By Rabbi Katy Z. Allen
On day 3 of the Omer, we consider the Divine Attributes of Tiferet in Chesed. Tiferet is Harmony or Compassion.
When we see the Moon, the light we are seeing is not generated by the Moon, it is the light of the Sun reflected off the Moon’s surface. Our light and our love increase when we reflect the light and the love we receive from G!d. When we have Compassion in Lovingkindness how much deeper our love and our kindness becomes. During the seder, we dipped our finger in the wine and removed 10 drops, one for each plague, diminishing the amount of wine and symbolically diminishing our joy as we remember that G!d’s children, the Egyptians, were drowning in the Sea even as our ancestors were being redeemed.
What does it take to have compassion on those who pursue us, on our enemies, on those people with whom we find it difficult to engage? It take a deep connection to the Beyond and to our innermost selves, it takes a compassion that enriches love. It takes receiving and reflecting G!d’s Chesed and G!d’s Tiferet – both of which are needed for us to help increase the Harmony in the Universe.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam, asher kid-shanu b’mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha’omer.
Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands regarding the counting of the omer.
Today is three days of the Omer.
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