This week I suggest a different way to think of the Omer and its seven sefirot by focusing on qualities that can be described as near enemies.
Michael (MichaelStrassfeld.com)
A word of Torah: Last week, I suggested that the Omer period could be used to explore the obstacles that prevent us from becoming freer as we journey from Mitzrayim to receive the Torah anew on Shavuot. I focused on the sefirah of netzah, which represents the qualities of endurance, achievement, and creativity. I used the seven sefirot to set out some of the challenges, like fear of failure, that prevent us from using our creativity.
This week I would like to suggest a different way to prepare for Shavuot during the seven weeks. It is modeled after a practice in Buddhism, which sets out good qualities to strive for and also describes the contrasting qualities such as love and hate. Interestingly it also suggests a quality called near enemies. They are near enemies because while they seem similar to the good qualities, actually they are quite different.
For example, compassion’s near enemy is pity. Having pity on someone who is suffering seems similar to having compassion for them but just think of the difference between feelings of pity and compassion. The first suggests a separation between you and the person you pity, and can imply a sense of superiority. Compassion for a person implies a connection between you and them. The first conveys a sense of noblesse oblige and is focused on how great you are. The second suggests an empathetic identification with the person who is suffering. This myopic focus on the self is characteristic of many of the “near enemies.”
Here are my suggestions for the near enemies of the seven sefirot, which can provide a framework for using this time to prepare for Shavuot
Hesed/lovingkindness near enemy: attachment, no boundaries
Gevurah/Din/judgment/limitations near enemy: indifference, fear of closeness,
Tiferet/Rahamim/Emet/Compassion/Beauty/Truth near enemy: pity, perfection, “criticism for your own good”
Netzah/achievement/energy Near enemy: over self-confident, unable to relax
Hod/ humility/patience Near enemy: passivity, resignation, despair
Yesod/foundation/connection Near enemy: false connections (300 Facebook friends), too grounded Malkhut/Shekhinah/Ruler/presence Near enemy: aloof, all powerful. I am more than enough
Intention/kavana for the week
The kavana this week is to focus on the qualities of the "near enemies" (see Word of Torah) and to sing a song each day about Torah as a preparation for Shavuot.
Song:
yehei ravah kadamakh de-tiftah liba’e be-oraita
ve-tashlim mishalin de-liba’e, ve-liba de-khol amakh yisrael
le-tav u-le-hayyin ve-lishlam
May it be your will to open our hearts in Torah
and fulfill the requests/questions of my heart and the hearts of all Israel
for good, for life, for wholeness
(from the liturgy)
