This Shabbat corresponds to the 16th day of the counting of the Omer (to learn more about this practice, click here) where we are Called to integrate Gevurah (strength/discipline/courage) with Tifereth (beauty/compassion/balance). The first way to do this is simply pause in meditation and reflection: rather than wonder what the rabbis meant by this, let us instead reflect- what does this meant to us?
All the rituals and teachings in the world are simply guidelines for our own work. Our Soul (that speaks to us through our gut/heart/conscience and dreams) is the ultimate Source of Torah/Wisdom. When we try to shut ourselves down to attempt to align with outside truth or authority, we not miss the mark. Religion can easily become idolatry when it leads us away from Self.
The ultimate goal of the counting of the Omer is to do what we can to keep religion from becoming idolatry. Each day is about helping us to align our inner world with the spiritual properties of the way the Divine shines through us and into this world. The Kabbalistic tree of life is a metaphor for so much- including the need to find equilibrium: within ourselves and within the Universe.
This is why we first step to preparing for revelation (the celebration of Shavuot) is liberating ourselves from the ways we internalized slavery. We left Ancient Egypt over Passover, but the journey to freedom is much longer. Similarly, we can leave any abusive or unhealthy situation, but unless we do the inner work, we will recreate a variation of the same dynamic. True freedom takes work.
In the same way as a therapist can’t just tell someone what to do (leave this job/relationship/situation or quit doing X addictive behavior), so did G!d understand that we needed time to heal from the ways we had internalized the oppression. This is how oppression works: we internalize it to try to stay safe by learning what we think we need to do to avoid getting hurt. We become our own worst enemies at times… in theory as a survival strategy… but one that ceases to serve its function when we finally get to physically leave the trauma that we were trying to survive.
The goal was (and indeed, the goal has always been and continues to be) to leave behind the intergenerational trauma that has always been the misfortune of the Children of Israel- BEFORE arriving into the promised land. The goal of our spiritual practices has always been to liberate us. Unfortunately, religion has often been used as a strategy to oppress, and the world we live in is filled with examples of this. Consequently, the first task for any person of faith must be to unlearn what we were taught- about G!d, about faith, about ourselves.
The Torah was not given to us immediately after leaving Ancient Egypt. We have to redeem every part of ourselves, and the counting of the Omer is this inner work. The first and most important way this happens is by training ourselves to create time for inner reflection and spiritual healing. Meditation/prayer/mindfulness/yoga… these are just a few of the ways we can live a life of intentionality… becoming like the Hebrew letter “vav” in G!d’s Name… connecting heaven and earth.
There are many ways to reflect upon the implications of today’s spiritual task: integrate Gevurah with Tifereth, and our deepest knowing can guide us in determining what our Soul and unconscious most need, so that we can accomplish the true goal of the counting of the Omer: working through our “stuff” (old tapes/unconscious expectations/wounds/fears/shame/resentment etc)… when we have done the inner work, then G!d’s Light will shine brightly through us and into this world. Like the circuit that does not allow electric current to flow until it is internally connected, the work of revelation is internal.
Once we begin to connect with our inner knowing, and integrate the gut knowing with the heart knowing with the brain knowing… then we are Called to integrate this with every other aspect of our lives. Espoused theology must be aligned with operational theology. If we ever find ourselves saying to someone else- do what I say, not what I do… this is our first warning bell.
Today is the day that the universe has set aside for us to reflect upon the integration of Gevurah and Tifereth: strength and harmony. One way of doing this is to also think about how Gevurah manifests as authority figures and powerful voices… how does this impact our inner equilibrium (Tifereth) and ability to connect with ourselves. Whose voices have we internalized that get in the way of our being able to be fully open? What will we do today to work on liberating ourselves from this?
May this Shabbat bring deep healing to us all… that we may bring deep healing to this world.
Originally from Montreal, Canada, I studied in Jerusalem at several Orthodox yeshivas, prior to beginning my studies as a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College. I am a second generation Holocaust survivor, and early on, wanted to do whatever I could to build a world where hatred and prejudice would never again have the upper hand.
For me, studying Judaism from traditional perspectives was crucial because “it was important to understand what we are reforming”. I believe in making educated choices from the rich set of resources provided by Jewish tradition, in order to ensure that every ritual and prayer is meaningful. I was a founding board member of the Society of Classical Reform Judaism (now Roots of Reform), due to my unwavering commitment to advocacy for interfaith families and the creation of inclusive Jewish communities that are unconditionally welcoming of all spiritual seekers, regardless of their religious background, relationship status, identity or Hebrew speaking ability.
In addition to nearly two decades working in synagogues, teaching, counseling and participating in life cycle events, I am also a social worker, psychotherapist, mediator and trained as an interfaith chaplain. I worked with the American Red Cross after 9/11, providing counseling and support at the family assistance center, Ground Zero and the morgue. My doctoral research was focused on burnout and compassion fatigue, as part of my years of work in hospice and palliative care. My life experiences have taught me hope and how to cultivate resilience and wisdom.
This blog reflects my attempts to distill rabbinic wisdom into insights that can speak to all people. I have dedicated my life to healing and spiritual alchemy. I first began the writings that formed the basis of this blog as part of my role as Vice President of Mission for KentuckyOne Health, an interfaith hospital system that brought together Catholic, secular and Jewish hospital systems, in order to bring wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved. I began my weekly reflections on the Torah portion, in order to share some of Jewish Hospital's heritage and values with staff that may not have known much about Judaism. These reflections were then shared by staff with others who asked to be placed on my blind copy list, as well as by the system mission leader of Catholic Health Initiatives to his own reader list, along with his own reflections.
I have been profoundly humbled by the reactions to these writings, and as more people have asked to have access to them, I eventually worked to overcome my discomfort with the internet in order to publish them online. I realized that Jews and non-Jews were drawn to my inclusive interpretations of the biblical text, and my reflections on how to apply these in our every day. I believe that, much like the Sufi teaching that describes all the religions of the world like different prayer beads, with the same string of truth that runs through each of them, so too can these ancient spiritual and mystical teachings can come to life, when we reflect on the echoes of other world traditions and by contemporary psychological theory.
As my professional journey has continued to evolve, and I have found myself transitioning from pulpit rabbi to community rabbi, to who I am becoming as I seek to move beyond all labels, I have found that this site remains an important way for people to get to know me, and understand my theology.
I am fundamentally committed to the sacred act of translation- seeking to discern the Divine through text and life, and to translate those words of Torah and wisdom into reflections that can speak to people of all faith traditions... and in so doing, hopefully encouraging others to do the same. We are all created in the Image of G!d, and as such, each of us has our own unique understanding of the Sacred. In the same way as the rabbis teach that if even one letter from the scroll of the Torah is missing, the entire Torah has lost its sacredness (is no longer kosher), so too is this world diminished so long as people silence themselves. For too long, organized religion has been used as a weapon, to keep people silent and to teach shame... my quest as a rabbi, and indeed, as a human being, is to work to translate religious teachings into redemptive and healing truths, to seek to liberate s/Spirit and to work toward "tikkun olam" (the healing of the universe).
My current rabbinate is dedicated to teaching and mentoring other rabbis, and working with interfaith families, as well as those traditionally marginalized from mainstream Judaism. In the same way as the holiness of the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit) can be found in its fringes (tzitzit) so too do I believe that the most important contribution I can make to the Jewish people is "Keruv" (helping people find their way home), and to the broader world is "shleimut" (helping people to find wholeness). I also serve G!d as a social worker, doing what I can to work for justice for all people.
It is my prayer that the insights in this blog will bring healing and insight to others, and encourage others to find their voice and path. Thank you for your time reading my work.
View all posts by rabbi n siritsky
rabbinadia.com 