Ignoring anxiety is hard. Using a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov, Rav Ginsburgh explains that a person should separate him-herself from their problem to the extent that they realize that the anxiety is external, temporary and not connected to their inner essence. The inner essence of a Jew is perfect and life’s circumstances do not change that. 

Verbalizing the source of anxiety is the work of this month. Talk to your best therapist- Hashem. Spill out your thoughts, your feelings, your hopes and your errors. And when you need to find a human therapist, get one who is devoted to your best interests- the refinement of your soul Al Pi Torah. 

We have a clear teaching from the Torah to verbalize, as much as possible, in the positive. Saying, “I am sick,” is not advisable. You can say that you ‘feel’ sick, that the condition you have might be labeled as illness by a doctor, but don’t create and strengthen a weak condition by stating as a fact that you are sick. When students often say, “I am so confused” I always reply that they are totally not confused; rather they need me to re-explain what I just taught. A person’s power of speech is such that we create and destroy using words and even facial expressions. 

We need to build a new settlement here in the

Chazal teach that if one acts with Mesirut Nefesh, going above and beyond what we consider normal, then Hashem reacts the same, going above His rules of nature. Every concept that exists in the holy has its counterpart in the impure. Suicide bombers and terrorists are unholy and impure vessels of Mesirut Nefesh. To counteract them, to balance the murderous energy that they release, to protect our People and the world from this evil, we need Mesirut Nefesh. 

I recently heard a story that one woman described as a very high level of Mesirut Nefesh. It seems that this is a well known story here in

The Rav said later that this woman’s Mesirut Nefesh of totally eradicating herself and her needs brought the miracles that restored the Kotel to us. 

May we not be tested in such terrible ways, and may Hashem take into account all the suffering that we have gone through, on a national level and on a personal level, and hand us the Geula with great Rachamim, and right now. Let the curses of the year be finished and let the blessings of the New Year begin. 

SHABBAT SHALOM AND SHANA TOVA UMETUKA, A SWEET AND HAPPY YEAR IN RUCHANIYUS AND GASHMIYUS. 

GEVURA

BSD

SEFIRAT HA’OMER  YERUSHALAYIM IH’K   

                                                      GEVURAThe first day of Pesach is a gift of light and revelation above the ability of a Jew to achieve alone. It is an Afikoman present, and has to do with a level of Divine love far beyond human comprehension. This love, and its expression into our soul is the result of the existential connection between our Nation and Hashem. It is how we were created, and comes from Above. But since Hashem knows that a human can’t really enjoy a free ride, He gives us the next seven weeks to recreate that love and bond with him, with our efforts here below. The first time we lived through the seven weeks of Sefirat Ha’Omer was in the desert with our Rebbe, Moshe. We received daily instruction as to the energy of the day, the avoda of the day, the tikun of the day. For each day of the forty  nine days of working was imbued with a specific quality and taste. Each day had its own unique flavor for success, and all the Jew needed to do was to tap in to the correct aspect of the day, and the tikun would become available. Nowadays, we have the remnant of this Avoda, with the daily count of Omer and its specific Sefira.  

The idea of specific spiritual energies that appear at specific times was most recently incorporated into daily Jewish life by the Alter Rebbe who quotes the Baal Shem Tov’s teaching of living with the times. This is most often translated into studying  the weekly Torah reading of Parshat Hashavua and seeing the daily messages and hints for practical and spiritual life. This is further substantiated by a teaching of the Rashbam, pointed out by Rav Yitzchak Ginsburgh in his sefer on Chinuch called Panim El Panim. In Beraishis 37:2, the Rashbam, who was a grandson of Rashi, writes:     The eyes and light of the Exile, my grandfather Rabbi Shlomo, tried to remain faithful to simple Pshat      in his explanation of Torah, and so too have I. Yet my grandfather told me that had he the time, he would     write another explanation of Torah based on the unique changes and specific events that occur day by day.  

The seven weeks of Omer are parallel exactly to the seven Sefirot. What are these Sefirot, upon which so much Kabala and Avoda rest? The Sefer Yitzirah relates the Sefirot to the words Sefer (text), Sefar (number) and Sippur (story). Rav Aryeh Kaplan, in his translation and explanation of Sefer Yetzirah explains that the Sefirot refer to the way Hashem has set the world up, in the dimensions we re familiar with- space, time and spirit.  

For us, the seven Sefirot relate to the seven emotions that rule a person. These seven emotions of the heart are CHESED, GEVURA, TIRERET, NETZACH, HOD, YESOD AND MALCHUT. They parallel the seven days of the week, the seven original days of creation, the seven female prophetesses, the seven years of Shmittah, the seven days of Sukkot and Pesach. In fact, all things of this world are related and find source in the seven Sefirot.  

We are now in the second week of Sefirat Ha’Omer, the week of Gevura. Gevura is perhaps the most misunderstood of all the Sefirot. Gevura is translated as strict justice, din, strength. Gevura is the partner or compliment of Chesed, unconditional unrestricted love and acceptance. In the Chesed-Gevura duo, Chesed is the more preferred while Gevura often is shunned, feared, and avoided.  

Each of the Sefirot is represented in Torah by that person who typifies and humanizes the Midot. Chesed is represented by Avraham Avinu, and his son Yitzchak Avinu represents and is the archetype of Gevura. The raw power of Gevura is such that Yitzchak Avinu is never mentioned alone in any of the Parshiyot of the Torah. He is either sweetened by Avraham Avinu Chesed or tempered by Yaakov Avinu Tiferes. The universe as it presently stands cannot tolerate pure unadulterated Gevura. The Medrash teaches that Hashem originally wanted to create the world using Middat Din alone, but saw that this would not work, and therefore incorporated Middat Rachamim into the fabric of creation. 

The days of the week are exactly parallel to the Sefirot. Yom Rishon Sunday is Chesed, Sheini, Monday is Gevura etc. until finally Shabbos is Malchut. In western society, Monday is the first day back to work, and Monday morning blues are a common ailment. 

What is the Avoda of the week of Gevura, and what are its redeeming qualities? 

Gevura parallels the second day of creation, when the Rakia-Firmament was created. According to Rashi, the heavens with their multi levels had been created on the first day, but were unstable, borderless, and amorphous. Rakia was that portion of sky or atmosphere that separated the upper waters of heaven from the lower waters of the cosmos, giving both world states their own definition and boundary. The boundless Chesed of day one of creation pulsated with the overwhelming love that Hashem had in originally creating a creation. We are taught that Hashem created this universe for the express purpose of allowing the created universe to experience pleasure, with the ultimate pleasure being the closeness to its Creator. This love is boundless, as it is smothering. If Hashem did not restrain Himself, and had flooded the creation with His boundless Light, there would be no room for creation to exist. Therefore, as another Chesed, Hashem created the Middah of Gevura- restraint, so that the world could experience Hashem’s great Light without being destroyed. That Middah that allows another being room to exist by holding itself back comes from Gevura. Gevura is therefore another manifestation of Chesed- it is itself a sweetening of Chesed, enabling Chesed to be experienced. 

At its root, Gevura is actually higher then chesed. The Torah and Hashem Himself are called Gevura. Yet, as with each of the sefirot and Midot, their manifestation and refraction into this world makes them appear often quite different from their Source. So, Gevura sometimes appears in the form of strict justice, power, and strength.Yet, Gevura is that force that gives definition to a person, it is  that energy which organizes and clarifies. Gevura makes a person think about just how they need to most constructively give their love, and in what proportion and amount. It is Gevura that prevents a parent from feeding their children a diet consisting exclusively of candy, and it is Gevura that helps a person stop smoking. Gevura forces a person to keep healthy borders with the world, and Gevura compels a person to evaluate life goals. Gevura mercilessly questions a person on their definition of self, and is at the forefront in the battle with ego. And Gevura is that inner point of self from which Mesirut Nefesh is born. 

The Ramban teaches that Gevura is the most mysterious and mystical of the Sefirot. He says that the creation of day two, Rakia, was that which separates the totally physical creation with the totally spiritual creation. This created separation is something that,”Those who understand are forbidden to reveal and those who do not understand are forbidden to speculate about”. Clearly, Gevura has an aspect that human minds cannot totally comprehend. Built into this is the necessary Emuna that all is good, all is for the best, and that Gevura is actually the sister and soul mate of Chesed. 

Gevura is connected to Techiyas Hameisim, the re-enlivening of the dead. Yitzchak Avinu, Gevura personified, in the ultimate actual demonstration of Gevura, restrains the main human instinct to preserve life. He allows himself to be bound and prepares to be sacrificed. Chazal teach that his Neshama actually left his body, and then it was restored. He therefore is the first case of Techiyas Hameisim. The second Bracha of the Shemoneh Esray, which is called Gevuros (Ata Gibbor…), is parallel to Yitzchak Avinu and it is in this Bracha that we reaffirm our belief in the revival of the dead. Gevura therefore is connected to reawakening a sleeping life force and pushing it out of bed and back into the world of the living. 

Techiyas Hameisim is about having the corrected soul aligned properly with the corrected body. It is about returning to what was, returning root to root. The soul is a Chelek Eloka MiMaal Mamesh as the Tanya teaches. It is an actual part of God. It always longs to return to God. The soul is ever striving upward, and is compared to a flame, defying gravity and falling upward to its source. Chazal teach that the Torah hints to Techiyas Hameisim in the Song of the Sea, sung by Moshe Rabbeinu and the Jewish Nation after the miraculous splitting of the Yam Suf. There, the Passuk says, Az Yashir Moshe U’Venai Yisrael, then the Jews and Moshe will sing to Hashem. The fact that the future tense of Yashir is used instead of the past tense of Shar, sang, is a hint to Techiyas Hameisim. In the future, Moshe Rabbeinu and the Jews will sing again to thank Hashem for the Geula Habaa Aleinu Achshav. At the Kriyas Yam Suf, we are told that the lower waters rose and stood like a wall, and the Rakia allowed these lower waters to once again unite with the upper waters. We are taught that this is the great longing of all the waters of the world- to reunite with their original water-mates of the upper worlds. This happened at Kriyas Yam Suf, and that is why it is a Segula to read the Shiras Hayam when searching for a soul mate. In this Zivug of lower and upper water reuniting, the aspect that needed to be accessed was Gevura, to allow the necessary space for this meeting. The lower waters had to go against their own nature, and flow upward. The power and permission, actually the command, was issued and the sea split, the Jews walked through, the enemies were defeated and Gevura was vindicated. 

We are graciously given an entire week to contemplate and actualize Gevura in our lives. Each Middah of the Sefirot takes place over the span of seven days, in order for us to incorporate every aspect of every Sefira. We are working on the Chesed of Gevura, the Gevura of Gevura, the Tiferet of Gevura etc. Each day of the week of Gevura, we can fix a different aspect of Gevura.  

Chesed of Gevura can remind us to be loving, even as we draw correct boundaries in our life. It reminds us of the inherent connection between love and restraint. In Patach D’Bei Eliyahu, Eliyahu Hanavi teaches that Chesed in the body refers to the right hand and arm, while Gevura is the left hand and arm. Chesed and Gevura must work hand in hand for a person to live successfully. Chazal teach that Yitzchak Avinu reached this level of Chesed SheBiGevura when he lovingly went to the Akeida, whereas Avraham Avinu reached this level when he strengthened himself and went against his natural paternal love to give up his son to Hashem. The week of Gevura calls to mind the Akeidas Yitzchak which is an eternal source of merit to our people. 

Gevura of Gevura reminds us to be organized and methodical in our life’s work. It helps us to focus with laser beam precision on our priorities and recommit to Mesirus Nefesh in bringing national and personal Geula. Be strong in who you are. Reb Zusha once said, “In heaven they will not ask me why wasn’t I like Moshe Rabbeinu. They will ask me, why wasn’t I Zushe. For if I would be like Moshe Rabbeinu, then what would happen? Hashem would have two Moshe Rabbeinu’s but no Zusha’s!”  

Tiferes of Gevura is about being healthy and balanced even as we try to be strong in our life’s path. It is about shunning uncalled for extremes and fanaticism. About being inherently strong willed yet in the most beautiful and acceptable way. It is about remembering not to offend anyone as we walk the path leading to our personal quest for purity and holiness.  

Netzach of Gevura is to believe that we have the inherent capacity to overcome any and all of life’s apparent obstacles. It reminds us that our inner strength should be consistent and that we should recommit to Torah and Mitzvos with stronger Kavana. It is a good day to say Tehillim that begin with the words Lamenatzeach Mizmor, for these are the code words in Tehillim for these two Sefirot. 

Hod of Gevura gives us the opportunity to humbly thank Hashem for the strength He has given us, for the Torah which He has gifted us, for the boundaries that exist in the world which give definition and correct timing. It is about admitting that we need to restrengthen ourselves constantly in the battle of God awareness. 

Yesod of Gevura begs us to be aware of the primacy of Gevura in our life. It is about bonding the awesome power of soul to body and soul to soul. It reminds us about healthy boundaries in our relationships with people, and is a good time to recommit to Tzniyus of body and heart.  

Malchus of Gevura allows us to remember that it is only by properly defining ourselves that we achieve dignity. Definition is not about what uniform one wears in the Jewish world. It is simply about living life with the eye ever focused on the Tachlis. We are here to serve Hashem. We are here to prepare the world for Mashiach. The freedom of a Melech is in serving his people and the freedom of Malchus lies in our serving Hashem and in doing so, ultimately serving the world. It is about davening that our inner Gevura be used correctly to bring a revelation of Hashem into the practical world. It is about acting in a powerful way, recommitting to bringing Gevura power down into each aspect of practical life, to make this world ready for Mashiach Ben David to come. It is the time to daven strongly for the rebuilding of the final Bais Hamikdash, where we will finally see the awesome power of Torah and of our Nation. 

The Tefilla at the end of the nightly counting of the Omer puts all the work of the Omer into perspective. We ask Hashem, we beg Hashem that He should purify us, that all the mistakes and consequent barriers we have created as a result of our improper Sefira usage should be corrected. The only way any one can succeed in any inner work is to beg for Hashem’s help, for without that, even the strongest Gibbor is doomed to fail. The Tefilla is that vessel that we make which allows Hashem to pour His Gevura into us, and it is that Gevura which rekindles our life force. 

The work of Gevura is to be done in the greatest of joy and relief, for we unify ourselves with The Gevura, Hashem. There are many code words and code letters, written in the Siddur that help us to get a glimpse into the Avoda of each day. Perhaps the most surprising of these hints comes to us on the day of Gevura She’B’Gevura, the strongest day of Gevura. The code word used is Rinat, which means outbursts of expressive joy. This joy is actually a carry over from Sara Emainu who told us that all who hear of her story will rejoice with her. The message is clear, echoing over these thousands of years of Jewish history. The pain that our Mother Sara felt until she gave birth to her son was mitigated by the joy she lived with in his life. And actually, her life was full and her days occupied with loving life, even as she waited for her Tafkid as mother to emerge. She laughed at life, and this laughter was transferred into her son, who epitomized strength yet was named laughter. The joke is  that this world, which seems so distant from Godliness, which seems so frightening and dangerous, is in truth hiding the miracles of holiness in every atom and every second of time. We are here doing Gods work, and we can not fail. The greatest inner strength comes from knowing this- we can not fail. Hashem has promised us a Geula, He will come through for us. The joy is in the daily serving of the Master of All. 

GOOD SHABBOS, SHABBAT SHALOM UMEVORACH  

PESACH 5767

BSD PESACH 5767 YERUSHALAYIM IH’K

The soul of a Jew is always awaiting change, redemption. The soul of a Jew anticipates and knows that the Geula is close, and is impatient for the revelation of the Geula. Rav Kook poetically describes this as the song that soul of a Jew is constantly singing.

In Nissan we were redeemed from Mitzrayim, and in Nissan we will finally and ultimately be redeemed again.

Nissan is called Rosh Chodashim- the head of the new months, Nissan means miraculous.

So, there are two songs we sing in Nissan- one is that we want that which is new, unique to creation and that is the arrival and revelation in the heart of the Jew of Mashiach. And we expect this to happen miraculously.

We are now in the last stages of preparation for Pesach, the holiday, and in the last stages of preparation for Mashiach’s arrival. Both seem to be un-miraculous, actually tedious, hard work, dust raising, nerve bending…

We seem to be repeating old patterns- re-cleaning the same old dirt, re-repairing the same torn expectations, re-committing to inner purity.

Rebbe Nachman teaches that we never repeat any Avodat Hashem- we are actually doing the same inner work, on the same topics, but on a higher level. If you find that the patterns of asking Hashem to help you clean out your old Chametz’dic attitudes sound familiar, it is only because you have been there, done that and are now on a different, more evolved spiritual plane. And since the soul is infinite, endless, so is the inner work of Avodat Hashem.

Paying attention to the work Hashem is sending each of us now is a clear pointer to that which our soul came here to fulfill. You hear stories of difficulties, Lo Aleinu, that happen before Pesach. Each of us is being thrown very strong tests now, specifically for our individual Pesach inner clean up.

And the miracles? They come Bederech Hateva, so far. Nevertheless, I am sure that if Moshe Rabbeinu would come back now in the same mode that he was in the Midbar, he would laugh at us for worrying so much about Geula. We are back in our Land, we have a shekel economy, Kibbutz Galuyot has clearly reached its peak- and hopefully all my readers in Chutz La’Aretz will join soon, with great Rachamim and comfort. The Land is blossoming, prospering, and there is more Torah learned here and kept here than in all of Jewish history. We are clearly in the midst of Geula, and the delay at its final stroke is temporary and shortened as you read this.

We have already experienced many of the teachings of Chazal on Geula. We fly on wings eagles, no matter how many come to live here, there is always more space. There is a Midrash that a friend of mine just excitedly pointed out to me that in Zman Mashiach, the buildings in Yerushalayim will be so tall that we will have to fly up to reach them- and the elevators already fly us up to the 20^th floor of some buildings here. The Land is constantly being improved, new highways, transportation systems, innovations in agriculture.

The streets of Yerushalayim IH’K are alive with the excited anticipation of Pesach. In the last few days, The Land has demonstrated her bounty. Stores, carts, trucks, cars are overflowing with the exquisite beauty of Her fruits and vegetables. I cannot describe to you how much food is available this Pesach- fresh, healthy, wholesome home grown produce, holy produce, which has the fulfillment of all the Mitzvot HaTeluyot Ba’Aretz. And the joy and satisfaction on the faces of Jews here as they gratefully carry home their allotment of the holy ‘Man’ from Heavenly Israel. And the joy of seeing the voluminous produce of the sixth year of the Shmitta cycle fulfilling the Torah promise that if we keep Shmitta, the Land will give enough food to last us three years. Last Shmitta, more Jews kept the Mitzva than any in the entire history of our People.

The Tzeddaka that Jews from Chul gave to their brothers and sisters here in Eretz Yisrael is apparent- there were giant, stadium sized tents set up for large families to be able to purchase shoes, and basics for the Chag. I watched the children coming out of these ‘wholesale’ stores- and the happiness and pride that they had with their new clothes are simply above nature.

Children here don’t need much and are happy and satisfied with much less than their cousins in Chul- they are actually proud to not need and want too much Gashmiyus. Such children are pure, shine with delight and simplicity and truly enjoy Yom Tov. They enjoy being crowded together at a smaller than adequate table. They enjoy sharing their beds with 2and 3 cousins for the Chag. To them, the hustle and bustle of Pesach is fun.

I bless you all and myself to reach the heights of the simplicity of Eretz Yisrael’dic children.

The Mitzva of the Seder is to pass down the chain of tradition and hope from father to child, from mother to child and from generation to generation. Inside of each Jew are many generations, levels of soul. Use the Seder night to call out from the deepest part of you to the more shallow part of you. Remind yourself who you are, where you come from, and where you are heading.

I bless you with joy, with true Simcha, so that you can reach the level of your own personal Geula this Seder night.

Shabbat Shalom, Good Shabbos and Pesach Sameach, Kasher V’Nifla!

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