Category Archives: Holidays

Counting the Omer, dancing in the limbs of the Sefirot: Bringing the spiritual into the material

09 Monday Apr 2012

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3000 years ago at this time there was such rejoicing inIsraelbecause the first crops of the year were being harvested.  The Barley harvest had happened and we were counting the days until the wheat harvest.  We were also remembering the wilderness quest. After our miraculous escape from that narrow place that we call Mitrayim we had entered the wilderness of Sinai. We counted the days until G’s offering to us, Torah. We make Korbanot, ways of coming closer to G.  But G also offered us another way of coming closer.  In a sense, Torah is a Korban offered by G for us to come closer, to make the sacred connection. As we count the days, called counting the Omer, we reenact creation; the creation of the world and the creation of our tribe. 

 

According to Kabbalah G used 10 Sefirot to move the spiritual into the material thus creating the energy-matter connection.  We reenact the flow of spiritual into material by counting the 7 lower Sefirot, speaking of them and playing in the limbs of the Sefirotic tree.

 

There are 49 days between the second night of Pesah and Shavuot, which is a week of weeks. We unpack each of the 7 lower Sefirot find in each one, all of the 7 repeated until 49 have been completed, contemplated and experienced.  It is like a dream within a dream as we float among the limbs and leaves of the Sacred tree.

 

1st Sefirah

On the eve of the second Seder we counted the first Sefirah The first Sefirah within  Sefirah. It is Hesed within Hesed.  Hesed is compassion, it is unconditional love.  Compassion within unconditional love, is a heartful place. Hesed within Hesed is selfless and giving and what can compare to that feeling.

 

Give a try: Sit comfortably in a quiet place.  Take a few conscious breaths.  Allow yourself to feel the love that means so much to you. It might be, as the Haggadah says; love of parent for child and child for parent.  It might be your life partner or nature’s beauty.  The love that we offer has a transformative power for the receiver and also the giver. Offer it now, in your heart, from your heart.

 

 

2nd Sefirah

The next night, this year April 8, we climb to the branch growing out of Hesed that is called Gevurah.  On that branch, Gevurah of Hesed, we bring some discipline and gentle judgment to the power of love. We love unconditionally but that love is not blind. We are human and fallible.  Our Hesed exalts our humanity and our Gevurah grounds us with discernment.

 

Give a try: Sit comfortably in a quiet place.  Take a few conscious breaths.  Consider how we share our differences with those we love.

 

 

3rd Sefirah

Monday night, April 9th is the eve of Tiferet of Hesed.  Still within the loving place we seek out balance.  It is not the balance between love and judgment.  It is the balance of judgment within love; this is called beauty, Tiferet. We can only see G through the beauty of G creations.  In the mountains and forests and in the loving balance for which we strive with friends, family and self we discover G.

 

Give a try: Stand in an open space (maybe with a friend to spot you). Concentrate on a spot in the distance. Lift one leg and balance for a few moments while taking a few conscious breaths. Now try with the same thing with the other leg. Finally, stand on both feet legs slightly spread and knees bent. Take a few conscious breaths as you feel your balance.  How beautiful it is to find balance in our lives.

The Light Giver

27 Tuesday Mar 2012

Posted by in High Holy Days, History, Holidays, Kabbalah, Omer, Purim, Shabbos, stories, Sukkot, Thoughts

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ב׳ה

I am very excited to announce that my book; “The Light Giver” is now out and available on Amazon.com.

The book is about a Hasidic Rebbe in the Old West. It brings together wonderful explanations and interpretations of Jewish holidays woven into delightful stories of the Old West. The hero of the many short stories meets Native Americans, Mountain men, runaway slaves and immigrants heading west in the 1850′s. 

The book blends my love of the Old West and my desire to share a different vision of Jewish holidays and heritage.

Different cultures meet and learn from each other in an open, gentle and exciting manner.

I hope that you will ‘give a look’ and enjoy.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0615611192/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1332874248&sr=1-1

Personal Sacred Connections on Purim.

08 Thursday Mar 2012

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Purim is silly. We drink and eat and dress in funny costumes and makes lots of noise.

Purim invites us to to play hide-n-seek. Nowhere in the story do we read the comforting ןיאמר השם “and G said…” Rather, we are invited to dig deeper to find the נסתר Nistar, the hidden. We find the G-flow in the actions of humanity.  The flow of circumstance, the synchronicity of events is the כלי tool of G to encourage us to Jew mindfully, heartfully, fully, as did Hadassah and Mordechai.

But it is so much more than that.

Purim is a helpful hint.
Purim pointer of deep direction.
Purim is a time when simple coincidence reveals a deeper synchonatic awareness.

Two amazing individuals, who have been gifts to my life, came to life (in this realm) on Purim, proving my point.

Talia, my daughter was born on Taanit Esther in 1981. She has increased my joy, fulfilling the מצווה Mitzvah, the Sacred connection of Adar, “increase joy in Adar.”

Thank you Talia for always being that Mitzvah of joy in my life.

In the year that Israel became the modern, recognized,  Jewish state, 1948; In that year, on Purim, a baby with jet black hair and large inquiring eyes was born. She was given the name, “G is my Judge.” She came into my life in time for us to enter the 21st century hand in hand. Her name changed, becoming “G’s Compassion” which she evidenced in her amazing openness and passion for compassion to all who crossed her path.  Our life together flowed and still flows like a river of deep spiritual discovery. Sometimes the river is rough, whitecaps and swells rocking our boat and at other times we rock gently on with the current. But always I have a partner who plumbs the depth, whose balance of compassion and judgement has kept our lives buoyant and vital. Her name has morphed again. Her name reflects that balance and that depth and I am grateful.

And so today, when Hedvah’s secular and Jewish birth dates coincide, I offer a blessing of health and happiness and balance and joy and love for this woman who is that blessing to me.

Blotting Out the Memory of Amalek and Not Forgetting

04 Sunday Mar 2012

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I have seen the good guys and the bad guys.  I have been around for a long time and I have seen the best in people and the worst. I know of the many different tribes of the spirit. I have been leaned on by the tribe of Jewing folk since their beginning. I know that the folk of this tribe teach that one should care for the stranger as for the home-born. And I know of the exception: The tribe of Amalek.  To some it would seem strange that the tribe of Jewing is committed to the destruction of another tribe. But I know the history and I know the secret meaning of this seeming bloodlust, for I was there at the beginning.  I am the Mateh, the staff made from the Tree of Life, given to Adam and Havah, passed down to the 3 forefathers and 4 foremothers[1].  I was lost in the palace of Pharaoh from the time of Yosef up to the time when Moshe as a child in Pharaoh’s daughter’s house found me and chose me over gold and silver, chose his path as a just leader of freed slaves rather than that of a Pharaoh’s sadistic apprentice. Yes and I have been there to witness the history of the tribe of Jewing.

Because I come from G’s Tree of Life, I also am aware of the mystery. I know the story and the lesson, the test and the teaching.  I am here to pass on both to any who can listen to G’s voice on the wind, to any who can sit in silence, to any who would hold me, and realize that I am a sacred connection, I am Mateh Moshe, I am from the Tree of Life to all who will hold fast to Torah.

This part of the saga begins with Yaakov running from his father’s house.  His brother Esav had secretly vowed to kill Yaakov. Esav sent his son, Elishav to chase after him and kill Yaakov for taking his birthright and blessing.  Yaakov’s mother had given him gold and silver to take to his uncle Lavan.  She knew her brother’s greed. She wanted her son to arrive with gifts in order that he would be welcomed and honored, not treated like a ‘shlepper.’ 

Elishav chased Yaakov and caught up with him.  Strangely enough when Elishav confronted Yaakov, Yaakov spoke to his nephew a teaching that would later be written in Talmud.  He said: “I know that you are here to kill me, but I do not want my blood on your hands.  It is a truth that a poor man is like one who is dead.  So take all of my gold and silver and return to your father, knowing that you have fulfilled his wishes.”  Elishav whose name means “wealth is my god” greedily accepted his uncle’s proposal and left him alive.  This is how Yaakov ended up before his uncle, penniless.

Esav was not happy with his son’s choice and chastised him for being fooled by his uncle.  And Elishav took this to heart.  When he married, he passed on his father’s hatred to his son.  And it was passed down among his kin who became the evil tribe of Amalek.  Hundreds of years later, as the descendants of Yaakov were leavingEgypt, following Moshe, they were attacked by the descendants of Elishav.  The Amalekites attacked the weak and infirm, the elders and children who were in the back of that band of Jews fleeing the oppression ofEgypt.  When the people realized what the evil Amalekites did, they took to heart the emanation that Amalekites were the eternal enemies of the descendants of Yaakov, those called Bnay Yisrael. They vowed to wipe out the Bnay Amalek, the sons of Elishav.

But you two-leggeds forget easily.  And when theKingdomofShaulwent to war with the Amalekites Shaul let Agog, their king live. When G admonished Shaul he went to kill the murderous enemy of his people.  But it was too late. Agog had raped a woman of his own tribe and she became pregnant. And it is his descendants who birthed some of the most hated and heinous murderers of all time.  Haman was such a descendant, as was Torquemada and Hitler. Others of this tribe have arisen and laid waste to humanity.  To be sure the tribe of Jewing has put limits as to the discovery and punishment of the evil doers.  There is a sacred teaching that No Amalekite is known except for his actions.  All children are innocent. No person can be accused of being a member of that despicable tribe except by his deeds.

That is the history of the animosity but that is not the deep meaning of the mystery of Amalek.

You see Amalek represents the basest of human instincts.  Every animal that hunts, seeks weakness.  A pride of lions, a pack of hyenas, a lone cougar will all seek the weakest of the herd, the lame the sick the young and the old.  Now animal nature works for animals.  The hunter culls the herd the herd stays together for protection.  It is not good, it is not bad, it simply is.  But for the human to prey upon the weak, the poor, the stranger in hir[2] midst, the widow and orphan is evil.  And for members of the tribe  to ignore those in need, being concerned only for themselves, going along to get along, hiding in the safety of the pack is a base and debasing path.  The Bnay Yisrael are taught to care for the stranger, the orphan the widow and the poor.  They are taught to be just and compassionate, to protect the weakest of the tribe and to reach out to those in need whether of their tribe or not treating the stranger as the home born.

The lesson of Amalek, the lesson for you two-leggeds, is that Amalek is in each of you (we one-leggeds, the plants of the earth, are not affected by Amalek-itis, we have our own problems with root rot and Dutch elm disease).  You two-leggeds must struggle with the base instincts, the Amalek in you and blot it out.  And, Torah gives you the reminder, as does all of history.  In every generation, you must blot out the Amalek instinct.  In order to do that you must not forget.  This is the teaching of the Torah Koan; “you shall blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven.  Do not forget!”
(Deuteronomy 25:19)

[1] This offering is part of an ever-growing series of interpretations, commentaries and stories featuring as the ‘hero’ the Mateh of Moshe. For more stories, check out  some of my earlier blogs.

[2] Trying to be gender neutral is tryng.  My attempt is s/he for he and she, and hir for him and her.

New Year’s Hangover

01 Sunday Jan 2012

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With the New Year’s hangover, the holiday season is officially over.  As people wake up to aspirins and walks and some ‘hair of the dog,’ resolutions are already fading as the remnants of Xmas trees languish and holiday lights attest to the procrastination that comes after the frenetic energy of the holidays.

In our house, candle wax has been scraped with wonder from places on which no candle could possibly have dripped. Our numerous Hanukiyot, pointing back to family Hanukahs long remembered and to the anticipation of family celebrations in the future, have been re-boxed and taken downstairs to the basement.  Tears of melancholy memory have been shed as our family came together to share in the light and love and laughter that is any family celebration.  Hanukiyot were lit in memory and in honor of those away or only present in our hearts.

Our son came in fromNew York, to stay with his sister and they both joined us in celebration. Our grandson was not with us and we lit a Hanukiyah in his honor, as we lit the Palombo Hanukiyah in memory of my father and in honor of my mother who could not be with us.

At Rocky Mountain Hai, we were joined by friends of all faiths, to share in the meaning and miracle that is Hanukah. I hope soon to publish here a video of the twice told story of Hanukah; the historical happenings and the mystical mythology.

But the season does not end with Hanukah, it begins.  Hanukah begins on the 25th of the winter month Kislev.  Christmas takes place on the 25th of the winter month December.  What do Jews do on that day of Christian faith in the future.  I went to the Chautauqua Ranger Cottage to work so that my friends could have that sacred day off with family.  I told stories of the old west and the critters, four legged and two who inhabited and still inhabit the west.  I brought some left over Hanukah gelt (not to be confused with Jewish guilt) to hand out to the kids as I guided families to good Christmas walks. In the world of which we dream, we would be reaching out to people of all religions to give to them during their holy times.

And so came New Year’s Eve and the glittering ball that falls from Time Square and the fireworks that shoot up in the air.  I had a scotch and called my children and grandchild to wish them a happy New Year, a year filled with good and gentle changes, a year occupied with compassion, a year in which all of humanity through their own paths would reach out to ease burdens and build the bonds of understanding and love.

I went to sleep before the ball dropped, but my dreams were filled with hope.  My resolution for 2012 is not to drop my resolve, to believe that we can learn from our diversity, that we can love the distinctions that flavor this delicious stew that we call humankind.

Hanukah lessons in the Four Worlds

16 Friday Dec 2011

Posted by in Hasidut, History, Holidays, Kabbalah, spirit guide

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The Pardes of Hanukah

1. Pshat-MCA
FACT SHEET
Date: Kislev 25-
Name: Hanukkah=Rededication
The Story:
In the 4th Century, BCE Alexander the Great conquered the entire Middle East. After his death the empire was split and factions fought over Israel. The winner was The Selucid empire which was centered in what is now Syria. In 167 BCE Antiochus (who called himself Epiphanes = God has made manifest) forced all of the peoples under his rule to Hellenize. He outlawed Jewish practice such as the celebration of Shabbat and the ritual of Brit Milah (circumcision). He tried to replace Jewish worship with the worship of Greek gods including the sacrifice of non-Kosher animals, most notorious, pigs.

When the Greeks came to Modi’in and set up an altar, an old priest named Mattathias attacked and killed a Jew who was about to make a sacrifice at the altar. There followed a protracted Guerilla war against the Greeks, led by Mattathias and his five sons. Mattathias passed on the leadership of the rebellion to his eldest son, Judah, who was called “HaMaccabee” (the Hammer).

The Maccabees defeated the Greeks and liberated Jerusalem.
They began the long hard task of cleaning the Temple. They found that they had only one small cruse of oil with which to light the Menorah. But that cruse lasted for eight days (until they could produce enough ritually pure oil).

The Facts: Continue reading »

Hanukah: The Power of Light

14 Wednesday Dec 2011

Posted by in Hasidut, Holidays, Kabbalah

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What do we think of when we think of Hanukah.  If you are under 18 or a parent of someone under 18, you think of gifts.  Most adults think of Latkes and lights.  If we let our minds flow to a deeper place, the miracle of the oil comes to mind.  We speak of a small cruse of oil that lasted for eight days.  And yet, the story of the “miracle of the oil” was written at least 200 years after the events that are the basis of our holiday.  The story begins in blood and flame and fervor for freedom. And yet, the battle with the Syrian Greeks has lost its luster in world fraught with war and death.  Many people say that the story of the “miracle of the oil” was written to elevate the emphasis of Hanukah.  In the physical realm, Hanukah is the story of a war for religious freedom.  The story of the “miracle of the oil” is rooted in the understanding that these eight days also belong in the realm of the spirit.  The story of the “miracle of the oil” may not live in the realm of facts and history, but it shines bright in the realm of truth and faith.

The story comes to us to shed some light (pun intended) upon the holiday called dedication” (Hanukah חנוכה means dedication).

The Lamp that our people lit in the Holy Temple every day was the seven branched Menorah.  Today we find a remnant of it in many Synagogues.  We call it the Ner Tamid (נר תמיד).  That term, usually translated as “Eternal Light” really means the “Regular Light” or “The Light of Consistency”.  The sacred Menorah of the Temple, is the oldest of all Jewish symbols.  It was lit daily with the sacred oil.  That seven branch Menorah is the symbol of Shabbat, a symbol of creation and the symbol of the Jewish people. Continue reading »

Last minute prep for the High and Holy Days

19 Monday Sep 2011

Posted by in Hasidut, High Holy Days, Holidays, Kabbalah, spirit guide, Thoughts

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Have you been procrastinating on your high holyday prep?

Have you not found the peace that high holydays are supposed to bring?

Has elul not seemed to be as fulfilling as advertised?

There is an answer, a three-fold, last minute, easy answer for we procrastinators.  As the rabbis of old put it:

ידוע שג’ דברים מבטלים גזירות רעות תשובה, תפילה וצדקה

 3 little things can turn bad to better, heartrending to happy, defeat to victory.

It is so simple.

Here we go:   Continue reading »

Rediscovering Love during The Days of Awe

08 Thursday Sep 2011

Posted by in Hasidut, High Holy Days, Holidays, Kabbalah, spirit guide, Thoughts, Uncategorized

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אהבה Ahavah means love. We all want love in our lives.  As we start the “Head of the Year” it is a time to discover or re-discover the love in ourselves and in our world.  The Yamim Noraim, the days of awe gently point us toward love in our lives, for awe is not only the beginning of Wisdom, it is the foundation of love.  I am in awe of the amazing person whom I call wife.  I am in awe of my children and my grandchildren and I am in awe of the Godding process that is love.  The Hebrew root of love is אהב and those 3 letters are awesome in their teaching.  the first letter, א alef, is also the first letter of the Hebrew Alef-Bet.  It is silent and infinite and coaxes us to look within and find love in and of our soul, love of our self.  Looking inward in those quiet moments of meditation, we can discover self-love.  we discover the depth of soul and the goodness, the ‘Godness’ that is within.  Loving the self is the first step in our process of bringing love to our lives and a world that is desperate need of love.  I look at myself, ‘warts and all’ and find that I can be comfortable in my body and in my soul.  That comfort, that love allows me to look out on the world in a more compassionate way. It helps me move into the world with love and care and joy. Continue reading »

Returning, Unpacking, washing and greeting. Welcome to Elul

02 Friday Sep 2011

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Imagine coming home from a long trip. You are hot, sweaty, tired, cranky, angry, aggravated and glad to be home. What do you do first.

Sigh in thanks, glad to be home followed by a quick unfulfilling “hi, I am home” to the family.

Then unpack: the dirty laundry, personal care items, checking for broken bottles, leaking toothpaste or hair products, cologne/perfume, clothes to be hung up and “finds” to be discarded or redirected to friends, family or the sacred bric-a-brac spaces in your home.

The grimy travelled worn clothes and discarded as the shower or bath calls seductively. Wash away the dust and grime of the road, luxuriating in the cleansing water. Then dress, clean and neat and comfy, or maybe overdressing to overcompensate. Continue reading »

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