Miryam's Space

Each day beginning on the second night of Passover, we count each of the 49 (seven weeks of seven) days until the next major festival, Shavuot, the festival of weeks, which is on the following day. Shavuot celebrates the barley harvest/ an OMER is a sheaf of barley – first harvest of the season, kind of like the strawberries are the first harvest in New Jersey. According to the tradition of Isaac Luria, we do not begin counting on the first day of Pesach, because on that day, we have the gift of light from the heavens, perhaps due to the gift of springtime itself. The songs of the seder open our hearts and our throats, constricted by winter and slavery, and we sing songs of freedom and “enoughness” – Dayenu (meaning each step toward freedom would have been enough!) After discussing in my class with Rabbi Dr. Elliot Ginsburg why on Pesach, contrasted with other Holy Days, the light comes from above, I was singing this song with my Mom at the memory care unit. It’s called “All the Things You Are” by Jerome Kern You are the promised kiss of springtime, that makes the lonely winter seem long. You are the breathless hush of evening, that trembles on the edge of a lovely song. You are the angel glow that lights the star The dearest thing you are, are what you are. Wow, what amazing theology, and that kiss of Springtime, is the gift of Pesach light, perhaps. And who knew, Azi Schwartz recorded it?!

Each day beyond that first day we must generate our own light by fanning the flames of our soul. There are seven “lower” sephirot or facets of the Holy One of Blessing, that are mirrored in our soul. For an explanation of the sephirot, see this video beginning at 7 minutes. Each week of the seven we work on the reflection/fractal of that aspect of ourselves. Each day of the week represents one of those aspects within the week. And so as we count each day, it’s called counting the omer, we count toward Shavuot, which is the day each year we receive the Ten Commandments all over again at Sinai. To be psyched to receive such a gift in real time the omer elevates us, and fans the flame. Here is a link to Open siddur’s all in one chart by Karen Levine, and/or this very full exploration to guide you if you wish to check out the mystical pathway of making each day between the festivals count!

The first day of the counting the omer was 2nd day of Passover. The counting begins at night, because all days in Jewish tradition begin on sundown the night before (similar to how our secular day begins at midnight before) Today I met with my mashpiyah my spiritual and overall guide, Reb Sarah Cohen who suggested I find a creative way to count each day. So thank you Reb Sarah, here it is for today, day Three. Then I’ve chosen for this year’s counting one verse from Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible for each of the sephirot. Next year I may choose other verses from these texts, or YOU can choose your favorite verses to mash up and meditate upon

Each day of Chesed gets a verse from the Song of Songs, I chose chapter 2, verse 10 Arise my love, my fair one and come away,

Gevurah: Strength/structure/boundaries- from book of prophets in haftarah trop. I’ve chosen Jeremiah, the boy prophet 1:17 Al tachat mipnehem – do not break down before them
Tiferet = harmony/balance and beauty, I’ve chosen from psalms – I’ve chosen psalm 85 verses 11 -12 this balance: here is the verse from Sefaria As kindness and truth meet, and righteousness and peace kiss!
Netzach – is endurrance/ victory from Shirat hayam (song at the sea): Ashirah L’Adonai ki Gao Gaa I will sing to the Holy One, who has truly triumphed!
Hod is humility/splendor/gratitude, I chose from Job or Ecclesiastes This year is from Job 39: 11 v’im al pi-ach yagbiyah nasher – Does the Eagle sour on your command?
Yesod -Masculine foundation. Joseph is thought to embody Yesod. Verses from Joseph in Genesis or Joseph the musical (technicolor dreamcoat) This year, I choose I wore my coat, bright colors shining from Any dream will do
Malchut the Feminine immanent Presence of G8d -I chose from Genesis matriarchs in HHD trop VaTomer Sarah tz’hok asah Li Elokim- and Sarah said G8d has made laughter for me.

DAY 3 This is the week of chesed, love. Tonight is tiferet-beauty/harmony sh’b’chesed within love

ק֥וּמִי לָ֛ךְ רַעְיָתִ֥י יָפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ׃My beloved spoke thus to me,
“Arise, my darling;
My fair one, come away!

חֶסֶד־וֶאֱמֶ֥ת נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ צֶ֖דֶק וְשָׁל֣וֹם נָשָֽׁקוּ׃

Faithfulness and truth meet;
justice and well-being kiss.

So I will begin, but if anyone has a good idea for a favorite verse, chime in.
Shir hashirim 2:10 and psalm 85:11 mashup