Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 26 Iyar, 5783.  40th Day of the Omer.

As we wind down the month of Iyar, and we head to the new moon and the month of Sivan, we are coming to the end of the sixth week of the Omer counting and heading into our last week.

Today’s theme is “hod of Yesod” which is the “Humility of Bonding.”

From Chabad:

Humility is crucial in healthy bonding. Arrogance divides people. Preoccupation with your own desires and needs separates you from others. Humility allows you to appreciate another person and bond with him. Bonding that is just an extension of your own needs is only bonding tighter with yourself. Healthy bonding is the union of two distinct people, with independent personalities, who join for a higher purpose than satisfying their own needs.

True humility comes from recognizing and acknowledging G‑d in your life. Am I aware of the third partner – G‑d – in bonding? And that this partner gives me the capacity to unite with another, despite our distinctions.

Exercise for the day: When praying acknowledge G‑d specifically for helping you bond with others.

I am reflecting on this theme and today’s Torah portion.  The idea of the portion today is all around “camping.”  Which is interesting, because (in my opinion) the idea is also around change.  We so often camp in a place of comfort, and struggle to make changes and move.  Today’s portion (with Kabbalistic thought) gives us an interesting “formula” for change.  I wrote about this a year ago:

From a growth perspective – I wonder if this is all an outline for change:

1. 1. Tiferet (Judah) goes first – Harmony. Changing for Harmony seems gentle and a good first step.
   2. Chesed (Reuben) goes second- Kindness. If we won’t make the changes we need to make for Harmony’s sake? Maybe we will make them for Kindness?
   3. Malkhut (Ephraim) goes third (after the tent of meeting and the Levites) – sensitivity If we won’t change for harmony or kindness, maybe Hashem reveals Himself and THEN we will change?
   4. Gevurah (Dan) goes last – negativity and severity. In the end the last point of change is hitting rock bottom. Radical change happens when we experience Harshness.

The Torah portion describes how the different parts of Israel were camping out – and how they were to move.  Harmony always went first.  We should live our lives trying to live in Harmony.

However, Harmony isn’t always possible with another. Within ourselves? Harmony is possible. Am I behaving in a way that keeps me at peace and harmony?  Externally though, Harmony involves relationship with another.  If they do NOT want harmony and RESIST harmony, we can remain humble (in our bonding with them), but we will need to change our tactic.  Towards kindness.

Kindness is possible for ourselves first.  Always.  We have the opportunity to show our selves “courteous goodwill” and be kind to ourselves.  But when we are kind to others – out of our own internal kindness?  It may NOT always be received.  There are many reasons for this.  So then the tactic needs to change.  Towards sensitivity – and where might Hashem (or the universe) be leading us?

Sensitivity to where Hashem may be leading us is a challenge.  We have to grow and awakening to sensing the movement of the creator of the universe.  And if that doesn’t work, the tactic changes.

To negativity.  To have us hit rock bottom and then be willing to change.

And not only do we do this with others?  We do this within.

Think about something we are bonded to (poor eating choices, alcohol, co-dependency, addiction, etc).  This model for change works as well:

1. Harmony within.  How many of these things we are bonded to disrupt our internal sense of harmony? Peace?
2. Kindness towards ourselves. How can we work on making changes while remaining kind and compassionate to ourselves?
3. Sensitivity towards where the universe (Hashem, God, whatever your chosen name for what is beyond us) is leading us in each moment.
4. Negativity and Harshness.  Realizing this isn’t happening “to us” but instead – it is happening “for me.”  To spark real change in my life.

Instead of being distracted all the time, comfortable, etc – we are called to grow and change. t To bond with our neshama – that part of Hashem that is within us.  How are we doing this?

What are your thoughts?

My commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 1 Sivan, 5782 (May 31, 2022)

45th day of the Omer

It’s Rosh Chodesh! A new month and a new moon! Rosh Chodesh is a special month as it is the month we were given the Torah! The Omer we’ve been counting is leading us to Shavuot and the giving of the Torah! So let’s dig in!

Today’s portion is all about camping. Given yesterday was Memorial Day and we are coming out of a long weekend? It’s probably appropriate!

The portion gives us how the Israel camp was set up.

Basically the camps were all set up around the tent of meeting. Each division consisted of three tribes. Rabbi Isaac Luria connected these to Asheknazi, Sephardi, Catalonian, and Italian Jewry. He wrote; “they must all remain loyal to their “divisions,” to their own unique customs, which are Holy and Precious.”

Kabbalah teaches that each camp represented:

1. One of the four elements
2. One of the four super Al angels
3. One of the four creatures in the Heavenly Chariot from Ezekiel’s vision
4. One of the four Devine attributes (Chesed-kindness, Gevurah-severity, Tiferet-harmony, and Malkut-sensitivity

The Torah tells us, “The Camp of Judah” was to the east, which was the “front.” The tribes of the camp of Judah were; Judah, Isaachar, and Zebulun

When the camps moved, Judah moved first. Kabbalah connects the camp of Judah with:

1. Element= Air
2. Angel= Uriah
3. Creature= Man
4. Attribute= Tiferet

Kabbalah teaches that Judah camped to the ear since Judah was a ba’al teshuvah (penitent) and teshuvah is associated with the east.

Next we have the camp of Reuben: which consisted of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. The camp of Reuben moved second after Judah.

Kabbalah connects Reuben with:

1. Element= Water
2. Angel= Michael
3. Creature= Lion
4. Attribute= Chesed (Reuben started the efforts to save Joseph)

Reuben camped in the south which is associated with Chesed.

The Torah then says, after Reuben moves second, then the tent moves with the Levite camp (which was separate)

The third camp to the West was the camp of Ephraim; this consisted of Ephraim, Menassaeh, and Benjamin. They moved third.

Kabbalah connects Ephraim with:

1. Element= Earth
2. Angel= Raphael
3. Creature= Eagle
4. Attribute= Malkhut

The camp was in the west since the west is associated with Shekhinah (Divine Presence) which is Malkhut.

Finally, we have the camp of Dan. This consisted of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali. They moved last.

Kabbalah connects Dan with:

1. Element= Fire
2. Angel= Gabriel
3. Creature= Ox
4. Attribute= Gevurah

Dan encamped in the north since the north is associated with Gevurah and negativity.

I’m reflecting on this. Negativity sounds bad. But it comes last.

From a growth perspective – I wonder if this is all an outline for change:

1. Tiferet (Judah) goes first – Harmony. Changing for Harmony seems gentle and a good first step.
2. Chesed (Reuben) goes second- Kindness. If we won’t make the changes we need to make for Harmony’s sake? Maybe we will make them for Kindness?
3. Malkhut (Ephraim) goes third (after the tent of meeting and the Levites) – sensitivity If we won’t change for harmony or kindness, maybe Hashem reveals Himself and THEN we will change?
4. Gevurah (Dan) goes last – negativity and severity. In the end the last point of change is hitting rock bottom. Radical change happens when we experience Harshness.

So I wonder if this is all connected to our hearts and Hashem wanting us to grow and develop?

What do you think?