Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

A newly "married" couple gives each other a loving hug.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 6/Yesod (FOUNDATION)

"The Buddha said this: 'The object of your practice should first of all be yourself. Your love for the other, your ability to love another person, depends on your ability to love yourself.' If you are not able to take care of yourself, if you are not able to accept yourself, how could you accept another person and how could you love him or her?"

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

I built a chuppah in our classroom as part of our Lag B'Omer festivities. Any couple who wanted to could come, put on a kippah, get wrapped in a tallit (to symbolize the need for teamwork), stand under the chuppah (to symbolize their future home) and have me marry them. Any couple could marry as long as both wanted to. We had boy-girl, boy-boy and girl-girl combos. Instead of a kiss I asked the couple to lovingly hug as the final gesture. Couple after couple came up and the warmth in their unions and in their hugs was astounding. I found myself desiring that life always be just this sweet.

After nightfall on Thursday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-four days which is four weeks and six days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

Lady sculpture amidst the azalea bush on Biltmore Street.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 5/Hod (SPLENDOR)

"In mindfulness one is not only restful and happy, but alert and awake. Meditation is not evasion; it is a serene  encounter with reality."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Walking home I spied a sculpture of a lady in front of a townhouse. She was standing amidst red-violet flowers of an azalea plant, holding up a large scarf above her head and seeming to almost float in place. Happy colors, happy pose I wonder how often we feel totally in synch with our surroundings? Staying present and being alert to moments of perfection isn't a job but a mission. Now it was me standing and I just let the colors wash over.

After nightfall on Wednesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-three days which is four weeks and five days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

The official Race for Hope time.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 4/Netzach (ENDURANCE)

"Don't do any task in order to get it over with. Resolve to do each job in a relaxed way, with all your attention. Enjoy and be one with your work."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Why is it that getting an official notice of one's time seems so special? I know what I did because I timed it and yet getting this is a confirmation, a validation. It isn't just the time but looking at how many came after so I can see that too. Last race I was one of the last three people but not this time. We can endure, we can do it but everyone needs to feel a pat on the back, a good job or thumbs up. Now the trick is to realize if I need it then probably everyone else I know does too. Note to self, I have to remember to do that.

After nightfall on Tuesday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-two days which is four weeks and four days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

One of the deer I saw on my walk in Rock Creek

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 3/Tiferet (COMPASSION)

"Those who are without compassion cannot see what is seen with the eyes of compassion.."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

We came upon the first deer by accident. It was 7pm. We were walking my friend's dog. All of a sudden the dog went wild and I saw the deer. There were several of them eating their dinner. So beautiful with brown coats amidst the green leaves. Rex was barking and I felt badly he was stressing them out. My heart became full I noticed the deer had not fled. They seemed to realize Rex was on a leash. We watched each other as I came closer to take a photo and my friend walked the dog further away. During the next two hours we would come across several different deer families greeting each with silent love. 

After nightfall on Monday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty-one days which is four weeks and three days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

After crossing the finish line in the Race for Hope 5K.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 2/Gevurah (DISCIPLINE)

"We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves. And we'll also have a lot more joy in living."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

There is something wonderful about working hard over a period of time and then seeing that work produce visible results. Today I jogged/walked a 5K after a couple months of training and ended up doing it 5 minutes faster than the 5K I did in March. Sometimes thought we can't see so clearly. As a preschool teacher I don't always find out what the children learn or discover after being in my class. Sometimes we have to work hard and take it on faith our good work will produce good results. One student told me his Tae Kwan Do teacher teaches "Practice doesn't make perfect but it does make habit."

After nightfall on Sunday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is thirty days which is four weeks and two days of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

Praying in the Islamic Cultural Center.

Week 5-/Hod (SPLENDOR)-Day 1/Chesed (LOVE)

"My actions are my only true belongings."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

Today was one of those days where each moment slides into the next and every moment is a wonderful one, harmonious. I think it is at those moments where we need to make sure to stop and reflect, to pray, to love, to be grateful. The weather was nice, synagogue service especially sweet with compliments, gifts and a celebration of two young girls conversion. Then a walk with a friend to embassies with beautiful dancing and costumes. A perfect ending in the Islamic Cultural Center. My Indian scarf became my Islamic head cover. I sat down on the carpet and silently thanked the Creator.

After nightfall on Saturday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is twenty-nine days which is four weeks and one day of the Omer.

Count the Omer-Week 4-/Netzach (ENDURANCE)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

The Rimonim class buys more boxes of cereal to count the omer.

Week 4-/Netzach (ENDURANCE)-Day 7/Malchut (KINGDOM)

"Jesus said 'If those who lead you say to you, 'Look, the Kingdom is in the sky,' then the birds of the sky will get there first. If they say, 'It is in the sea,' then the fish will get there first. Rather, the Kingdom is inside of you, and it is outside of you. When you come to know yourselves, then you will become known, and you will realize that it is you who are the children of the living Father. But if you will not know yourselves, then you dwell in poverty, and it is you who are that poverty'."

-Thich Nhat Hanh-

The sephira of Malchut is said to come not from God directly but from God's creation. My children fall into that category. Today my young charges walked with me to a store to buy more boxes of cereal for counting the omer. I was happy to help them work to perform this mitzvah. For myself I gave a different challenge. I considered going to Baltimore as part of Jews United For Justice who were joining other activists to march for Justice for Freddie Gray. I didn't get past inquiring. I wished someone could take me by the hand like I did for my class. I get it. I am an adult. So next time I will need to work harder.

After nightfall on Friday:

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM 

ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is twenty-eight days which is four weeks of the Omer.