Day 39 – Fri/Sat | May 31/June 1 Welcome to Day 39 of the Omer! Did you know…? This is Rabbi Cattapan’s final Shabbat with us. One last Erev Shabbat service, one last B’nei Mitzvah service…. Hard to believe the time has finally arrived. As we contemplate yesod, in this fifth week of the Omer, we thank Rabbi Cattapan for the ways he has been a foundation for Beth Torah and for each of us. *We honor Rabbi Cattapan’s final day with us by sharing a photo from his first month. Rabbi’s first Big Event with Beth Torah was the Beth Torah’s Got Talent fundraiser, and he jumped in with enthusiasm! ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom tishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-nine days, which is five weeks and four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day39 #yesod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Shabbat Shalom, all... #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 38 – Thurs/Fri | May 30/31 Welcome to Day 38 of the Omer! Did you know…? Yesod, which we learned yesterday means “foundation,” is also related to truth. What truths do you find foundational? How important is Truth to your foundation? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’monah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-eight days, which is five weeks and three days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day38 #yesod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 37 – Wed-Thurs | May 29/30 Welcome to Day 37 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we’ve been exploring, one practice during the Omer is to focus inward, contemplating our own character traits, values, and even our faults, so we may grow throughout this period. Perhaps the ancient rabbis were trying to get us in shape for the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. This period of time, then, was considered a period of tikkun, or correction of the self. It culminated in an all-night study session on the Shavuot that traditionally drew not only from the Bible, but also Talmud and Zohar. Modern study sessions branch out even further in the texts they include. Study is foundational to Judaism. Since we’ve just entered yesod, foundation, we thought it was a good time to remind you! And also to remind you that Beth Torah is hosting a Shavuot Extravaganza on June 11 where you’ll find both traditional text study and a casual, fun, schpiel-your-guts version. This one won’t be all night, but it will be a whole lot of fun! We hope you join us! Have you ever attended an all-night Shavuot study session? (Lezlie has. On one occasion she got to hear Rabbi Joseph Telushkin speak and on another, Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman!) ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shivah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-seven days, which is five weeks and two days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day37 #yesod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 36 – Tues-Wed | May 28/29 Welcome to Day 36 of the Omer! Did you know…? Beth Torah is celebrating our Double Chai anniversary! Thirty-six years of Torah, avodah (service), and gemilut hasadim (acts of loving-kindness). We hope you will spend the year with us, celebrating Beth Torah and our wonderful community! ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer. Today is thirty-six days, which is five weeks and one day of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day36 #yesods #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 35 – Mon-Tues | May 27/28 Welcome to Day 35 of the Omer! Did you know…? Some people recite an extra meditation every night before they proceed with the blessing and the Omer count. According to MyJewishLearning.com, “Many people precede the counting of the Omer with a meditation that states one’s intention to fulfill the commandment. This meditation serves to focus the individual on the task at hand and to remind him/her of the biblical basis of the commandment.” Hineni muchan um’zuman l’kayem mitzvat aseh shel s’firat ha’omer k’mo shekatuv baTorah: Us’fartem lakhem mimaharat hashabbat miyom havi’echem et omer hat’nufa, sheva shabbatot t’mimot tihiyenah. Ad mimaharat hashabbat hash’vi’it tisp’ru chamishim yom. Behold, I am ready and prepared to fulfill the mitzvah of counting the Omer, as it says in the Torah: You shall count from the eve of the second day of Pesach, when an Omer of grain is to be brought as an offering, seven complete weeks. The day after the seventh week of your counting will make fifty days. Do you find it helpful to prepare yourself with words, a short verbal meditation, before you perform certain tasks? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom chamishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot la-omer. Today is thirty-five days, which is five weeks of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day35 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 34 – Sun/Mon | May 26/27 Welcome to Day 34 of the Omer! Did you know…? Majesty, splendor, glory, humility, gratitude…. Somehow all of these concepts are wrapped up in the spiritual characteristic of hod. For Lezlie, the painting Song of the Lark Jules Adolphe Breton provides a visual representation of these different ideas coming together. Are there works of art for you that bring together seemingly disparate ideas into a cohesive whole? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom arbaah ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-four days, which is four weeks and six days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day34 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 33 – Sat/Sun | May 25/26 Lag B’Omer Welcome to Day 33 of the Omer! Did you know…? Remember how we talked about the Omer being a period of partial mourning? There is one day of the 49 that is considered a day to break from the mourning. People have weddings, light bonfires, and get haircuts! But why? Feeding out from the Rabbi Akiva tradition, we are told that the plague ceased on Lag B’omer, the 33rd day of the Omer. So for this one 24-hour period, the veil of mourning is lifted and we turn to celebration. Do you plan to do anything celebrate-y on Lag B’Omer? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה וּשְלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’loshah ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-three days, which is four weeks and five days of the Omer. ========= #lagbaomer #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day33 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Stay weird and wonderful! Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 32 – Fri/Sat | May 24/25 Welcome to Day 32 of the Omer! Did you know…? During the period of the Omer, many Jews practice the custom of studying one chapter of Pirkei Avot each Shabbat. This works well since Pirkei Avot has six chapters and we celebrate six Shabbats during the Omer. What other texts do you think are good study subjects for this period of time? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’nayim ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-two days, which is four weeks and four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day32 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Shabbat Shalom, friends.... #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 31 – Thurs/Fri | May 23/24 Welcome to Day 31 of the Omer! Did you know…? On Day 29, we talked about moving into the spiritual dimension of hod. We said it is typically translated as majesty, splendor, or glory, and also has been connected to gratitude. We find it interesting that hod is also considered humility. How does majesty, splendor, and glory relate to humility? Is gratitude the magical connector? What do you think? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וּשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom echad ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is thirty-one days, which is four weeks and three days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day31 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 30 – Wed/Thurs | May 22/23 Welcome to Day 30 of the Omer! Did you know…? We are in the middle week and almost halfway through our count! Have you noticed that the span of time from Pesach to Shavuot is a week of weeks? We never get tired of learning about mathematical alignments in the Jewish tradition! Can you think of others? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’loshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer. Today is thirty days, which is four weeks and two days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day30 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 29 – Tues/Wed | May 21/22 Welcome to Day 29 of the Omer! Did you know…? With week four, we enter into the spiritual concept of hod, translated as majesty, splendor, or glory. In our reading we see hod also connected to hoda’ah, or gratitude. What happens when you meditate on the connection between splendor and gratitude? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom tishah v’esrim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer. Today is twenty-nine days, which is four weeks and one day of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day29 #hod #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 28 – Mon/Tues | May 20/21 Welcome to Day 28 of the Omer! Did you know…? Today is the last day we spend in netzach. Netzach, eternity, is an extension of chesed, loving-kindness. Just one question today: What do you think about that? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’monah v’esrim yom shehem arbaah shavuot la-omer. Today is twenty-eight days, which is four weeks of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day28 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 27 – Sun/Mon | May 19/20 Welcome to Day 27 of the Omer! Did you know…? Judaism is very much a religion of time. We celebrate the beginning of each month with special prayers. We mark four New Years. Our religious lives are built around counting and cycles. Case in point: counting the Omer. As we approach our midway point, while we are still in netsach (eternity), we couldn’t miss the opportunity to share the words of Rabbi Abram Joshua Heschel. Heschel called Shabbat “eternity in disguise,” and his words are sprinkled throughout our prayerbook. The following quote should feel familiar, from both Friday night and Saturday morning: “A thought has blown the market place away: there is a song in the wind and joy in the trees. The Sabbath arrives in the world, scattering a song in the silence of the night. Eternity utters a day. Where are the words that could compete with such might? Six days a week we live under the tyranny of things of space; on the Sabbath we try to become attuned to the holiness in time. Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of Eternity planted in the soul.” What is your relationship to eternity? What is your relationship to time? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shivah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer. Today is twenty-seven days, which is three weeks and six days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day27 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 26 – Sat/Sun | May 18/19 Welcome to Day 26 of the Omer! Did you know…? Endurance can look like a lot of different things. It can manifest in different ways. And sometimes it’s not easy to see. Sometimes when we think of netsach, we think of perseverance, which feels overtly active. But other times it is the quiet strength and deep endurance of a tree in winter, resting until it is time to bud and bloom again. How does netsach manifest for you right now? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shishah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer. Today is twenty-six days, which is three weeks and five days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day26 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Just put one front of the other and let them take you into the week. Let's do this! Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 25 – Fri/Sat | May 17/18 Welcome to Day 25 of the Omer! Did you know…? This weekend is Israel Shabbat for us here at Beth Torah. We take the ideas of Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut and weave them throughout our service. We have decorations and home-made Israeli desserts. We have music and prayers written as long ago as the crusades and as recently as last month. We have a table set for Shabbat guests who cannot come. This year, perhaps more than ever, we are aware of how inextricably joy and sorrow, grief and hope are intertwined. We pray for the promise of Keshet, of the rainbow, symbol of hope. We pray for peace. We pray for netzach, the endurance to join hands, sing, and move through the wilderness together. Shabbat Shalom, friends…. ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom chamishah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is twenty-five days, which is three weeks and four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day25 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks #shabbat #shabbatshalom
Kick back, relax, and have a Shabbat full of shalom. Shabbat Shalom, friends... #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 24 – Thurs/Fri | May 16/17 Welcome to Day 24 of the Omer! Did you know…? We know the Omer helps us count from the Pesach offering to the Shavuot offering. This daily counting provides an unbroken line of connection between Pesach, which commemorates the exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt, and Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people. Even though this week we contemplate the steady endurance of netzach, we can feel the mounting anticipation as we move toward such a pinnacle event in the life of the Jewish people. Counting the Omer can help build excitement as we move through the days and weeks. Have you ever counted the days until an important event in our life? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom arbaah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is twenty-four days, which is three weeks and three days of the Omer ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day24 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 23 – Wed/Thurs | May 15/16 Welcome to Day 23 of the Omer! Did you know…? The period of the Omer is considered a time of partial mourning. Many Jews refrain from marrying, celebrating, dancing, and even cutting their hair. Traditionally, this period of mourning is observed in memory of the death of 24,000 of Rabbi Avia’s students. We encourage you to do your own research and learn more about the many theories around this period of mourning, and the many practices associated with it. Do you follow any of these practices? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’loshah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer. Today is twenty-three days, which is three weeks and two days of the Omer ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day23 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 22 – Tues/Wed | May 14/15 Welcome to Day 22 of the Omer! Did you know…? We are fully in week three of the Omer! Week three is associated with the spiritual concept of netzach. Eternity and Endurance. Netzach is the seventh sefirot, located beneath chesed. From the Leichtag Foundation website: Netzach implies two Hebrew words: nitzachon – victory over our fears and nitzchiut – eternity. Kabbalah, the mystical interpretation of Jewish tradition, reveals that the connection between these two concepts is tenacity. If we want to overcome weak spots in ourselves, we must persist. If we want to live lives that have eternal meaning, we must do so by continuing, because we are part of something greater than ourselves. We persevere sometimes even by the act of telling ourselves we will endure and calling to mind past ways we’ve overcome challenges as well as the example of generations before us who have triumphed over drastic change and loss. (https://leichtag.org/counting-the-omer-netzach/) How do you endure? How do you persevere as you move through daily life? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’nayim v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer. Today is twenty-two days, which is three weeks and one day of the Omer ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day22 #netzach #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 21 – Mon/Tues | May 13/14 Welcome to Day 21 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we slide from Day 20 to Day 21 of the Omer, we flow from the sobriety of Yom HaZikaron to the celebration of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day. The move becomes official a few minutes after sundown, with a ceremony that includes taking flags from half-mast to full. This coupling of Memorial Day and Independence Day seems to fit perfectly into our final day of tiferet, that place of beauty and balance. How will you celebrate Israel’s independence? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom echad v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot la-omer. Today is twenty-one days, which is three weeks of the Omer ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day21 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 20 – Sun/Mon | May 12/13
Welcome to Day 20 of the Omer! Did you know…?
Day 20 of the Omer will take us into Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day. Earlier today, at 8:00 p.m. Israel time, the country came to a halt as it does every year while a one-minute-long siren sounded. The nation stands in silence to mark the remembrance of those who have fallen in war. At 11:00 a.m. Israeli time, 3:00 a.m. for us in Kansas City, a second siren will sound, this one lasting two minutes. Ceremonies across the 24-hour period include memorials for fallen soldiers, and for all who have died due to terrorism.
We invite you to take a moment to pray for those who risk and give their lives to protect freedom and those they love.
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Let’s count!
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer.
הַיּוֹם עֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר.
Hayom esrim yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.
Today is twenty days, which is two weeks and six days of the Omer
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#omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day20 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Image attribution: udi Steinwell Pikiwiki Israel, CC BY 2.5
Day 19 – Sat/Sun | May 11/12 Welcome to Day 19 of the Omer! Did you know…? Day 19 of the Omer will take us into (American) Mother’s Day. Mothers have a special place in the Jewish heart and mind. Few conventional Jewish images exist stronger than the Jewish Mother. She may feel overbearing, but she really, really does care that you are fed and cared for. The mother of the family is traditionally seen as the one who safeguards Jewish life. We even have a place in our daily prayers for our foremothers: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Whether you are a mother by blood or by bond, may you feel loved, honored, and celebrated. ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom tishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer. Today is nineteen days, which is two weeks and five days of the Omer ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day19 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
May this flower encourage you to be true to your own unique beauty. We see you! Shavua Tov, friends.... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 18 – Fri/Sat | May 10/11 Welcome to Day 18 of the Omer! Did you know…? Did you know that every Friday night during the Omer we count together as a community? You still have four opportunities to join us! Are you tracking the Omer this year? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’monah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is eighteen days, which is two weeks and four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day18 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
May the peace of Shabbat fall upon you like gentle rain. Shabbat Shalom, friends.... #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 17 – Thurs/Fri | May 9/10 Welcome to Day 17 of the Omer! Did you know…? How often do we find ourselves sitting at some conjunction of love and boundaries? Today we are going to share a poem with you by one of our favorite contemporary Jewish poets, Rick Lupert. Lezlie subscribes to his weekly parasha poems (yes, he writes one every week!), and shared the one for this upcoming Shabbat, Kedoshim. While we could have saved this poem for June—Pride month—Lupert’s words speak too beautifully to the concept of tiferet to wait. Beauty, balance, synthesis… The final refrain of the poem sits deeply in the center of these ideals. Rick Lupert’s poem for Parsha Kedoshim (Aliyah 6): https://jewishpoetry.net/let-love-be-love-a-poem-for-parsha-kedoshim-aliyah-6/ ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shivah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is seventeen days, which is two weeks and three days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day17 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 16 – Wed/Thurs | May 8/9 Welcome to Day 16 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we move into week three of the Omer, we move into the spiritual quality of tiferet. Beauty. Compassion. Tiferet sits in between chesed and gevurah, representing the balance and/or harmony of the two. It is the middle path, where the outpouring of love and the containment of boundaries meet. How do you find balance in your life? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer. Today is sixteen days, which two weeks and two days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day16 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 15 – Tues/Wed | May 7/8 Welcome to Day 15 of the Omer! Did you know…? Can you believe we are already entering week 3? We’ve been talking about the Kabbalistic practice of associating the Omer with certain spiritual attributes. But it goes deeper than just associating an idea with each week. According to Kabbalistic teachings, each week of the Omer AND each day of the week is related to one of the seven lower sefirot. This gives you 49 combinations, one for each day of the Omer. These combinations give you a jumping-off point for personal growth and contemplation. We think that’s pretty cool! Do you use the Omer for introspection or contemplation? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom chamishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’yom echad la-omer. Today is fifteen days, which two weeks and one day of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day15 #tiferet #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 14 – Mon/Tues | May 6/7 Welcome to Day 14 of the Omer! Did you know…? We made it to two weeks! Fourteen days: 7 + 7. This feels like the perfect time to talk about balance. Gevurah—strength, discipline, discernment, boundaries—is important. These qualities are necessary to living a productive, balanced, “good” life. But it’s also important to remember that too much of them is, well, too much. We must learn to discern when it’s time to stay the course and stay buttoned up, and when it’s time to reevaluate and release. Are there places where you are standing too firm? Enacting too much strength or discipline? Are there places where it is safe and helpful to soften a boundary or step into an unknown? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת לָעֹֽמֶֶר. Hayom arbaah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot la-omer. Today is fourteen days, which two weeks of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day14 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 13 – Sun/Mon | May 5/6 Welcome to Day 13 of the Omer. Did you know…? As the sun sets today (May 5), we move not only into day 13 of the Omer, but also into Yom HaShoah. This afternoon we experienced a beautiful community commemoration in Kansas City. The full name of the holiday is Yom HaZikaron laShoah v’laG'vurah (יום הזיכרון לשואה ולגבורה). As we sit in the week of gevurah, we invite you to consider why this day of remembrance is also considered the day of strength. The timing of Yom HaShoah was set to coincide with the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, moving it to just past pesach so that one would not overshadow the other. These days it feels extra important to keep these memories alive. To remember the atrocities and terrors of then and continue to push back against frightening rising tides of now. To say and mean: Never again. Today’s image shows holocaust survivor Hasia (Belizka) Burnstein lighting a memorial torch during the opening ceremony of the holocaust memorial day, at "Yad Vashem" in Jerusalem. How can we honor the past and move toward the future in strength? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’loshah asar yom shehem shavua echad v’shishah yamim la-omer Today is thirteen days, which is one week and six days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day13 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 12 – Sat/Sun | May 4/5 Welcome to Day 12 of the Omer! Did you know…? Throughout history, Jewish people have found creative ways to remember which day of the Omer they are on. Omer-counters were created and often displayed in synagogues or kept in the home. Pegboards, tear-off calendars, magnets, calendar books, and other devices have been used to keep track of the days. Our Music Coordinator Lezlie Zucker sometimes subscribes to a text service that texts her each night with the Omer count and words of wisdom related to that day. Today’s image shows a counter designed by artist Tobi Kahn. “Each peg on his counter is unique, but they all fit together as a whole, with their combined form suggesting rooftops of a village.” Learn more about Saphyr at The Jewish Museum here: https://thejewishmuseum.org/collection/28194-omer-calendar-saphyr How do you keep track of the Omer? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’neim asar yom shehem shavua echad vachamishah yamim la-omer Today is twelve days, which is one week and five days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day12 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Swimming into May like a boss. Shavua Tov, Friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 11 – Fri/Sat | May 3/4 Welcome to Day 11 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we slide into Shabbat with Day 11, it’s important to remember that the judgment of gevurah is not the judgement of judgmental-ness, but rather of discernment and understanding. Where could you use a little less judgmental-ness and a bit more compassionate discernment or deeper understanding? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom achad asar yom shehem shavua echad v’arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is eleven days, which is one week and four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day11 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Looking for a place to be Friday nights? We'd love for you to spend some with us. Wherever you spend Shabbat, may you be surrounded by love, warmth, and light. Shabbat Shalom, Friends.... #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 10 – Thurs/Fri | May 2/3 Welcome to Day 10 of the Omer! Did you know…? G’vurah, the spiritual attribute associated with the second week of the Omer, represents both might (power, strength) and restraint (discernment, boundaries). G’vurah can also be translated as “courage.” There is so much wrapped up in this one little word. It takes courage to stand and act in our power. It also takes courage to assess each situation and discern where and how our power should be enacted. Where do you need to enact more power? Where could you stand to practice discernment or implement boundaries? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם עֲשָׂרָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וּשְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom asarah yamim shehem shavua echad ushloshah yamim la-omer. Today is ten days, which is one week and three days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day10 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 9 – Wed/Thurs | May 1/2 Welcome to Day 9 of the Omer! Did you know…? Do you know why we count both days and weeks when we count the Omer? “The inclusion of both the day [9] and the week [one week and two days] stems from a rabbinic argument about whether the Torah mandates counting days or weeks. On the one hand, the biblical text instructs, ‘you shall count 50 days;’ on the other hand, the text also says to ‘count. . . seven complete weeks.’ The compromise position, manifested in the ritual, is to count both days and weeks.” (MyJewishLearning.com) What could be more Jewish than that? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom tishah yamim shehem shavua echad ushnei yamim la-omer. Today is nine days, which is one week and two days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day9 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 8 – Tues/Wed | April 30/May 1 Welcome to Day 7 of the Omer! Did you know…? We made it through week one! Congratulations! As we move into week 2 of the Omer, we move from chesed to gevurah. We move from the gentle action of loving-kindness to the deeply grounded stability of strength and boundaries. ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’monah yamim shehem shavua echad v’yom echad la-omer. Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day8 #gevurah #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 7 – Mon-Tues | April 29/30 Welcome to Day 7 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we wrap up week one of the Omer—can you believe it’s already been a week?—we take a moment to consider one more aspect of chesed. Kindness fills the world with wonder and delight. Think back to a time when someone showed you kindness, particularly if you weren’t expecting it or were in desperate need of it. Think of times when you offered kindness, and the ripples of joy you felt in the process. Things are rarely only what they seem. Approaching life through a lens of kindness can grant us opportunities to allow ourselves to be open to wonder and curiosity, rather than falling prey to cynicism and indifference. May your days be filled with chesed, both given and received. ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shivah yamim shehem shavua echad la-omer. Today is seven days which is one week of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day7 #chesed #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 6 – Sun/Mon | April 28/29 Welcome to Day 6 of the Omer! Did you know…? We’ve been talking a bit about the importance of chesed, which is seen as an active principle directed toward others. But I (Lezlie) can’t talk about love and kindness without reminding us all the importance of also directing that inward. What good is our work in the world if we turn around and speak to ourselves in hurtful ways? While we must cultivate the use of chesed as a driving force behind how we behave in the world, I believe we must also turn that loving-kindness inward as well. Is there some kindness you wish you were giving to yourself? What can you do to turn that wish into action? How are you internally expressing love? What actions are you taking to walk your chesed talk? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיוֹם שִׁשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom shishah yamim la-omer. Today is six days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day6 #chesed #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 5 – Sat/Sun | April 27/28 Welcome to Day 5 of the Omer! Did you know…? As we mentioned on Day 2, mystical Judaism pairs the first week of the Omer with the spiritual attribute of chesed. We invite you to take a moment to meditate on the love you are putting out into the world. Is there some kindness you wish you were sharing that you aren’t yet? What can you do to turn that wish into action? How are you externally expressing love? What actions are you taking to walk your chesed talk? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֵר. Hayom chamishah yamim la-omer. Today is five days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day5 #chesed #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Here we go! Let's soar into the week. Shavua Tov, friends.... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 4 – Fri/Sat | April 26/27 Welcome to Day 4 of the Omer! Did you know…? We are meant to count the Omer in a language we understand. Here at Beth Torah, we still like to say the prayer in Hebrew first, to keep the language of the Torah on our tongues. Therefore, we are providing the Hebrew, transliteration, and English for each night. Today’s image: Memorial Tablet and Omer Calendar 1904 Ink, paint, pencil, watercolor, by Baruch Zvi Ring (1872 - 1927). ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is four days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day4 #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Bark like this always reminds me (Lezlie) of a Torah. A very old, world-worn Torah that's seen some things. I think many of us feel that way right now. Worn, fraying around the edges... A damaged Torah may no longer be kosher, but it is still holy. As are we. Even worn and weary, we are still Holy. May Shabbat allow you to feel your own holiness, your own connection to the divine. Shabbat Shalom, friends.... #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks #btopks
Day 3 – Thurs/Fri | April 25/26 Welcome to Day 3 of the Omer! Did you know…? Hang on a minute…. Why are we starting our count at the end of a day? The reason Jewish holidays and celebrations begin in the evening is rooted in the biblical story of Creation, which teaches that God created night before day. On the Jewish calendar, holidays begin at sundown and continue through the next day. For example, the weekly holiday of Shabbat begins at sundown on Friday night and ends at sundown on Saturday night. For many Jewish families, it is customary to begin the holiday just a bit before sundown and to extend the holiday a bit after sundown the following night. (reformjudaism.com) ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom arbaah yamim la-omer. Today is three days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day3 #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Day 2 – Wed/Thurs | April 24/25 Welcome to Day 2 of the Omer! Did you know…? In mystical Judaism, the counting of the Omer is a time for potential inner growth. Therefore, each week of the Omer is dedicated to a particular attribute or characteristic that is associated with one of the lower sefirot. Week one is dedicated to chesed (loving-kindness). How will you cultivate loving-kindness in yourself this week? How will you expand that to cultivate loving-kindness in the world? ========= Let’s count! בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר. Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav vitzivanu al s'firat ha-omer. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer. הַיּוֹם שְׁנֵי יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר. Hayom sh’loshah yamim la-omer. Today is two days of the Omer. ========= #omer #CountingTheOmer #SpiritualJourney #day2 #congregationbethtorah #overlandparkkansas #reformjudaism #Jewish #diversity #inclusiveness #community #educational #connecting #jewishlife #jesishlifekc #cbtopks #btopks
Happy Tu B'Shvat! Tu B'Shvat is the "New Year of the Trees," and is often seen as the Jewish Arbor Day. It's another cleverly named holiday, falling on the 15th (Tu) of the month (Shvat)! In honor of the trees, here are some resources you might find helpful! ========= HEARTLAND TREE ALLIANCE (The mission of Heartland Tree Alliance is to engage people of the Greater Kansas City region to take action and advocate for a healthy community forest.) --> https://bridgingthegap.org/heartland-tree-alliance/ FREE TREES (If you are in Kansas City, MO you can sign up for a free tree to plant!)--> https://www.kcmo.gov/city-hall/departments/neighborhood-services/free-trees ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION (And of course, the oldie-but-goodie Arbor Day Foundation, your resource for all things Tree) --> https://www.arborday.org/ #tubsvhat #trees #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
May the light of Hanukkah flow through our hearts and our lives. Be the shamash when you can. Shabbat Shalom friends. #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishkc #jewishlife #cbtopks
May your week be bright and beautiful! Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
May your soul reflect the peace of Shabbat. Shabbat Shalom, friends... #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
Shavua tov, friends. Stay cool... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
Shabbat Shalom, friends... #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
Today we celebrate Muzzle Tov Havdalah and the last day of our Pet Supply Drive. Donations are being made in memory of Lila Altman. May you all go into the week with such a devoted companion. Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
May the light get through and bring you blessings of Shabbat... Shabbat Shalom, friends #shabbat #shabbatshalom #jewish #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks
Welcome to the week and a new fiscal year for Beth Torah! We are looking for an upbeat, energetic, well-organized human to fill the position of Director of Member Engagement! Is that you or someone you know? Check out the link below to learn more! Shavua Tov, friends! https://www.jewishjobs.com/job/np5dwj/director-of-member-engagement/overland-park/ks #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #jewishjobs #cbtopks
On this last day of Pride Month, we want to say that every month should be Pride Month. Every day should be a day that we see, respect, and honor each other. May it be so and may the time swiftly arrive where the love and acceptance we pray for fills the hearts of all humanity. Shabbat Shalom, friends.... #pride #pridemonth #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
Be you... Hoping you have the chance to be whatever you are wherever you are this week! Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #fallleafinsummer #cbtopks
Melting into Shabbat like.... Shabbat Shalom, friends. #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #icecream #cbtopks
May your week be as colorful, flavorful, and nourishing as this salad! Shavua Tov, friends... #shavuatov #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #cbtopks
We at Congregation Beth Torah welcome Pride Month with open minds, open hearts, and open arms. May we soon and swiftly live in a world where all are welcome and all feel welcome. Shabbat Shalom, friends... #shabbatshalom #shabbat #jewish #jewishlifekc #jewishlife #pride #pridemonth #cbtopks
June 1 marks the beginning of Pride Month. Our tradition teaches us that Abraham and Sarah’s tent was always open. They welcomed all who passed by, not asking how they prayed, where they came from, or who they loved. We have religious obligation to offer hospitality to those in need and to welcome guests into our homes and communities. We are called—not just as decent human beings, but specifically as Jews—to support the LGBTQ+ Community. To hold them up, help them out, and welcome them in. ========= The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and Keshet have abundant resources on how you can make a difference on Pride Shabbat, during Pride Month, and all year round. If you are not already, please consider exploring ways you can be an ally. https://bit.ly/RAC_PrideResources https://www.keshetonline.org/ ======== We invite you to join us for Pride Shabbat on June 23 to share songs and prayers of love, support, and radical hospitality. #pride #pridemonth #prideshabbat #keshet #therac #jewish #jewishlife #jewishlifekc #cbtopks