SEPHIRAT HA OMER

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer PSALMS of my Soul by JOY KRAUTHAMMER. --- MORE: CLICK "Older Posts". --- "Each day of the Omer period is associated with a different aspect of the Sephirot. On that day, everything which every-one in the whole world is talking about is purely an expression of that special aspect with which that day is associated. A person with understanding can hear and recognize this if s/he pays attention to what people are saying." - Reb Nachman...Art and Photos © Joy Krauthammer

BLOSSOMING CHERRY TREES - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

Psalms of My Soul
ספירת העומר
HOD sh b'CHESED
Sephirat HaOmer day 5
Gratitude of Splendor in Kindness

Japanese Cherry Trees, Sakuras

© Joy Krauthammer

BLOSSOMING CHERRY TREES

- Joy Krauthammer

Blossoming Japanese Cherry trees, Sakuras,
So serene, pretty, pink, peaceful,
Return each year.
I anticipate them.
With joy I welcome them.
They are blessings,
Sent here from Japan.
Japanese people travel from LA
And from far to view the Sakuras.
The elderly especially come,
Those who remember their childhood.

Annually on Mitzvah Day
Jews plant the trees.
So many cultures visit Lake Balboa.
Inter-connected, we all enjoy the scene each spring.

Sometimes a tree dies.
I wonder why...
Sometimes I bring a friend.
One my age, or an elderly friend, 88 years,
We sit and reflect under the purple wisteria arbor.
We walk around the man-made lake.
Pink trees reflect in the water.
I walk off the cement path to come close.
I touch the delicate soft pink petals.
From the ground, I lift fallen flowers.

Walking on uneven grass
I greet the geese, ducks and birds.
Along the way
I photograph.
In the sun, flowers sparkle,
Sometimes skies are grey.
At times, I kayak in the lake.
I have a license to paddle.
I enjoy the tranquil view from the water.
I love the Japanese Cherry trees
Here in the Valley.

I call others with reminders to visit.
"Maybe 5% Cherry blossoms are open," I report.
"Only 20% blossoms remain!" I warn.
Treasure them. Come.
"There's a lake in the Valley?"
I am questioned.
Visions of beauty, G*d's Splendor to behold.
Let your soul feel full of joy. Come.

The Cherry trees used to open and bloom in April.
Now their show appears earlier, and earlier each year.
The trees have life cycles.
"To everything there is a season." *
Sometimes I see only darker fuscia small buds
And few pretty pink blossoms
Because I arrive too soon;
Sometimes I am too late.
This year I missed them altogether.
A lost opportunity; I was sad.
I hope I learn from my mistake and
Receive G*d's glorious gift to us
Before it is too late.

Sometimes, to enjoy with a loved one,
There is no longer
A "next time".

I share my Cherry trees picture with you;
Loveliness: sweet, serene, pretty and pink.
It is G*d's divine garden.
I celebrate the awesome Cherry trees
As I do You and you.
I give praise and I am grateful
For the blesSings
In my Garden of Life.

* Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Kohelet)

(Sukkot 2007, 5768)

Japanese Cherry Tree blossoms (sakura)

Japanese Cherry Tree blossoms, Sakuras and flying geese

Purple Wisteria, Lake Balboa arbor
© Joy Krauthammer

I am grateful that I was invited to read this poem at an international gathering for Thanksgiving. - Joy

STORY ~ Moe the Turtle:

http://joys-prose.blogspot.com/2010/03/rescuing-moe.html

2 POEMS ~ Cherry Trees:

http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/2012/02/blossoming-cherry-trees.html

http://joys-poems.blogspot.com/2011/03/tis-spring.html

OMER ~ Cherry Blossom:
http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2010/01/hod-sh-b-chesed-day-29-blossoming.html

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/09/humble-blossom-day-47-hod-sh-bmalchut.html

PHOTOS ~ Lake Balboa

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2012/06/lake-balboa_1.html

All photos/materials in sites by Joy Krauthammer are under copyright protection by © Joy Krauthammer.

Permission by Joy Krauthammer, needed to repost/copy/reprint/use. Request in Comments, FB, or write/call personally.

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EMPATHY IN FRIENDSHIP - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

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HOD sh b'CHESED
Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 5

PSALMS OF MY SOUL

ספירת העומר

Empathy in Friendship/Loving Kindness

- Joy Krauthammer

Furling or Unfurling?

Sago palm frond

These Omer Sephirot are important to me as I believe in today's humility, gratitude, splendor, and surely act in lovingkindness –this week’s Sephirah. I can be a whole lot better with a loved one.

Early this morning because an ill friend doesn’t use computer so she doesn’t see my photos, nor writing, I wrote on a purchased pretty card to this elderly friend recovering from cancer surgery. She has chosen not to have 'treatments' because she is "old and sick".

Hard for me to neatly handwrite when all I do is write on computer but I carefully took the time for each letter of every word covering the card’s inside with meaningful words. Not easy always to be a friend when the Friend is not her happier self. Hard to write words of healing love when the ill one is not sharing serene energy, but spewing the opposite. When I think about how badly I felt during and following her phone call, I realize that Friend is feeling much worse, and I lessen my feelings trying to reach balance. (Wasn't too easy because a person very important in my music life (and the world) died two days earlier and I've been writing condolence letters filled with photos, and today e-mailed another sympathy note to cousins because a dear cousin, Bruce, z"l, died a week ago today. I am sad.)

I wrote Friend that I am grateful for all that today is good. No pain for Friend today, etc. etc.

E-mailed the Friend's friend overseas to tune her in...

I guess this is the very same that I do for an older sister for the same reasons, snail mail and call, but she does not express heavy upset nor anger. Sister, too, is being cared for.

My Friend, z"l, succumbed to the cancer 3 months ago, 9 months after cancer surgery, one year ago at Pesach time. One day 3 months ago she waited for me to appear, and within minutes gave her neshamah back to the Holy One. I closed her eyes. I delivered the eulogy. I miss her and this year is the first in years that we didn't share Seder together. My heart is heavy. 2017
In the last year I have 'lost' a dozen friends and cousins...
~

How do YOU express yourself in the energy of Hod sh b’Chesed?

Is the Sago frond tightly closing OR is the frond unfurling?

Where is the freedom? What is the freedom? How do we get there? What are we leaving?

How can our heart extend lovingkindness and share gratitude and splendor?

Furling or Unfurling?

Sago palm frond

~ ~ ~

HOD sh b'CHESED
Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 5

PSALMS OF MY SOUL

ספירת העומר

Empathy in Friendship/Loving Kindness

- Joy Krauthammer 2015

Empathy--Not usually how I think about Hod. Usually I think of gratitude and/or splendor.

Reaching this 5th Omer day, I called a friend whom I haven't spoken to in months. She doesn't return calls or e-mails, the same also for her other friends. I heard she is suffering yet another house malfunction and within a minute I called to share empathy within our friendship. Have no idea why she doesn't return calls to friends, but I can put that aside. I can put that aside for others also because they are involved in projects. I can still call and leave messages filled with greetings of friendship and info about events that would interest them.

With an older sister it is still harder. She basically never calls, wanting me to call... and she doesn't return calls although she wants to receive them... If I knew she was in trouble at this time, I would be constantly present, but I know that in some ways, her life is better now, so I don't need to call as I had in past. I'm also not sending the daily or weekly pretty and decorated snail-mail cards that I was sending to cheer her. Think I'll call now and again wish her a chag Pesach sameach, and see how her Seders have been.

Should I answer a phone call to provide empathy in kindness (following similar calls), when I know the call is joyous, but it is disturbing me during my writing and art meditation. I can hear the message so I know I can answer or not.
If I am not needed for Chesed and sympathy, I can be truthful to myself, and fully present if I do choose to answer when I can.

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EMPATHY IN FRIENDSHIP - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 5

PSALMS OF MY SOUL

I'd much rather be sharing with friends and family sweet flowers that in Hod/splendor I appreciate

and love to share in Chesed/lovingkindness.

Poppy, Edith's Garden

Poppies, Edith's Garden

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PSALMS OF MY SOUL

HOD sh b’CHESED ספירת העומר

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 5

Empathy in Friendship / Loving Kindness

- Joy Krauthammer

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/06/empathy-in-friendship-day-5-hod-sh.html

Another day of transitioning for my beloved friend Edith. Sharing my love and holding her hand and stroking her brow. Holding phone by her ear so my daughter may also share her love. Edith loves flowers in natural state growing in her garden; not creative details nor enhancement so here is a flower for first time in her garden, hoping it will bear fruit that she loves. Heart of flower extends tall and humble, attracting bees. White petals about 8" wide. I would take photos in the garden and show to Edith when she could no longer enter the garden.

Dragon Fruit flower night-blooming cereus Hylocereus undatus

Edith's Garden early morning. Flower lasts a few hours.

My friend has lasted 95 years minus a week, so far.

In the spirit of Hod sh b’Chesed…

Opening wide in gratitude to Love and Kindness

I am mamash grateful for Edith having been in my life for at least a couple decades. I acknowledge and appreciate that Edith has included me in all her family and holiday celebrations. Edith invites me into her organic garden to enjoy and photograph produce and flowers, and into her pool to enjoy swimming in summer. Edith listens to me with my joy and tears. Edith has called me every morning for the last year to remind me to take my morning pills. Edith saves the weekly mail ads for me because my mailman doesn’t deliver them. Edith models for me for all the photo shoots where I need a model for photo group themes or offers her cat and garden and home for props. Edith has fun doing this and I always show her the photos and maybe share with her family. I’ve enjoyed bringing over meals for us to share in the garden and begin with prayers from both of us. Hummingbirds flutter overhead drinking from her many feeders, while pets, cat or dog were nearby. Our hearts have opened wide in all those moments and years. There has been so my goodness I have received in my friendship with Edith.

And yes, I too share my family with Edith, who also love her. They also love the fruit jam that she makes with family. At times my fruit, figs, are added to her mix and that makes me happy, but now she also has fig trees.

All photos/materials in sites by Joy Krauthammer are under copyright protection by © Joy Krauthammer.

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MOM & BABY BONDING - day 6 YESOD sh b' CHESED

PSALMS OF MY SOUL

ספירת העומר

Mom & Baby Bonding In Love

YESOD sh b' CHESED

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 6

- Joy Krauthammer

Mother and Baby

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TWO SISTERS - day 6 YESOD sh b'CHESED

PSALMS OF MY SOUL
ספירת העומר

Yesod sh b'Chesed

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 6

Two Sisters Bonding in Love

- Joy Krauthammer

My sister and I spoke at length tonight during the energies of Yesod sh b'Chesed, and I feel we bonded more deeply, while we spoke about our interests both from when we were children and now as adults, finding similarities. Quiet and active Meditation was one topic, and portals and painting with our souls, another, as well as the very occasional TV we watch which includes the same program. My sister encouraged me, joyous for me with successes I've experienced this week. (No violence for us.)

I am grateful that she, too, is going forward with her creativity. This bonding bears love, support, and appreciation for each other. We counted the Omer. We live in separate cities and rarely see each other. We experience Chesed toward each other, unless times are emotionally difficult. Bonding tonight in Chesed is healing for me, for the times between us that have not been easy.

My sister, like me, grew up without a Jewish education, although we experienced Seders in our home. I am so grateful that my older sister went to two Seders. It must have been strange being at a totally Russian-led Seder, where Haggadahs are not even used, but the leader does it all himself in Russian. I'm grateful the Russians again invited my sister.

With whom do you want to bond more deeply?

JOY, Bird and Pansies Painting for Joy/me

by my sister Arielle

More paintings by my older sister Arielle, z"l.

Arielle painted these joyous images for me.

She was so talented. I hope she knew that I appreciated and loved her paintings.

These 2 Arielle sent to me in summer 2005 to cheer me when my husband, z"l, went onto life support. I see them constantly as they face me on the wall opposite where I work all day.

As I write this for Chesed, it is the first Pesach that my sister is not here on earth. For the prior couple Pesachs, I made sure that matzoh was brought to her assisted living home.

- Joy 2018 5778

for Joy by Arielle

for Joy the timbrel player by Arielle

Very sad as I gaze upon these beautiful paintings...

All photos/materials in sites by Joy Krauthammer are under copyright protection by © Joy Krauthammer.

Permission by Joy Krauthammer, needed to repost/copy/reprint/use. Request in Comments, FB, or write/call personally.

~ ~ ~

RIPPLES OF LOVE - day 6 YESOD sh b'CHESED

PSALMS OF MY SOUL
ספירת העומר

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 6
Yesod sh b'Chesed

Create Ripples of Love

- Joy Krauthammer

RIPPLES OF LOVE

from movie Ripple Reflections #2 With Joy

http://youtu.be/fFSnnHC2_7M

A Selfie by © Joy Krauthammer

This movie, Ripple Reflections #2 With Joy, was created by me a few months ago to honor my 90 year old beloved mentor friend, Edith, because she serves as my 'life guard' at her swimming pool each summer. For several years we have closely bonded sharing a deep lingering friendship filled with loving-kindness, compassion, differences, respect, laughter, truth and joy. Edith composts and gardens, and I eat her harvest.

I live out my inner child at Edith's home. A Christian woman, Edith reminds me each Elul about Cheshbon HaNefesh / accounting of the soul, wondering if I will ask forgiveness from her for anything that I think I wrongly did. I always ask her forgiveness and Edith always says, "There's nothing to forgive." Edith is so forgiving.

~ ~ ~

Special for me to post this now because I just now returned home from my friend Edith's party where her family celebrated their Easter holiday, and Edith's 94th birthday. I'm blessed with Chesed to be included as 'family'. Being Passover, I couldn't share the meal nor birthday cake but brought chocolate bunnies for the great-grandchildren. 2017

How do you deeply bond in lovingkindness? With plant, animal, human?

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Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 6 ספירת העומר

RIPPLES OF LOVE - YESOD sh b'CHESED

PSALMS OF MY SOUL © Joy Krauthammer

http://sephirathaomer.blogspot.com/2011/06/ripples-of-love-day-6-yesod-sh-b-chesed.html

"A friend is someone

who knows the song in your heart

and sings it back to you when

you have forgotten the words."

~ ~ ~

MY HANDS ARE HOLY - day 7 MALCHUT sh b'CHESED

Psalms of My Soul

ספירת העומר

MALCHUT sh b'CHESED
Kabbalistic Sephirot Counting of the Omer day 7

MY HANDS ARE HOLY

- by Joy Krauthammer

The 7th day (G*d's holiest number) of the Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer Counting is Malchut sh b'Chesed, sovereignty within a week of loving kindness, in combination, a pair. All the energies of the six Sephirot flow into the 7th. Malchut is the holy vessel to hold all the energies that come before. My expression filled with inspiration strongly manifests from this vessel.

When on the 7th day of the Exodus (Exodus 15:20) Miriyahm HaNeviah danced through the Kriat Yahm Suf, she was prepared with drums, timbrels, to have all the women dance with her and they sang. Miriyahm could do this because she was a prophet and because of the great love, the Chesed she manifested ever since a child, in so many ways for the Israelites.

I, too, like Miriyahm have the freedom (away from Mitzrayim / constricted places) to celebrate in joy as I offer my leadership, and it is accepted.

I know my place, and the contribution that I make to my People. That is my Chesed. As G*d's emanations flow through me and come to rest in Malchut, awakening more fully my expression of connection, flowing through Hod in appreciation, gratitude, splendor and humility, and guided by The Divine One -- boundless with Netzach going forward, and birthing in Yesod, although Gevurah is not far away to again hold me in place in restriction, and keep me in balance through Tiferet, central place of beauty and harmony, and the Tree of Life.

It is my desire to perfect, as I can, my own Sephirot in my Tree of Life. In counting, I examine myself with the hope that I can cleanse and purify myself in an internal mikveh, to arrive at Mount Sinai, again this year. In Chesed I am not only giving through my loving-kindness which manifest in many ways, I am also receiving the energies of others as they receive me. That is for me a serious teaching. Through my receiving in consciousness, the love and appreciation from others, I need to be more aware of the gifts of G*d that come through others as blesSings and directed towards me. It is wrong if I don't fully accept the abundDance of love offered to me. I am still learning how to humbly receive and honor the other as they share their Chesed. My heart and soul feel the gift from others as they smile at me, connecting to me and my gift from G*d. My smile and expression of soul truly reflect theirs and I am expanded. The energy circulates and gains strength. My drumming bursts forth in glee and subtlety as a direct response of this love. (Please see my accompanying Drum poem and sketch.)

..."And the way to sing the song of joy is by seeking the good in all people, especially in our selves. Each good point is one more note in the song of life." - Rebbe Nachman of Breslov

Reb Shlomo Carlebach, z'l, taught me, as his drummer, that the "Hands are the holiest part of our body because they reach the highest." I reach, outstretched beyond myself, like an oar (ohr) in my hand, and find it important to acknowledge this blesSing as my gift of Chesed. My hands literally become the blesSings shared with community as I am a vessel for G*d's energies, as I am played through my hands and my heart. (I wrote a Chesed story, "MOE" about my outstretched oar / 'ohr', in http://www.joys-prose.blogspot.com/ )

The word "Sephirah" has a root from "sapir," a sapphire stone, a translucent crystal. The window "tzohar" which is known in Torah to have been at the top of Noah's ark, was possibly a "sapir", a shining crystal sapphire.

My Hebrew name given to me by Reb Shlomo Carlebach is "Tzoharah", which is the word for the ark's top window. As Gila Rena Tzohara, Shlomo mamash named me in 1994 on Shabbat Pekudei, "Double Joy and Light". I am grateful and feel the innate responsibility to 'shine' as joy, which is what I feel. It's important for me to recognize my reasons for being. My first Lubavitch rabbi at my wedding two decades earlier, named me "Gila" for my rejoicing, and my Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (also ordained by Lubavitch) named me "Rena" for my joy of song. I feel blessed.

With my greater guided awareness of self through the Kabbalistic Omer counting, I am able to cleanse off some shmutz that is a veil for me. That then purifies me to go beyond the seven weeks, to the next and last 'Gate', the 50th, and reach Shavuot at Mount Sinai. And yes, with my tof / my timbrel in outstretched hand in joy, like Miriyahm at the Yahm Suf in a state of mochin d'gadlut / spiritual expansion.

How and from where does your offering flow into our world?
In what moments have you felt great chesed/lovingkindness?

Drumming, Drumming, Drumming

Women drumming, Women dancing.

I am sunning, I am singing

I am dancing, I am drumming

I am blesSing, I am loving, I am holy

I am drumming

on the conga, on the djembe, on my dumbek

I release

I let go

I breathe

I am free

- by Joy Krauthammer

(What is "sunning"?

It is basking in the warmth of the Light and radiating light out into the universe.)

~ ~ ~

Psalms of My Soul
ספירת העומר

MALCHUT sh b'CHESED
Kabbalistic Sephirot Counting of the Omer day 7

GATES OF GILA

http://joys-prose.blogspot.com/2012/01/gates-of-gila-gates-of-joy.html

~ ~ ~

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WEEK #2 ~ Gevurah

Sephirotic OMER WEEK #2 ~ Gevurah

~ Strength, Limitations, Judgement, Discernment, Discipline, Direction, Respect, Awe, Humility.

From where does your strength come?

"A Song of Ascents. I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: from whence shall my help come?"
- Psalm 121:1

Santa Susana Mountains

Chatsworth, CA

Santa Susana Mountains

Chatsworth, CA

Santa Susana Mountains

Chatsworth, CA

DON'T POSTPONE JOY - day 8 CHESED sh b'GEVURAH

PSALMS OF MY SOUL

ספירת העומר

DON'T POSTPONE JOY - day 8 CHESED sh b'GEVURAH

Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 8
- Joy Krauthammer

Express and direct your JOY toward others through Chesed/Loving Kindness.

Don't hold back, give it away. Let it flow.
When do you feel you must limit your generosity of love or is more love/giving needed?

Needlepoint by Caroline Epstein Blatman, z"l,
the very first needlepoint that beloved friend Caroline had ever created.
Made with love for Joy, embellished with ribboned timbrel, JOY, a Chai, flowers we loved, and in purple!
Caroline had made "Don't Postpone Joy" t-shirts for friends and family.
I had the great delight in introducing Caroline to her beloved husband, Dick, z"l.
They were very happily married for about 20 years.
Rabbi William Kramer, z"l, told me that I created angels by introducing the couple. - Joy

~ ~ ~

CHESED SH B'GEVURAH
Chesed Heart with a Gevurah Mechitzah - day 8
Boundary and Strength for Lovingkindness

Heart, Main Street, Venice, CA

~ ~ ~

On this 8th Day of Counting the Omer, I lead a Joyous Nature Photo Walk at the Japanese Garden.

See how your Chesed flows by the Garden Lake. Join us.

http://joys-favorite-fotos.blogspot.com/2016/02/joyous-nature-photo-walk-ahavat-torah.html

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Kabbalistic Sephirat HaOmer - day 8 ספירת העומר

Lovingkindness in Design ~ CHESED sh b'GEVURAH

Look forward to seeing all who are joining me for today's Joyous Nature Photo Walk.

We are photographing at the Japanese Garden in the Sephirat HaOmer energies of today:

Chesed sh b'Gevurah.

How is your Chesed flowing within boundaries, and in awe and respect?

What have you planted and created to share in lovingkindness?

Kasuga Lantern for peace. Water Purification in respect to enter Tea House.

Water Lilies shared for love and grown with awe in water garden.

~ ~ ~

May the refinement work of cosmic cleansing that I do on myself during the 49 days of Kabbalistically Counting the Sephirat HaOmer help me to mamash/truly be who I am, and need to become. I need to delete klipot/husks (negative influences) and again ready myself for Shavuot by strengthening, elevating and perfecting my midot/character traits.

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SEPHIRAT HA OMER

About Me

BLOSSOMING CHERRY TREES - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

EMPATHY IN FRIENDSHIP - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

EMPATHY IN FRIENDSHIP - day 5 HOD sh b'CHESED

MOM & BABY BONDING - day 6 YESOD sh b' CHESED

TWO SISTERS - day 6 YESOD sh b'CHESED

RIPPLES OF LOVE - day 6 YESOD sh b'CHESED

MY HANDS ARE HOLY - day 7 MALCHUT sh b'CHESED

WEEK #2 ~ Gevurah

DON'T POSTPONE JOY - day 8 CHESED sh b'GEVURAH

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