Day 41: Love One Another

BLESSING FOR COUNTING THE OMER:

Baruch ata Adonai, ELOHEYNU melech ha-olam, asher kiddeshanu bidvarecha v’tzi-va-noo al sifeerat ha-omer.

Blessed are you, O Adonai our GOD, King of the universe Who has sanctified us by your Word and commanded us concerning the Counting of the Omer.

Today is forty-one days, which is five weeks and six days of the Omer.

‘I will betroth you to Me forever; and I will betroth you to Me with righteousness, with justice, with kindness and with mercy; and I will betroth you to Me with fidelity, and you will know HaShem.’  Hosea 2:21-22

During the reign of King Jeroboam II, G-d sends the prophet Hosea to speak to the people of Israel of His despair over their continual idol worship and unwholesome alliances with outside nations.  Hosea boldly confronts the people about their sinful ways, predicting harsh punishment. Then, in contrast, he exclaims a heartfelt plea for Israel to return to G-d with complete trust in HaShem, promising a glorious future… 

We are now in the 6^th week of counting the Omer.  The attributes associated with day 41 are Yesod(Foundation) within Yesod(Foundation)/Bonding within Bonding.  On our path leading up to Shavuot, we have been intensifying our personal refinement quest, growing in wisdom and understanding as we seek positive changes.  This week is critical in forming the foundational basis for lasting, deeply rooted relationships.  Our journey is taking us to places beyond what we may have encountered or experienced before… we are being chiseled, polished, and renewed into the ‘image of our Creator G-d’, perfecting our character as we utilize each divine attribute in our daily interactions.  The intensely powerful betrothal promise from Hosea paints a beautiful landscape of HaShem’s deep, genuine desire and provision for a covenantal marriage vow with Israel – a gift given out of love for an everlasting commitment of faithfulness, righteousness, justice, kindness, and mercy!  It is incredible to fathom our G-d, the ETERNAL One, desires the most intimate of human relationships, bonding with His People in the deepest way possible for ‘you will know HaShem’. 

The sefirah of Yesod translates to ‘Foundation’ and is identified with a Tzaddik, a righteous person, who connects heaven with earth -- the spiritual with the physical -- bringing down blessings and goodness from above, inspiring all to unite their inner spark with G-d, the ETERNAL One.  There are many examples of Tzadikim (righteous ones) throughout scripture – the great biblical patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to name a few – Yeshua being the supreme and ultimate Tzaddik, living The Torah and our perfect example of true righteousness!  The Torah is the everlasting foundation (yesod) where we can stand firm, while continuing to grow spiritually, deeply rooted "as a tree planted by the rivers of waters" Psalm 1.  From here, we are able to build strong, holy, pure characters as we grow in our love of HaShem and love of others, improving ourselves with intention and attention to each attribute of refinement: Yesod (foundation), Chesed(Loving-kindness), Gevurah(Discipline), Tiferet(Harmony), Netzach(Endurance), Hod(Humility), Malchut(Sovereignty). 

We all have the desire and need to be able to bond with others in order to grow and share significant life experiences – perfect Love is ‘bonding within bonding’.  

‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails…’ 1Cor 13:4-8a 

Past and present experiences shape our characters, bringing each of us to the place we are today – just where we are supposed to be, fulfilling G-d’s purpose for our lives.  All have been given a Divine soul with the capacity to relate, see others for who they are, and to interact with them in genuine, nurturing, and loving ways.  If, however, we have not been able to bond well with others for various reasons, we should examine what holds us back, limiting our relationships (not being able to trust? self-critical? out of our comfort zone?) and ask for wisdom and understanding (James 1:5) how to become a person that loves others genuinely, is not self-seeking, but desires to see and inspire the holy spark within each person.  May we all have genuine love for one another! (John 13:34)

Yeshua answered him, “The first of all the commandments is ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is one.  And you shall love the Lord your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12: 29-31