LEVITICUS 25:1-27:34,
BEHAR-BECHUKOSAI, COUNTING THE OMER, JERUSALEM DAY AND MORE
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Behar-Bechukosai is a double portion. In it we read about proper conduct to a fellow Jew:
At
25:17 -
“And you shall not wrong, one man his fellow Jew, and you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord, your God”.
At
25:25 -
“If your brother becomes destitute and sells some of his inherited property, his redeemer who is related to him shall come forth and redeem his brother's sale”.
At
25:35 -
“If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you, you shall support him [whether] a convert or a resident, so that he can live with you”.
At
25:36 –
“You shall not take from him interest or increase, and you shall fear your God, and let your brother live with you”.
At
25:37 -
“You shall not give him your money with interest, nor shall you give your food with increase”.
At
25:39 -
“And if your brother becomes destitute with you, and is sold to you, do not work him with slave labor”.
At
25:43 -
“You shall not work him with rigor, and you shall fear your God”.
At
25:47-48 -
“If
a resident non Jew gains wealth with you, and your brother becomes destitute
with him and is sold to a resident non Jew among you or to an idol of the
family of a non Jew.
After
he is sold, he shall have redemption; one of his brothers shall redeem him”.
Being a Member of the Tribe is not a bad deal.๐
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GETTING UP IN THE MORNING
When we first wake up in the morning the following prayer is recited:
ืืืื
ืื ื ืืคื ืื ืืื ืื ืืงืืื ืฉืืืืจืช ืื ื ืฉืืชื ืืืืื
ืจืื ืืืื ืชื
“I thank you, living
and ever living king, for You have returned my soul within me with pity.
Great is your faithfulness”.
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MORE GRATITUDE - JERUSALEM DAY
This
Sunday evening marks the beginning of Jerusalem Day. It commemorates that in 1967 Israel gained
control over the entire city as part of the Six-Day War.
Jerusalem
Day a religious holiday as is Yom Hashoah, Yom Haikoron, and Yom Hatzmaut. The
day is very much celebrated by Israel's Religious Zionist community with
parades and additional prayers in many synagogues.
The military victory over the surrounding Arab armies is regarded as a bona-fide miracle worthy of thanksgiving.
This victory clearly affects the entire Jewish people. Israel is a place of refuge for all Jews , and serves as a source of deep Jewish pride throughout the world.
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Between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, the Omer is counted each evening for a total of seven weeks or 49 days.
The counting is a method for preparing oneself for receiving the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot. This preparation in a certain sense is a purification process, making one ready for the revelation of God at Mt. Sinai where the Torah was received. The purification process involves a detailed emotional refinement that is undertaken at each of the day’s counting.
Its roots are in Jewish mysticism that is called Kabbalah. The counting is based on a rationale that we have been created in the image of God, and then sets out, if you will, to clothe God in seven Divine Attributes.
The
seven Divine Attributes whose focus changes week by week and within a particular
week day by day are:
Chesed
- Loving-kindness
Week
1 of the Omer
Gevurah
— Justice and discipline
Week
2 of the Omer
Tiferet
- Harmony, compassion
Week
3 of the Omer
Netzach
- Endurance
Week
4 of the Omer
Hod
- Humility
Week
5 of the Omer
Yesod
- Bonding
Week
6 of the Omer
Malchut
- Sovereignty, leadership
Week
7 of the Omer
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In the Leviticus at 23:15-16 we are commanded to count the
Omer.
"And you shall count for yourselves from
the morrow of the Shabbat, from the day that you bring the omer that is raised,
seven complete weeks there shall be until the morrow of the seventh week you
shall count fifty days".
The Omer is a quantity of ripened barley, about 9 pounds, that the Kohanim harvested on the 2nd day of Passover when we entered into the Land of Israel. After 50 days the wheat is ready to be harvested, and we usher in the Festival of Shavuot
Here are some thoughts on the 4th, 5th and 6th weeks of the Omer count:
In the 4th week of Omer counting we come to Sefirat Netzach (ื ืฆื) whose meaning is Endurance. This is some of what Rabbi Shimon Jacobson has to say about Endurance. It is applicable to many of us.
Endurance… 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.
Runners, particularly long distance understand the meaning of Netzach. It is true grit.
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?
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In the 5th
week of the Omer counting the focus of is the sefirah Hod (ืืื)…and
according to Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Hod is Humility. Here are some of his thoughts on Hod:
Hod (Humility) is the silent partner of the previous sefirah, Netzach (Endurance). Hod’s strength is in its silence. Its splendor in its repose. Humility leads to yielding, which is an essential element of Humility - and the resulting yielding - should not be confused with weakness and lack of self-esteem.
Humility is modesty; it is acknowledgement (from the root "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.
Acknowledging that your strengths come from a higher place gives you the
power to endure far beyond your own perceived capacity. It gives you part of G‑d's
enduring strength.
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We have begun the 6th week of the Omer counting. The focus is the sefirah YESOD (ืืกืื)…and according to Rabbi Simon Jacobson, YESOD is Bonding. Here are some of his thoughts on YESOD:
Bonding is a complete fusion between a lover and the beloved. Without bonding no feeling can be truly realized. 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.
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.
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We conclude the Book of Leviticus:
BE STRONG, BE STRONG, AND WE WILL BE STRENGTHENED
ืืืง ืืืง ืื ืืืง
