The journey from the slavery of Egypt recounted on the Seder night(s) to the pinnacle of Revelation on Sinai is a long one, and the kabbalists who identified the Omer with the sefirot that mark each week (and each day) knew that there would be time to reflect on each of God’s major attributes before Shavuot arrived. It is telling, though, that we begin the … Continue reading Hesed – חסד
Today is three days of the omer: tiferet she’b’hesed. Today Yankees fans can stop being mad at me (see yesterday’s post) as I honor one of their best: The Bambino, The Sultan of Swat, four-time WS winner, one of the first inaugural five HoFers, perhaps the greatest baseball player of all time, the singular Babe Ruth. (Also perhaps the player with the most nicknames of all … Continue reading day 3: the bambino
Tif’eret, often translated as beauty, compassion, or harmony, is the perfect integration of hesed (love) and gevurah (power). So on Day 3 of the Omer, we are going with the woman that Doris Burke calls the “most versatile women’s basketball player that we have ever laid eyes on.” The 2x WNBA MVP and the 2016 WNBA champion is the perfect blend of power and finesse. … Continue reading Day 3: She Got Game
Today is two days of the omer: gevurah she’b’hesed. (Because of Shabbat, I’m posting this before the second day actually begins.) I should be writing about Derek Jeter. I know it, you know it, my blog co-authors who know only a little about baseball probably know it. My cats know it. Jeter is pretty much undisputedly the best player to ever wear the number 2. But these … Continue reading day 2: the homage
Today is one day of the omer: hesed she’b’hesed. One of the things that I like about the ritual of the omer is that we count up, which in my view downplays the number 1. The intractable pursuit of being on top can be dangerous (see, Houston Astros), and one can be a lifelong fan of a team that was never the best (see, Houston Astros). In … Continue reading day 1: the wizard
Omertime 