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)

Day 29-23 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 29

Once upon a time we were children. If lucky we had loving parents to take care of and nurture us. They were the support posts to lean against as we stretched ourselves out into the world. How kind they must have been to put up with all our silliness. I am reminded of this as I spend the night in the house where I did most of my growing up. Each of us, mom and I, do things in our way in our respective worlds. Coming together now we must both be humble, be sensitive, and honor the other.

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 29 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 1 days, Chesed Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 28

The month of Elul begins but I am immersed in endings. One friend’s father died and another friend has cancer. I visited an elderly neighbor recently moved to an assisted living home and other elderly friends with severe pain issues. The Zohar says at the start of Elul we are achor el achor (back to back) but by the end of the month we are panim el panim (face to face). Alright. I can use God’s silent enduring support now knowing we will talk later.

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 28 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, Malchut 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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 27

“Psalm 27:1-By David. The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life-whom shall I dread? (#1)” There is a custom to recite Psalm 27 every morning and evening from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Hoshanah Rabbah. The Hebrew letters making up the word “Elul,” aleph, lamed, vav and lamed, are an acronym from Song of Songs “ani l’dodi v’dodi li” meaning “I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me.” My beloved is Yah the Creator and my only fear is being left alone. “Psalm 27:1-Yah! You are my light. You are my savior. Whom need I dread? Yah, with you as my strong protector who can make me panic?” (#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 27 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 6 days, Yesod 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 26

“Psalm 27:2-When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh, my oppressors and my foes, they stumbled and fell.(#1)” Trying to be eternally humble. If I do everything by myself where does community fit in? Being in prayerful devotion with the One is great but we want/need to live, love and work with people. To be a protector and be protected bonds us.“Psalm 27:2- When hateful bullies gang up on me, wanting to harass me, to oppress and terrorize me They are the ones who stumble and fall.”(#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 26 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 5 days, Hod 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 25

“Psalm 27:3-If an army were to beleaguer me, my heart would not fear; if war were to arise against me, in this I trust. (#1)” In Western culture the heart is the center of feeling but in ancient times the heart or “lev” in Hebrew was also the center of thinking. My service to God must be both emotionally felt and intellectually thought for then I will be strongly rooted.“Psalm 27:3-Even if a gang surrounds me my heart is not weakened. If a battle is joined around me my trust in You is firm.”(#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 25 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 4 days, Netzach 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 24

“Psalm 27:4- One thing I have asked of the Lord, this I seek: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the pleasantness of the Lord, and to visit His Sanctuary. (#1)” The sanctuary I seek is not outside but in my own compassionate heart. So close it only demands that I want it.“Psalm 27:3- Only one thing do I ask of You, Yah: Just this alone do I seek, I want to be at home with you, Yah, All the days of my life. I want to delight in seeing You. Seeing You when I come to visit You in Your temple.”(#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 24 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 3 days, Tiferet 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 23

“Psalm 27:5- For He will hide me in His tabernacle on a day of adversity; He will conceal me in the hidden places of His tent; He will lift me upon a rock. (#1)” I have flown to where I can take a whole deep breath. In. Out. No duties and no obligations. I have the space and I have the time to examine the small places in my soul as long as I am disciplined to do the work. “Psalm 27:5- You hide me in your sukkah on a foul day. You conceal me unseen in Your tent. You also raise me beyond anyone's reach.”(#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 23 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 3 weeks, and 2 days, Gevurah 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)

Day 36-30 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 ofChesed 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 36

There are four fundamental layers of understanding the Torah. There are four or more layers of understanding our life. Try to be vulnerable, to open up instead of closing down. Some rabbis say in Psalm 115 the house God will bless is not just a house of brick and stone but bone, blood and spirit. Let loving-kindness from the soul’s foundation wash that inner temple. Mourning for all of us when we are too stiff necked and defensive to see the world’s many dimensions.

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 36 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 1 days, Chesed Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 35

Another horrible act comes into my consciousness. the deportation of Jews by the French in 1942. Adults with more than 4,000 young children are forced without food or water into the Velodome d’Hiver, a sports arena. Most will die in Nazi death camps. A child berates her father for not taking better care of his family and saving them. Mourning those without leaderhip qualities unsure when to take a stand and when to be humble.

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 35 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks, Malchut Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 34

One book, “Sara’s Key” the story of broken bonds and the death of a child, has been finished but in morning’s early hours a story of a child’s birth begins. The reality of death and the balancing reality of life. The parents, my cousins, have been humbled as they waited for this baby girl weeks overdue. Let the bonding, started in a small dark place, continue in the light outside greeted by family and community. This day’s 8lbs of consolation is baby Rebekah Hope.

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 34 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 6 days, Yesod Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 33

On this day in 1944, the 25 day of Av, 15yr old Anne Frank was arrested with her family in the loft where they were hiding in Amsterdam. Anne was deported to Auschwitz and then killed in Bergen-Belsen less than a year later. It is humbling to read some of the words she wrote in her diary considering her age and circumstances. “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”-Anne Frank.

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 33 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 5 days, Hod Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 32

The sky is charged as we almost slip into Shabbat with signs of the beautiful light of sunset as well as the dark black clouds signaling a storm. Several raindrops fall on my arm. I know I am humble enough to accept what comes. I am also disciplined enough to carry a plastic bag for protecting important items. Isn’t that how life is, maybe going this way and maybe going the other. We have to be open to possibilities and yet make plans for the direction we want to go.

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 32 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 4 days, Netzach Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 31

Is compassionate humility part of my personality? Yours? I think I am a compassionate person but is there a test I can take to make sure? In the dictionary they define humility as “a modest or low view of one’s own importance; modesty, meekness.” I am not sure anyone would describe me as meek and the view of myself isn’t high or low. I do what I do very well but I am not curing cancer. Even so I believe my presence is needed in the world. Yours too.

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 31 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 3 days, Tiferet Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 30

I never cease to be humbled by everything created by God. From the miracle of my heart beating on its own to my lungs taking air in and pushing it out even when I am asleep I stand in awe. Each morning when my eyes open and I see a new day is before me I am amazed. You would think then I would have respect for every person who comes before me since they are one of those creations. I need to focus less on actions and more to their core.

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 30 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 4 weeks, and 2 days, Gevurah Sheb’ Hod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

Day 42-37 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 ofChesed 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 42

A week of mourning the very roots of our existence and this week widening into the greater foundation. Tonight I am thinking about the fuel we need to nurture ourselves. What has happened to our intimate ties with the earth and what we feed our body? I try my best to grow living things in my container garden to eat, to buy foods local and fresh and yet here I am with a plate of hotdogs, potato chips, processed white hotdog buns and a beer. Mourning the steps backward I may take in this journey.

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 42 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 6 weeks, Malchut Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 41

A poet once wrote “no man is an island entire of itself”. We have need of each other even if we don’t always realize it. People can be wonderful but then they can also be difficult and hurtful. Still the foundation of our foundation is the bonds we make to acquire friends and to cement relationships with our families. Unkind words spoken in anger or haste can destroy in minutes what took years to build. This evening I am mourning the lost bonds of friendship and connectedness.

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 41 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 6 days, Yesod Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 40

“Weeping may last throughout the night but joy comes in the morning”. This is a line in Psalm 30 and so has life imitated liturgy. Today a friend who read my lines of prose for Day 41 last night wrote to ask forgiveness for anything she said that might have caused me pain. My mourning was more general than that but I was uplifted and consoled to think about how closely my friend was listening to my words. Listening not just with her ears but with her heart. How splendid

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 40 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 5 days, Hod Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 39

Whether it is living to work or working to live the concept of work is part of most of our eternal foundation. I have always tried to do work that makes me happy, that I want to get up for and that I am good at. I realize not everyone is able to do this. I mourn for anyone who must earn a living doing something they hate or that doesn’t inspire them. I mourn that they only wait for the minutes to count down so that their “real” life can begin.

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 39 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 4 days, Netzach Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 38

Today marked the last regular Shabbat I will have with two children who were once my students for tomorrow they move to New York. Two wonderful loving brothers they came to my Tot Shabbat service to pray and I was honored. Their parents were in another service when it was time to ask parents to bless their children and so I took the liberty of putting my hand on the eldest’s head. May each of us be consoled unexpectedly by small loving bonds such as these.

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 38 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 3 days, Tiferet Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)

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BUILDING THE REALM-Day 37

“God will bless the house of Israel, God will bless the house of Aharon” it says in Psalm 115. I sit comfortably in my condo writing, friends host me in their apartments and another friend just purchased a house. Everyone needs their own space, their own place to gather their strength, a foundation to rest, to eat and communally celebrate. This day is spent mourning for anyone without a home, big or small, to call their own.

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 37 days left until erev Rosh HaShannah, which is 5 weeks and 2 days, Gevurah Sheb’ Yesod.

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/prayer by Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Gabbi Seth Fishman)