After sundown on Saturday, April 27 we recite:
(Traditional) Baruch ata Adonai Eloheynu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b-mitz’votav v-tzivanu ahl s’firat ha-omer.
(Feminized) Aht brucha Shechina eloheynu chey ha-olamim asher kidash’tanu b-mitz’voteyha v-tziv’tanu ahl s’firat ha-omer.
We bless the Source of time and space that summons us to holy action and instructs us on the counting of the omer.
Today is 33 days of the Omer, which is 4 weeks and 5 days, the day of Hod sheh b- Hod.
You are invited to comment and read others’ comments to this post by scrolling down to the bottom of the screen. There may be a delay before you see your comment.
Today, the day of hod in hod, is also LaG b’Omer, literally the 33rd day of the omer. There are many legends and celebratory customs that have grown up around this day, which stands out among the 49 days of counting. One tradition is that this is the yartzheit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who was a student of the sage Rabbi Akiva. According to legend, Rabbi Shimon was the author of the Zohar, the kabbalistic text that is at the heart of our work with the sefirot. Today takes us as deeply as we can possibly go into the quality of submission, of humility in the face of What Is. And the power of the day is made even more profound by its connection to Rabbi Shimon, a holy ancestor whose guidance we can call upon as we dare to venture into deeper waters.
Today, whenever we feel ourselves reaching for our inner shield—closing ourselves off in protection—or reaching for our inner sword—striking out with aggression, we can gently call ourselves back to hod, to letting go of resistance and inviting What Is to pull up a chair and have some nice, cold lemonade. If what we’re resisting is dangerous or threatening, we need to seek safety. But often our resistance arises out of our own shadows. Here we can practice letting go, giving over, releasing our grip, to let ourselves become vessels for a will greater than our own.
Kavannah/ intention:
Ribbono Shel Olam, Master of the Universe, today I invite hod, submission, into my experience of hod, letting go. Help me to go deeper into this practice of submitting to Your will. Help me to receive the teaching of my ancestors, who cultivated their hearts, minds and spirits to be so exquisitely attuned to Your will and to Your love. May my practice today be of service to You and to Your creation.
If it be Your Will
If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well
And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will
If it be your will.
–Leonard Cohen