Day 22-16 Sefirat HaBinyan/Building the Realm and Counting Up

Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalom (Reb Zalman) wrote:

“People who have worked on their awareness have pointed out that there are 49 days from the end of Tish’ah b-Av / the fast of the 9th of Av, to the day before Rosh HaShannah.  In counting S’feerah between Pesach andShavu’ot, we make our way downward from Chesed of Chesed to Malchut of Malchut.  During the Elul  season, we make our way upward from Malchut of Malchut toChesed of Chesed.”  (A Guide for Starting Your New Incarnation, 2001, ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, p. 1)

I will use this way of counting up through the days between Tisha b'Av and Rosh HaShannah to cleansing spirit and soul, using the sefirot as a spark for personal daily meditations to map out and reflect on the journey. Below are my kavanot or intentions for climbing up from 5773 to 5774.

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 22

“Psalm 27:6- And then my head will be raised above my enemies around me, and I will offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of jubilation; I will sing and chant to the Lord. (#1)” Even the strongest of us need love to endure. The Lord does not forget me but I must be counted by my earthly family too. As we sing Halleluyah up to the One let me gather in my holy sisters and brothers to celebrate. “Psalm 27:6- And now, as You have held my head high despite the presence of my powerful foes I prepare to celebrate and thrill, singing and making music to You, Yah!”(#2)

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 22 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 1 days, Chesed Sheb’ Netzach.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 21

“Psalm 27:7- Lord, hear my voice as I call; be gracious to me and answer me. (#1)” Getting closer and into a week of compassion. There are no distractions and God and I get right to the point. What’s that? So I need to show I can really forgive and start off with a clean slate? Can I use the text of the Torah to become more open or as Reb Shefa puts it, more porous? Not to worry for I will keep my dignity. “Psalm 27:7- Listen Yah, to the sound of my cry And, being kind, answer me!”(#2)

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 21 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, Malchut Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 20

“Psalm 27:8- In Your behalf my heart says, ‘Seek My countenance’; Your countenance, Lord, I seek. (#1)” During a ritual today at my retreat we were asked what stops our flow?  What do we do to keep ourselves from getting what we want. If I want to bond with God what then is keeping me from doing it? Fear? Compassion should be shown to others but it also has to be shown to ourselves. I don’t fear the lack of God’s love but  lack of someone to catch me when I fall. “Psalm 27:8- My heart has said, I turn to seek you. Your presence is what I beg for.(#2)”

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 20 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 2 weeks, and 6 days, Yesod Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 19

“Psalm 27:9- Do not conceal Your countenance from me; do not cast aside Your servant in wrath. You have been my help; do not abandon me nor forsake me, God of my deliverance. (#1)” The writer of this psalm is showing humility and is clear in what they need. I wonder if I am as clear. I know what I need but to get it my words need to be more humble and filled with compassion instead of just desire. “Psalm 27:9- Don't hide Your face from me. Don't just put me down, You who have been my helper. Don't abandon me, don't forsake me, God my support.(#2)”

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 19 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 2 weeks, and 5 days, Hod Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 18

“Psalm 27:10- Though my father and mother have forsaken me, the Lord has taken me in. (#1)” There are many here at my retreat with parents who have died or who are in their last stages of transition. We who were once shown compassion by our parents must now be the ones to give compassion. An enduring dance in which we switch places. It makes this line of the psalm all the meaningful.“Psalm 27:10- Though my father and my mother have left me You, Yah, will hold me securely.(#2)”

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 18 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 2 weeks, and 4 days, Netzach Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 17

“Psalm 27:11- Lord, teach me Your way and lead me in the path of righteousness, because of my watchful enemies. (#1)” If only the path was clear like the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz. In fact there is much that is not evident. I am realizing there are many people with pain from their past and we may not know it at first. So God please teach me to listen with a compassionate ear and to speak with a compassionate tongue. “Psalm 27:11- Please teach me Your way. Teach me Your way and guide me on the straight path.(#2)”

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 17 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 2 weeks, and 3 days, Tiferet Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 16

“Psalm 27:12-Do not give me over to the will of my oppressors, for there have risen against me false witnesses, and they speak evil. (#1)” Yes there will be those who are not kind, who actively say something negative about us. Who will not love us. Should we show these oppressors our compassion? To our family, friends, to those in need of course but these? I am not sure. “Psalm 27:12-Discourage those who defame me Because false witnesses stood up against me belching out violence. Don't let me become the victim of my foes.(#2)”

RIBBONO SHEL OLAM: I hereby prepare myself for Sefirat HaBinyan / a counting for building God’s realm during the time between Tisha B’av and erev Rosh HaShannah.

Today there are 16 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 2 weeks, and 2 days, Gevurah Sheb’ Tiferet.

Dear God: Please let me be a vessel for Your light and help to align me with Your will. May this period of Sefirat HaBinyan and the New Year be for good, for peace and for blessing for all of Israel, for all inhabitants of the earth and let us say Amen.

(Day kavanah by Menuhah Peters/Psalm 27 #1 translated by Y.B. Marcus, Nissen Mangel and Eliyahu Touger, #2 translated by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)