One Sefirah Closer to Becoming an Eshet Hayil (Huh?? [Kindly] Open to find out!)

BS''D

27 Nisan 5773

We count the Omer today....

The Omer is a period of 49 days between Pesah and Shavuout where we count up to the day we received the Torah, Matan Torah. The 49 days consists of a series of 7 weeks x 7days a week, making the total of 49. Each of these seven weeks of Sefirat haOmer corresponds to one of the seven lower Sefirot (characteristics by which HaKadosh Barukh Hu reveals Himself in this world; there are ten total Sefirot). They are:

Hesed (lovingkindness),

Gevourah (justice and discipline), 

Tipheret (harmony, compassion), 

Nessah (endurance),

Hod (humility), 

Yesod (bonding) and 

Malkhut (sovereignty, leadership). 

Now, each day of each week is also associated with one of these same seven sefirot, creating a total of forty-nine permutations, one for each day of the Sefirat haOmer. Symbolically, each of these 49 permutations represents an aspect of each person's character that can be improved or further developed before we can be fitting to receive the Torah HaKedoshah on Shavouot. 

For the next few weeks, BS''D each day we will learn how we can develop our middot according to each day's corresponding middah. BH we will keep it short and concise :)

For example:

BH Today is day Five of week Two, meaning it is 'Hod' of 'Gevourah'-Humility in the realm of Discipline/Justice. Therefore, in the areas where we extend our discipline or sense of justice onto others, we must be sure to be humble. When we are trying to establish justice, we must not become arrogant because of the sense of authority we may feel-as parents, teachers, older siblings....We must do it in a very humble fashion and recognize that HaShem is the true Judge and we are merely carrying out His will--there should be no personal benefit or prestige in doing so. 

'Exercise for the day: Don't judge anyone unless you are doing so selflessly with no personal bias.'

**Daily Sefirah lessons are based on Rav Simon Jacobson's Sefer A Spiritual Guide to Counting the Omer 

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MidrESHET Hayil 

  The Daily Companion for the Sephardi Woman

  www.midreshethayil.com  

  -Smile Eshet Hayil! :D