Does my drive and determination cause me to be controlling? Am I too demanding? Do others (my employees, friends, children) cooperate with me out of the sheer force of my will and drive, or out of love?
Exercise for the day: When fighting for something you believe in, pause a moment to ensure that it is accomplished in a loving manner..
Day 23 – Gevurah of Netzach: Discipline in Endurance
Examine the discipline of your endurance. Endurance must be directed toward productive goals and expressed in a constructive manner. Is my endurance and determination focused to help cultivate good habits and break bad ones? Or is it the other way around? Does my endurance come from strength or weakness? Does it come out of deep conviction or out of defensiveness? Do I use my endurance against itself by being tenacious in my lack of determination?
Exercise for the day: Break one bad habit today.
Day 24 – Tiferet of Netzach: Compassion in Endurance
Healthy endurance, directed to develop good qualities and modifying bad ones, will always be compassionate. The compassion of endurance reflects a most beautiful quality of endurance: an enduring commitment to help another grow. Endurance without compassion is misguided and selfish. Endurance needs to be not just loving to those who deserve love, but also compassionate to the less fortunate. Does my determination compromise my compassion for others? Am I able to rise above my ego and empathize with my competitors? Am I gracious in victory?
Exercise for the day: Be patient and listen to someone who usually makes you impatient.
Day 25– Netzach of Netzach: Endurance in Endurance
Everyone has willpower and determination. We have the capacity to endure much more than we can imagine, and to prevail under the most trying of circumstances. Ask yourself: Is my behavior erratic? Am I inconsistent and unreliable? Since I have will and determination, why am I so mercurial? Am I afraid of accessing my endurance and committing? Do I fear being trapped by my commitment? If yes, why? Is it a reaction to some past trauma? Instead of cultivating endurance in healthy areas, have I developed a capacity for endurance of unhealthy experiences? Do I endure more pain than pleasure? Do I underestimate my capacity to endure?
Exercise for the day: Commit yourself to developing a new good habit.
Day 26 – Hod of Netzach: Humility in Endurance
Yielding – which is a result of humility – is an essential element of enduring. Standing fast can sometimes be a formula for destruction. The oak, lacking the ability to bend in the hurricane, is uprooted. The reed, which yields to the wind, survives without a problem. Do I know when to yield, out of strength not fear? Why am I often afraid to yield?
Endurance is fueled by inner strength. Hod of Netzach is the humble recognition and acknowledgement that the capacity to endure and prevail comes from the soul that G-d gave each person. This humility does not compromise the drive of endurance; on the contrary, it intensifies it, because human endurance can go only so far and endure only so much, whereas endurance that comes from the Divine soul is limitless. Do I attribute my success solely to my own strength and determination? Am I convinced that I am all-powerful due to my level of endurance? Where do I get the strength at times when everything seems so bleak?
Exercise for the day: When you awake, acknowledge G-d for giving you a soul with the extraordinary power and versatility to endure despite trying challenges. This will allow you to draw energy and strength for the entire day.
Day 27 – Yesod of Netzach: Bonding in Endurance
Bonding is an essential quality of endurance. It expresses your unwavering commitment to the person or experience you are bonding with, a commitment so powerful that you will endure all to preserve it. Endurance without bonding will not endure.
Exercise for the day: To ensure the endurance of your new resolution, bond with it immediately. This can be assured by promptly actualizing your resolution in some constructive deed or committing yourself to another.
Day 28 – Malchus of Netzach: Nobility in Endurance
Sovereignty is the cornerstone of endurance. Endurance that encompasses the previous six qualities is indeed a tribute and testimony to the majesty of the human spirit.
Is my endurance dignified? Does it bring out the best in me? When faced with hardships do I behave like a king or queen, walking proudly with my head up, confident in my G-d-given strengths, or do I cower and shrivel up in fear?
Exercise for the day: Fight for a dignified cause.
This is an excerpt from “Counting the Omer – A Spiritual Guide” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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April 7th, 2020
Humility
During the fifth week of counting the Omer, we examine and refine the emotional attribute of Hod or humility. Humility – and the resulting yielding – should not be confused with weakness and lack of self-esteem. Hod or humility is modesty – it is acknowledgment (from the root of the Hebrew word “hoda’ah”). It is saying “thank you” to G-d. It is clearly recognizing your qualities and strengths and acknowledging that they are not your own; they were given to you by G-d for a higher purpose than just satisfying your own needs. Humility is modesty; it is recognizing how small you are which allows you to realize how large you can become. And that makes humility so formidable.
A full cup cannot be filled. When you’re filled with yourself and your needs, “I and nothing else”, there is no room for more. When you “empty” yourself before something greater than yourself, your capacity to receive increases beyond your previously perceived limits. Humility is the key to transcendence; to reach beyond yourself. Only true humility gives you the power of total objectivity. Humility is sensitivity; it is healthy shame out of recognition that you can be better than you are and that you can expect more of yourself. Although humility is silent it is not a void. It is a dynamic expression of life that includes all seven qualities of love, discipline, compassion, endurance, humility, bonding and sovereignty.
Day 29 – Chesed of Hod: Lovingkindness in Humility
Examine the love in your humility. Healthy humility is not demoralizing; it brings love and joy not fear. Humility that lacks love has to be reexamined for its authenticity. Sometimes humility can be confused with low self-esteem, which would cause it to be unloving. Humility brings love because it gives you the ability to rise above yourself and love another. Does my humility cause me to be more loving and giving? More expansive? Or does it inhibit and constrain me?
Exercise for the day: Before praying with humility and acknowledgment of G-d, give some charity. It will enhance your prayers.
Day 30 – Gevurah of Hod: Discipline in Humility
Humility must be disciplined and focused. When should my humility cause me to compromise and when not? In the name of humility do I sometimes remain silent and neutral in the face of wickedness? Humility must also include respect and awe for the person or experience before whom you stand humble. If my humility is wanting, is it because I don’t respect another?
Exercise for the day: Focus in on your reluctance to commit in a given area to see if it originates from a healthy, humble place.
Day 31 – Tiferet of Hod: Compassion in Humility
Examine if your humility is compassionate. Does my humility cause me to be self-contained and anti-social or does it express itself in empathy for others. Is my humility balanced and beautiful? Or is it awkward? Just as humility brings compassion, compassion can lead one to humility. If you lack humility, try acting compassionately, which can help bring you to humility.
Exercise for the day: Express a humble feeling in an act of compassion.
Day 32 – Netzach of Hod: Endurance in Humility
Examine the strength and endurance of your humility. Does my humility withstand challenges? Am I firm in my positions or do I waffle in the name of humility? Humility and modesty should not cause one to feel weak and insecure. Netzach of Hod underscores the fact that true humility does not make you into a “doormat” for others to step on; on the contrary, humility gives you enduring strength. Is my humility perceived as weakness? Does that cause others to take advantage of me?
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate the strength of your humility by initiating or actively participating in a good cause.
Day 33 – Hod of Hod: Humility in Humility
Everyone has humility and modesty in their hearts, the question is the measure and manner in which one consciously feels it. Am I afraid to be too humble? Do I mask and protect my modesty with aggressive behavior? Humility must also be examined for its genuineness. Is my humility humble? Or is it yet another expression of arrogance? Do I take too much pride in my humility? Do I flaunt it? Is it self-serving? Is my humility part of a crusade or is it genuine?
Exercise for the day: Be humble just for its own sake.
Day 34 – Yesod of Hod: Bonding in Humility
Humility should not be a lonely experience. It ought to result in deep bonding and commitment. There is no stronger bond than one that comes out of humility. Does my humility separate me from others or bring us closer? Does my humility produce results? Long term results? Does it create an everlasting foundation upon which I and others can rely and build.
Exercise for the day: Use your humility to build something lasting.
Day 35 – Malchut of Hod: Nobility in Humility
Walking humbly is walking tall. Dignity is the essence of humility and modesty. The splendor of humility is majestic and aristocratic. Humility that suppresses the human spirit and denies individual sovereignty is not humility at all. Does my humility make me feel dignified? Do I feel alive and vibrant?
Exercise for the day: Teach someone how humility and modesty enhance human dignity.
This is an excerpt from “Counting the Omer – A Spiritual Guide” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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April 5th, 2020
Bonding
During the sixth week of counting the Omer, we examine and refine the emotional attribute of Yesod or bonding. Bonding means connecting; not only feeling for another, but being attached to him. Not just a token commitment, but total devotion. It creates a channel between giver and receiver. Bonding is eternal. It develops an everlasting union that lives on forever through the perpetual fruit it bears.
Bonding is the foundation of life. The emotional spine of the human psyche. Every person needs bonding to flourish and grow. The bonding between mother and child; between husband and wife; between brothers and sisters; between close friends. Bonding is affirmation; it gives one the sense of belonging; that “I matter”, “I am significant and important”. It establishes trust – trust in yourself and trust in others. It instills confidence. Without bonding and nurturing we cannot realize and be ourselves.
Day 36 – Chesed of Yesod: Lovingkindness of Bonding
Love is the heart of bonding. You cannot bond without love. Love establishes a reliable base on which bonding can build. If you have a problem bonding, examine how much you love the one (or the experience) with which you wish to bond. Do I try to bond without first fostering a loving attitude? Is my bonding expressed in a loving manner?
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate the bond you have with your child or friend through an act of love.
Day 37 – Gevurah of Yesod: Discipline of Bonding
Bonding must be done with discretion and careful consideration with whom and with what you bond. Even the healthiest and closest bonding needs “time out”, a respect for each individual’s space. Do I overbond? Am I too dependent on the one I bond with? Is he too dependent on me? Do I bond out of desperation? Do I bond with healthy, wholesome people?
Exercise for the day: Review the discipline in your bonding experiences to see if it needs adjustment.
Day 38 – Tiferet of Yesod: Compassion in Bonding
Bonding needs to be not only loving but also compassionate, feeling your friend’s pain and empathizing with him. Is my bonding conditional? Do I withdraw when I am uncomfortable with my friend’s troubles?
Exercise for the day: Offer help and support in dealing with an ordeal of someone with whom you have bonded.
Day 39 – Netzach of Yesod: Endurance in Bonding
An essential component of bonding is its endurance; its ability to withstand challenges and setbacks. Without endurance there is no chance to develop true bonding. Am I totally committed to the one with whom I bond? How much will I endure and how ready am I to fight to maintain this bond? Is the person I bond with aware of my devotion?
Exercise for the day: Demonstrate the endurance level of your bonding by confronting a challenge that obstructs the bond.
Day 40 – Hod of Yesod: Humility of Bonding
Humility is crucial in healthy bonding. Arrogance divides people. Preoccupation with your own desires and needs separates you from others. Humility allows you to appreciate another person and bond with him. Healthy bonding is the union of two distinct people, with independent personalities, who join for a higher purpose than satisfying their own needs. True humility comes from recognizing and acknowledging G-d in your life. Am I aware of the third partner – G-d – in bonding? And that this partner gives me the capacity to unite with another, despite our distinctions.
Exercise for the day: When praying acknowledge G-d specifically for helping you bond with others.
Day 41 – Yesod of Yesod: Bonding in Bonding
Every person needs and has the capacity to bond with other people, with significant undertakings and with meaningful experiences. Do I have difficulty bonding? Is the difficulty in all areas or only in certain ones? Do I bond easily with my job, but have trouble bonding with people? Or vice versa? Examine the reasons for not bonding. Is it because I am too critical and find fault in everything as an excuse for not bonding? Am I too locked in my own ways?
Is my not bonding a result of discomfort with vulnerability? Have I been hurt in my past bonding experiences? Has my trust been abused? Is my fear of bonding a result of the deficient bonding I experienced as a child?
To cultivate your capacity to bond, even if you have valid reasons to distrust, you must remember that G-d gave you a Divine soul that is nurturing and loving and you must learn to recognize the voice within, which will allow you to experience other people’s souls and hearts. Then you can slowly drop your defenses when you recognize someone or something you can truly trust.
One additional point: Bonding breeds bonding. When you bond in one area of your life, it helps you bond in other areas.Exercise for the day: Begin bonding with a new person or experience you love by committing designated time each day or week to spend together constructively.
Day 42 – Malchut of Yesod: Nobility in Bonding
Bonding must enhance a person’s sovereignty. It should nurture and strengthen your own dignity and the dignity of the one you bond with. Does my bonding inhibit the expression of my personality and qualities? Does it overwhelm the one I bond with?
Exercise for the day: Emphasize and highlight the strengths of the one with whom you bond.
This is an excerpt from “Counting the Omer – A Spiritual Guide” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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April 2nd, 2020
WHERE DO WE STAND NOW?
Every generation is a link in a long historical chain, and the more uncertain our own times are, the more essential it becomes to investigate our histories, the documents of our ancestors, reservoirs of spiritual wisdom and our collective past.
When profound and sometimes violent events occur on the world’s stage, we recognize them as potential signs of global—even cosmic—change. But how can we distinguish between a temporary disturbance and the turmoil that signals that something more profound is going on, perhaps even the dawning of a new age?
There are two signs to look for. The first, like the Richter Scale that measures the intensity of earthquakes, is easier to read. When an upheaval and its aftershocks affect people across an entire continent or more, unsettling communities and nations, important historic changes may follow. The second sign, when the roots of the confrontations we are witness to reach back through history, is less evident to the naked eye. To recognize these conflicts and locate their wellsprings, we must step back and examine what has come before and the forces, past and present, that have shaped us.
Among the Bible’s many profound messages, there is one that is especially timely today: the world will not be at peace until it makes peace with G-d. But this harmony is possible only when we incorporate G-dliness in everything we do.
The struggles to integrate the Divine and the human plans, matter and spirit, body and soul, the inner and the outer are as old as history itself. The tension between these opposing but complementary forces lies at the root of all conflict: inner (personal) and outer (social and political).
Our Biblical patriarch Abraham was the first to perceive this struggle and to analyze it. He rejected his idol-worshipping family and society and embarked on a solitary spiritual quest for something more. He turned to sheepherding, in order to spend his time alone, thinking and reflecting about the relationship between human beings and the cosmos. He discovered G-d and embraced faith, but his belief in one G-d offended the pagans around him, and they imprisoned him. To introduce his revolutionary concept of one G-d, Abraham contended with and overcame the resistance of a harsh material world.
His story is our story. Reading and applying the Biblical stories of Abraham and his children illuminates our lives today. Abraham taught what he learned to his children, yet they struggled with his ideas and with each other. These challenges and conflicts have persisted, but the direction of history has been a forward one, slowly integrating these opposing forces—religion and secularism, science and religion, faith and materialism.
The battle is not yet over. As in Biblical times, confrontations between nations continue to reverberate throughout the world. Biblical texts describe battles that will be fought in the final days before the world makes its peace with G-d and nations learn to co-exist in harmony. The Biblical battles between the children of Abraham—Ishmael, Isaac, Esau and Jacob—will be replayed on a global scale. Confrontations between the children of Ishmael, Esau and Jacob—the Arab/Muslim world, the Roman/Christian world and the Jewish world, respectively—will take place. These wars have many immediate geo-political causes, but they also reflect the venerable struggle to harmonize spirit and matter.
The Talmud says, “When you see nations confronting each other, prepare yourself for the footsteps of the Messiah.”[note 2] Our sages recognized that large-scale conflicts, especially those that arise between the children of Abraham, are signs of things to come. But the texts assure us that they are preludes to a time when nations will respect each others’ differences while uniting under universal, shared principals. One nation under G-d will expand to many nations under one G-d.
Our Sages also inform us that the battle is not waged entirely outside ourselves; its final frontier is on the personal plane. It entails integrating our own material and spiritual lives, what we do and who we are. Our Sages also inform us that the battle is not waged entirely outside ourselves; its final frontier is on the personal plane. It entails integrating our own material and spiritual lives, what we do and who we are. We are not just observers and bystanders of the events happening around us; we and our actions are an integral part of the unfolding story, and we must know that we carry the profound responsibility to help guide the world toward its destination – the final Redemption.
When civilizations collide, we must experience this upheaval as the dawn of a new age of spiritual consciousness, a true age of knowledge, a world without war and destruction, a world filled with Divine knowledge as the waters cover the sea.
WHAT IS OUR ROLE TODAY? TOWARD A MEANINGFUL FUTURE
Our best strategy to counter the uncertainty and fear associated with change and upheaval is to anticipate the future and welcome it. We must channel the strong emotions awakened by the unsettling events into positive action. Beware of apathy and complacency, and be suspicious of nostalgia for the “good old days.” Do not attempt to slip back into the comfortable posture of the past. It is time to move forward, and it is our responsibility to keep ourselves and others from falling back. We need to remain alert to our cause, our calling, our higher purpose.
The world is changing. We cannot control the changes, and we cannot stop them from happening. How—not whether—to react is paramount question for us. Have we the courage to use them as springboards for growth? As we approach our destination, we discern signs of a new era, and we can direct our conscious efforts toward it.
Upheaval is a sign of paradigm change. Do we hear the footsteps? All the characters are in place. The question is: are we ready?
^^^^^^
During the Persian Gulf War in 1991, the Rebbe cited the Midrash that states: NOTE3 The leader of Persia will attack an Arab nation and will bring destruction to the entire world, and all nations will be outraged and confused… and they will say, “Where shall we come and go?” G-d will answer them: “My children, do not be afraid, everything I have done, I have done for you. Why are you afraid? Do not fear, the time of your Redemption has arrived.” The Rebbe explained that major changes were taking place in the world with more changes to come. Revolutionary changes will behoove nations and cultures to confront their roles and make peace with each
Tags: global, Coronavirus
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April 1st, 2020
Nobility
During the seventh and final week of counting the Omer, we examine and refine the attribute of Malchut – nobility, sovereignty and leadership. Sovereignty is a state of being rather than an activity. Nobility is a passive expression of human dignity that has nothing of its own except that which it receives from the other six emotions. True leadership is the art of selflessness; it is only a reflection of a Higher will. On the other hand, Malchut manifests and actualizes the character and majesty of the human spirit. It is the very fiber of what makes us human.
Malchut is a sense of belonging. Knowing that you matter and that you make a difference. That you have the ability to be a proficient leader in your own right. It gives you independence and confidence. A feeling of certainty and authority. When a mother lovingly cradles her child in her arms and the child’s eyes meet the mother’s affectionate eyes, the child receives the message: “I am wanted and needed in this world. I have a comfortable place where I will always be loved. I have nothing to fear. I feel like royalty in my heart.” This is Malchut, kingship.
Day 43 – Chesed of Malchut: Lovingkindness in Nobility
Healthy sovereignty is always kind and loving. An effective leader needs to be warm and considerate. Does my sovereignty make me more loving? Do I exercise my authority and leadership in a caring manner? Do I impose my authority on others?
Exercise for the day: Do something kind for your subordinates
Day 44 – Gevurah of Malchut: Discipline in Nobility
Although sovereignty is loving, it needs to be balanced with discipline. Effective leadership is built on authority and discipline. There is another factor in the discipline of sovereignty: determining the area in which you have jurisdiction and authority. Do I recognize when I am not an authority? Do I exercise authority in unwarranted situations? Am I aware of my limitations as well as my strengths? Do I respect the authority of others?
Exercise for the day: Before taking an authoritative position on any given issue, pause and reflect if you have the right and the ability to exercise authority in this situation.
Day 45 – Tiferet of Malchut: Compassion in Nobility
A good leader is a compassionate one. Is my compassion compromised because of my authority? Do I realize that an integral part of dignity is compassion? Tiferet – harmony – is critical for successful leadership. Do I manage a smooth-running operation? Am I organized? Do I give clear instructions to my subordinates? Do I have difficulty delegating power? Do we have frequent staff meetings to coordinate our goals and efforts?
Exercise for the day: Review an area where you wield authority and see if you can polish it up and increase its effectiveness by curtailing excesses and consolidating forces.
Day 46 – Netzach of Malchut: Endurance in Nobility
A person’s dignity and a leader’s success are tested by his endurance level. Will and determination reflect the power and majesty of the human spirit. How determined am I in reaching my goals? How strong is my conviction to fight for a dignified cause? How confident am I in myself? Is my lack of endurance a result of my low self-esteem? Do I mask my insecurities by finding other excuses for my low endurance level?
Exercise for the day: Act on something that you believe in but have until now been tentative about. Take the leap and just do it!
Day 47 – Hod of Malchut: Humility in Nobility
Sovereignty is G-d’s gift to each individual. Hod of Malchut is the humble appreciation of this exceptional gift. Does my sovereignty and independence humble me? Am I an arrogant leader? Do I appreciate the special qualities I was blessed with?
Exercise for the day: Acknowledge G-d for creating you with personal dignity
Day 48 – Yesod of Malchut: Bonding in Nobility
Examine the bonding aspect of your sovereignty. Healthy independence should not prevent you from bonding with another person. On the contrary: self-confidence allows you to respect and trust another’s sovereignty and ultimately bond with him. That bond will strengthen your own sovereignty, rather than sacrifice it. Does my sovereignty prevent me from bonding? Could that be because of deeper insecurities of which I am unaware? Do I recognize the fact that a fear of bonding reflects a lack of self-confidence in my own sovereignty?
Exercise for the day: Actualize your sovereignty by intensifying your bond with a close one.
Day 49 – Malchut of Malchut: Nobility in Nobility
Examine the sovereignty of your sovereignty. Does it come from deep-rooted inner confidence in myself? Or is it just a put-on to mask my insecurities? Does that cause my sovereignty to be excessive? Am I aware of my uniqueness as a person? Of my personal contribution?
Exercise for the day: Take a moment and concentrate on yourself, on your true inner self, not on your performance and how you project to others; and be at peace with yourself knowing that G-d created a very special person which is you.
After the 49 days of Counting the Omer, after having fully achieved inner renewal by merit of having assessed and developed each of our 49 attributes, we arrive at the fiftieth day. On this day we celebrate the Festival of Shavuot, the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah). After we have accomplished all we can through our own initiative, then we are worthy to receive a gift (matan) from Above which we could not have achieved with our own limited faculties. We receive the ability to reach and touch the Divine; not only to be cultivated human beings who have refined all of our personal characteristics, but divine human beings who are capable of expressing ourselves above and beyond the definitions and limitations of our beings.
This is an excerpt from “Counting the Omer – A Spiritual Guide” by Rabbi Simon Jacobson. This unique book is now available at our online store.
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Tags: Malchut, sovereignty, kabbalah, leadership, Counting the Omer
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March 30th, 2020
We are currently all experiencing daily discomforts and being faced with difficult challenges that cause worry, angst and fear. Are we equipped to deal with these changes and challenges? Here are 4 steps to focus on that will hopefully uplift our spirits:
1. Stepping Stones
We view discomfort as being annoying and as something we don’t want to do. However, in truth, it’s actually a step to a greater place. Remember that the feelings of discomfort and frustration are simply the opening to new horizons.
2. Spiritual Awakening
The feelings of dissatisfaction are the beginning of a spiritual awakening. So, the first step in building any type of courage is to do something we are not comfortable doing. It doesn’t have to be dangerous and it doesn’t have to repulsive, but something that requires and demands us to go outside of our comfort zone. The question is: can we turn that awakening into a higher state of awareness and consciousness?
3. New Opportunities
Discomfort means that something is happening, and we have an unique opportunity to change and to grow. However, when we choose to run away from discomfort, we are closing our mind to greater experiences and new opportunities because of fear.
4. Embrace it
The key is to try to find ways to embrace the changes around us. Let us open ourselves up to the changes around us and let them transform us. Don’t shy away from discomfort, embrace it.
Adapted by Seymour Dorfman based on the teachings of Rabbi Simon Jacobson.
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Exercise: Note an event in your day that wasn’t in your normal comfort zone and how you worked through the process to embrace it. How was it different than your typical reaction to discomfort? Record your answer in MyM
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March 24th, 2020
FAITH IN TROUBLED TIMES
When the times are uncertain and values are in flux, we need, more than ever, our absolute, spiritual foundation. Whether or not we are aware, each of us was sent to this world with a unique purpose. Our calling is an expression of our profound and intimate relationship to the Eternal, to G-d, and it is this mission that anchors our lives. Throughout even our most difficult moments, our purpose never wavers; this helps us to find our way when all the familiar signposts have vanished.
There is something paradoxical about the capacity of times of upheaval to raise our spiritual consciousness, since catastrophic events can also pose great challenges to faith. Yet the power of faith is undeniable. Sometimes it expresses itself through actions that seem to have nothing to do with faith. Where do people get the determination and willpower to persevere against overwhelming odds? What drives them, in times of crisis, to unfathomable and unexpected acts of heroism? What is the source of our empathy and compassion?
The answer to all these questions is faith—in a higher purpose, a more perfect form of justice than human institutions are capable of. However we refer to it, faith infuses us with the certainty, will and resolve that good can overcome indifference and evil. The path may be long, but faith helps us to recognize that for all of us life is a process that leads to redemption, a process in which loss leads to renewal, suffering to growth, and death to rebirth.
Faith is a power we cultivate, but it is also a gift that we receive. It is the soul granting us the ability to celebrate life, to reconnect to the Eternal and to our lives’ absolute purpose. This power is especially precious when life threatens to become unbearable; it enables us to refuse to become victims, to realize that even if we cannot understand why terrible things happen, we can respond to them with humanity, hope and the dedication to build a better world.
Life is infinitely more than the here and now of individual existence, it is part of a continuing process that began long before our birth and will continue after we have left the stage of this world. We are therefore not simply products of our immediate circumstances, but part of a complex chain. We have a role in shaping our own lives, as well as the lives of those who come after us. The things and people we fear do not have power over us, because we are creatures of G-d and can access our spirituality when we lack control over our material circumstances. Even if those around us are trembling with fear—even if we ourselves are afraid—we can find strength and courage in this single, simple truth.
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In the back of the room a man sat alone, nervous and fearful. Someone approached him and asked, “Why are you so afraid?” He replied, “How can one not be afraid in this world where we don’t know what to expect next? Whether it be illness or poverty, there is so much to fear.”
The other replied: “A great mystic and sage, The Baal Shem Tov, lost his father at a tender age. On his deathbed he told his young son, “My child, remember this your entire life: Fear nothing besides G-d.” This gave the young boy the strength and confidence to go on in life and become one of the greatest visionaries and spiritual innovators who ever lived. His father’s words remained etched in the impressionable mind and heart of the child. He never feared anything—people, the course of nature, all the insecurities that life throws at us—he was in awe of one thing only: G-d. When a young child hears such words it infuses him with the fortitude to withstand all challenges.”
He put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “You must always remember,” he said, “that no matter what comes your way in this transient world, you have nothing to fear, because you only have to answer to G-d, who transcends all the forces in the world that can frighten a person.”
WHAT ACTIONS SHOULD WE TAKE?
To sustain faith and hope, and to perfect the spiritual potential that stirs within us, we must channel faith into action. Neglected, faith can lie dormant in our unconscious. To thrive, it needs to be cultivated. History has shown us the limitations of the material world, and it is up to us to strengthen the eternal pillars upon which the world stands: study of Divine wisdom, prayer and acts of kindness.
Designate time each day to study Divine wisdom and contemplate the larger questions of life: Why we are here? What is the real purpose of our lives? What provides us with true and permanent security? Open your soul and emotionally connect with G-d. Pray for all who suffer and for your own needs. Pray for the strength to move forward, to rebuild and create a more sensitive world. Give more charity than you had previously: money, time and expertise. When we act charitably, we open new passages through which blessings can flow into our world. Seek guidance in the texts studied by our ancestors. One by one, start eliminating the little evils in your life: envy, anger, hate, gossip, speaking ill of others, and all other pettiness to which we often succumb.
Talk to your children about the disquieting changes going on around us in the world today. Encourage them to share their reactions and express their fears. When you talk to them about change and upheaval, stress that all change—even the normal stages of human and social maturation—is frequently disruptive. Discuss the upheavals around us to explain our own internal changes, and vice versa.
Seek community with other people, especially at times of great stress. Ask older people who have endured difficult trials in their lives to relate their experiences. They help us to see the bigger picture and remind us that there have been upheavals in other times and places, and that afterwards people have rebuilt and recovered. Invite friends into your home, comfort one another and work together to build a stronger community. When we are together with others, we can dispel the loneliness and isolation that plagues individuals. By reaching outside the walls of our homes, we get beyond our narrow perspectives as well. Gatherings create synergy, a power that is greater than the sum of its parts.
By translating faith into action and drawing strength from community, we can anticipate the future with hope and give ourselves a meaningful role in bringing it into existence. Then the darkness can be seen for what it is—temporary and transformative—and we can begin to regard ourselves as agents of hope. With awareness, faith and hope we can restore confidence in ourselves and others even in the face of overwhelming adversity. When we allow G-d in, G-d tells you, “I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go.” That assurance becomes the source of the light that we see at the end of the tunnel. No matter how daunting the challenge, whatever the enemy or the battle, when we connect to G-d we have the power to overcome and conquer anything and everything.
What shall we do with this power? Strengthening ourselves and our communities is the beginning, but we must not stop there. We carry responsibility for the universe, and how we fulfill that responsibility directly affects our personal security and survival. To understand this requires understanding the forces of history, and in moments of upheaval can at times distinguish the forces that shape our histories. The Bible displays these forces on an epic scale; the crises of our own times are the modern echoes of those seminal events.
This is an excerpt from Toward a Meaningful Life, part II of the chapter on Change and Upheaval. Read Part IIIUpheaval and Change Part III.
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March 21st, 2020
First and foremost, it is my sincerest hope and prayer that you are all feeling well both physically and emotionally.
Though you are always in my heart, at a time like this, when all otherwise-reliable security blankets and comfort zones have been stripped away and we’re being tested in ways we could never have previously imagined, it is more important than ever to know how deeply connected we really are.
In “normal” times we often make do by relying on our conventional routines and habits, convinced that our material comforts provide us with ultimate security. But when those have all virtually been upended and we’re suddenly faced with deep unknowns, we realize that all we have left is our one and only true and ultimate security – the one that comes from our soul’s connection to G-d and to each other.
Although no one wanted or expected this upheaval, it has been thrust upon us and presents us with two choices: 1) To cower in fear and retreat into the clouds of uncertainty. 2) To rise to the occasion and let our souls shine forth in the best and most beautiful way they can.
I am confident that both you and I have chosen correctly.
Obviously, we need to be prudent, responsible and listen to the health authorities to do whatever it takes to protect ourselves, our families and all those around us. But at the same time we must reach deeper into our inner resources and remain calm and confident as we face these challenges. We must use this time to build up our inner and intimate lives – our love and connection with our families and loved ones, our inner fortitude and values system, and to remind each other what it is we stand for and are ready to fight for. Despite the darkness around us, now more than ever, we embrace being agents of light, particularly when the light is so drastically needed.
While we have no control over the virus and the events going on outside of ourselves, we do have full control over what is going on inside ourselves: what our attitudes are, which message we will give our children, families and friends, how nobly and in how dignified a manner we behave during this unprecedented time; which new skills and strengths – perhaps lying dormant within us until now – will emerge.
So while we may need to be socially distant for the time being, we must become soulfully closer than ever.
In the spirit of brotherhood I share with you that we are here for you and with you. We will neither slow down nor curtail any of our activities. On the contrary, we have chosen to accelerate them – by focusing all our resources toward providing everyone with empowering, life-affirming messages and life skills to ease the strain felt by all of us. Just as the body needs nourishment to be healthy, so too does the soul. In many ways, demoralization and fear can be even more debilitating than the virus itself. We are committed to doing everything in our power to boost the emotional and psychological immunities of our brethren.
In the coming weeks, we will be rolling out special online programs and classes which will address many different segments of society, including online interactive sessions with students across the country and the world which will respond to their questions and concerns, short daily spiritual messages (Soulful Antidotes), and much more. Please see the special coronavirus section we created on our site, which is being updated daily with new materials.
I invite you to join me in this effort. Firstly, by personally partaking in these programs, and of course, by extending the invitation to all others who may benefit as well. Secondly, by sharing your suggestions about programs and ideas you feel would be of service to you and others you know. I would love to hear your thoughts.
And above all, do your part! Express your unique voice and illuminate everyone you can reach!
We may be quarantined within our homes, but we are certainly not quarantined in our souls – we have enormous ability to reach deeper into the hearts and souls of our loved ones, our friends and strangers too. Indeed, these crazy times have opened up new unprecedented opportunities – and a great need – for just such soulful connections.
Let us use this opportunity to transform what may appear as a “distancing” and “isolating” experience, into a connecting and unifying experience — a global unity revolution — uniting and bringing us closer together than ever before, until we merit to see the personal and global redemption of the entire world.
I believe this may be the defining event of our lives: how we respond today will be etched into the annals of history for eternity.
We will not be known for having been silent in the face of such upheaval. When this story will be told by our children and grandchildren, we will be remembered as having done everything humanly possible to mitigate the crisis, emerging a much stronger people in the process.
We shall see the sun rise and our planet restored to excellent health.
With blessings and prayers for complete, perfect health and many long years, physically and spiritually.
With love and warmth,
Simon Jacobson
Tags: current events, global, Coronavirus
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