This week we focus on preparing to receive anew the Torah on Shavuot. We count each day of the Omer for seven weeks and focus on seven qualities in preparation. The song and reading speaks of strength and fits with the quality of the week, netzah. michael (michaelstrassfeld.com; mjstrassfeld@gmail.com)
A word of Torah: In my last newsletter, I wrote about the remarkable teaching of the Sefat Emet, where he writes that the Torah is all about freedom. He states that the Exodus had to precede the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai because only when we are free can we accept Torah. We are now in the midst of the Omer period when we count the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. Some people have used these seven weeks to focus on seven sefirot/aspects of God found in kabbalah. Instead of God, the focus is often on those qualities within ourselves such as hesed/kindness. I want to suggest a variation on that practice. In preparing for Shavuot, we should be focusing on those aspects of our lives that prevent us from being free. As I suggested in the last newsletter, there is a difference between the process of teshuva/repentance and the process of seeking freedom. When we seek freedom, we break out of long-established patterns of our lives. We may not have done anything wrong. We might simply be afraid of being seen as foolish or taking on something we have never done before. Perhaps our current challenge triggers a response from a difficult moment in the past. Instead of responding to what is really going on, we get caught up in a past loop of unpleasant experiences. This week in the Omer is associated with the quality of netzah/endurance, determination, energy, and commitment. While often translated as “victory,” netzah really has more to do with achievement. It is the sefirah of creativity. Each day, we combine the quality of the week with one of the other seven qualities.
When we bring hesed/loving kindness to netzah, we remember that God created the world out of love as it says: The world was built with love (Ps. 89:3). Creativity should come from a place of open heartedness, rather than from selfishness and attachment.
When we bring gevurah to netzah, we carefully watch whether the limits we set on our determination come out of fear of failure or out of a realistic assessment.
When we bring tiferet to netzah, we understand that beauty/truth depends not on perfection but commitment.
When we bring netzah to netzah, we know for sure that freedom is a possibility planted in this world by the One who is revealed as eheyeh asher eheyeh--“I will be, what I will be.”
When we bring hod to netzah, we humbly know that completion does not define our effort.
When we bring yesod to netzah, we realize achievement needs to foster connection to others.
When we bring malkhut to netzah, we know energy comes from being present to Oneness.
Intention/kavana for the week
When do we feel energetic and empowered? When do we feel the opposite? When do our creative juices flow? When do we feel stuck, indecisive?
What is the burdens of mitzrayim, we can leave behind so we can carry the matzah of freedom on our way to Sinai.
Song:
A song for the week of the quality of netzah/energy
Adonai oz l'amo yitain
Adonai yivarekh et amo ba-shalom
God gives strength to God's people
God blesses God's people with peace
(from the liturgy)
