Gevurah — Words of Torah (my blog!) — Rabbi Amy Josefa Ariel (she/her)

14 Days of the Omer. That is 2 Weeks of the Omer.

Malchut of Gevurah
Nobility within Strength
Monday evening and Tuesday
Evening May 6 and Day of May 7

Some teach that malchut is the most important sefirah. They say that in malchut God doesn’t act by God’s self, but through us and that malchut is the goal God had in mind when creating the world.
That isn’t my personal theology, but I respect it and it helps me to stretch and think this way. What if it were? What if malchut is God’s existence and God’s actions resonating along our veins?
What if Rabbi Regina Jonas is Jewish royalty?

13 Days of the Omer. That is 1 Week and 6 Days.

Yesod of Gevurah
Bonding and Connection within Discipline
Sunday evening and Monday
Evening May 5 and Day of May 6
Yom HaShoah

“Did you know that the clock over Buchenwald doesn’t count time?” asks Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie, quietly. He hands me a yellow candle.
“I didn’t,” I murmur. “Not until just now.”

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielMay 5, 2024Omer, Yom HaShoah, Yesod, GevurahComment

11 Days of the Omer. That is 1 Week and 4 Days.

Netzach of Gevurah
Determination/Endurance of Discipline/Justice/Boundaries
Friday evening and Saturday
Evening May 3 and Day of May 4

A elderly woman whose name I’ve never known comes up next to me and takes my arm. I slow my pace to match hers. We exchange pleasantries and then . . .

“Where is Zelophechad?” I ask after her husband.

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielMay 3, 2024Omer, Netzach, Gevurah, ZelophechadComment

10 Days of the Omer. That is 1 Week and 3 Days.

Ten Days of the Omer

Tiferet of Gevurah
Harmony/Integration/Beauty of Discipline/Justice/Boundaries
Wednesday evening and Tuesday
Evening May 2 and Day of May 3

“Well,” I say, “Are we walking toward Sinai to be closer to God? God said come close, but not too close. Are we walking toward Sinai to be closer to each other? I don’t even like all of these people. For that matter, I don’t even always like God. Are we walking toward Sinai to be closer to the Torah? Have you read the Torah? I mean, I love reading the Torah. I love our stories. I love our words. And also . . . have you read the Torah?” I know he has. I know he knows what I’m talking about. Two kids, I mean, they may as well have been kids they were so young, who just want to be closer and closer and closer to this . . . Eternal . . . this Divine . . . this Everything . . . get it in their heads to offer something they came up with themselves. I’m sure they thought it would be extra special. I’m sure they thought they’d feel more and know more and see more and be more. They wanted to soar with eagles and swim with whales and instead they burned with fire.

“I know,” he says quietly.

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielMay 2, 2024Omer, Tiferet, Gevurah, Nadav, Abibu, Abihu, Alden SolovyComment

9 Days of the Omer. That is 1 Week and 2 Days.

Nine Days of the Omer

Gevurah of Gevurah
Discipline/Justice/Boundaries of Discipline/Justice/Boundaries
Gevurah is also Strength
Wednesday evening and Tuesday
Evening May 1 and Day of May 2

I’ve secretly always wondered what Rebecca saw in him.
In Isaac.
Well, it was a secret.
Now you know.

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielMay 1, 2024Gevurah, Isaac, Omer, Shavuot, SinaiComment

8 Days of the Omer. That is 1 Week and 1 Day.

Chesed shebe Gevurah
Somehow I’m caught in the midst of a bustle of bodies in intense conversation . . .
In the crush of priests, two voices rise over the others. One brings up Ramban, Nachmanides, and says, ‘We are taught by the Ramban that justice and lovingkindness are a combination of fire and water, which is to say, salt. And salt, as we know, sustains all the worlds.’ ‘But this is false!’ His walking companion disagrees amicably. ‘The main purpose of God, the main purpose of the world is Chesed!’

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielApril 30, 2024Omer, Gevurah, Chesed, Salt, SinaiComment

Two Days of the Omer

Day Two of the Omer

Gevurah of Chesed
Boundaries/Discipline in Lovingkindness

I’m thinking about Yitro, Moses’s father-in-law and priest of Midian. I can see him there, just ahead of us. His eyes are sparkling as he walks with Caleb and Joshua. It’s hard to say what they might be talking about, but I think Joshua is . . . laughing? Yeah. He’s definitely laughing.

Jewish HolidaysAmy ArielApril 25, 2024Omer, Gevurah, Chesed, Sefirat haOmer, Day Two, YitroComment