The Sefiros: Part #1

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It's that time of year again.

A 49 day countdown till Shavous.
A 49 day spiritual preparation to Matan Torah.
A 49 day examination into all aspects of our personality.

Ironically, some of the most common terminologies in Chassidus are the ones least understood. Take for example the 10 Sefiros. Chesed and Gevurah may easy to understand, but try explaining Hod or Yesod to someone hearing these concepts for the first time?

There is no one place in Chassidus that actually explains all the Sefiros. B'H, many articles and books are now available that do clarify the meaning of Sefiros. Two of the best are Simon Jacobson's "Spiritual Guide to Counting the Omer" and Matis Kantor's "Keys for Understanding Human Nature."

During the next few weeks, I will Iy'H dedicate a few posts to discuss the way I best relate to these seven Midos while also keeping in mind their relationship to the seven days of the week and seven millenia of history. Of course, there is only so much you can do in a short post.

Feel free to comment, discuss, or disagree.
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Part #1 - Chesed and Gevurah


"For a thousand years are in Your eyes like a day..." (Tehilim 90:4)

From absolute nothing, an entire universe was brought into existence. On this day, the fresh heaven and earth were illuminated by a intense, G-dly energy. Hashem’s pure kindness shone brilliantly on this day of creation. It was a day of Chesed.

A lifetime was more than 900 years. All was given to mankind and nothing was demanded in return. Crime went unpunished. Life was lived out to its fullest. Man seemed invincible. The good times rolled in the world's first 1000 years. It was a millennium of Chesed.
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The lower waters were left in tears begging to be re-united with their counterpart above. A new element of separation was introduced into this fresh world resulting in barriers and divisions. There was no mentioning of "Hashem saw that it was good." It was a day of Gevurah.

The sins of the first millennium were taken into account. The world was in need of purification as retribution struck in the form of a flood of mighty water. Soon afterwards, a united civilization was split into distinct languages. It was an era that featured an abundance of discipline and division. It was a millennium of Gevurah.
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Life is like a magnet. We attract and repel. The tricky part is deciding when to use which side of the Magnet.

Their are times we are act with pure Chesed, doing anything for anyone at anytime. We must train ourselves to have the ability to help someone even when it makes no sense. It must be possible for us to occasionally spoil a child, student, or camper. And we must be willing to create new relationships, open up to another person, or even share our innermost secrets with a true friend.

On other occasions, we must embrace Gevurah. We must be able to say no and firmly hold our ground. Parents must stick to their principles with their children; teachers must uphold rules with their students. And we must be ready reject a relationship, keep to ourselves, or withhold from another our innermost thoughts.

In any healthy relationship there must be boundaries. In the words of the Klotzker, "If I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I; then I am not I and you are not you. However, if I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you; then I am I and you are you."

I once wondered how the literal meaning of Gevurah (strength) is connected to its usual interpretation of restraint and discipline. Only recently, did I discover the asnwer. It is often easier to give or open up than show restraint and say no. Chesed flows naturally while Gevurah requires an inner strength. It should come as no suprise that Chassidus explains that Gevura is actually rooted deeper than Chesed.

Of course, as in most things, a balance is most healthy. Yet in this case, Chassidus tells us that our balance should lean right towards Chesed.
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In Yiddishkeit, action takes priority. Tanya stresses that it is the Benoni that is within our control. But there are times that we must work not only on our Levushim and actions, but also our Midos and true personality.

In this context, Chesed is the attraction and passion we have towards things we desire and Gevura are are our feelings of indifference and coldness towards things we disgust. During Sefiras Haomer we must toil that our Chesed is channeled towards Ruchniyus and Avodas Hashem, and our Gevura towards Gashmiyus and worldly pleasures.

(This and the other posts in the series are based on upon Usfartem 5711, Lehavin Inyanan Sefiras Haomer 5718, Sichos, and Shiurim by Y.Y. Jacobson and Manis Friedman)