Day Five of Week 2: Hod of Gevurah

So it would be a case of a man is brought before the judge (me) for beating his wife. I tell him that he is guilty of this crime and must be punished. He is guilty because the Torah does not allow us to do such things, not because I do not like it (or him for having committed the act). Looking at the situation from that perspective, I feel sad for this man. He broke Hashem's law without regard for how Hashem would be disappointed or hurt or even angry. He surely will be punished, and we cannot help him. He has been judged based on law alone. -- is that about right? Reply

When we witness another committing sin or erring we ought to pause and visualize ourselves in their shoes and then do unto others both humble and honorably Reply

Today's Omer meditation is particularly fitting. I also know about dropping judgments and practicing humility from my cognitive behavioral therapy training. There, but for the grace of God, go I. Reply

I am humbled by finally understanding what the counting of the Omer is truely all about and I am so blessed to read others comments on what they are reflecting. Reply

Humility of discipline Humility of discipline is so deep. Discipline has limits and rules with boundaries. The humility of discipline binds everything together. I must be aware of my thoughts, speech, and actions, and how they affect what is around me. Be aware of my place there, is it major or minor. The ultimate of self control and purpose. Reply

Dear Rabbi Jacobson,
I simply love your work. This year I have, with G-d's help, been doing the Omer and the soul refinement with much more focus than ever before. The lessons give pause for great reflection. Hashem's way of life is unendingly wise and beautiful. I feel so blessed to be able to learn and live this way.
May G-d bless and keep you always. Thank you for all you do!
Sincerely,
Reply

Hod of gevurah Recognize that the purpose of discipline is to refine my character and make myself healthier and stronger physically and intellectually, in order to better serve Hashem. Discipline should not lead to judge myself better than others, or the other inferior, for me and my circumstances are different from any other creature in the universe; therefore, I cannot compare but with myself.
The humility of discipline shows me that there is always room for me to improve, and keeps me from developing a thwarted, monstrous character seeking to crush others. Reply

Spiritual guide This is the first year I'm trying to count the omer; I don't always remember. But these spiritual insights make meaningful something that seemed so irrelevant before. How can you really cleanse all of these defects in seven weeks? Still, by reading about them, saying them aloud, it sparks a memory. A memory of a pure soul? I don't know. But something. Thank you for providing this. Reply

"Selflessly"? "Selflessly"? I'm not sure.

We love our neighbor as our self. Self is crucial in the ethics of Judaism. I would respectfully suggest that hod is not as much about selflessness but rather a certain and appropriate exercise of the self.

Must we be committed to gevurah? Yes. Must we approach that commitment with humility and in a prayerful way? I think so. I would suggest that the hod means that as we put our self into acts of discipline we do so in a manner characterized and limited by respect and openness to the needs of the persons with whom we are engaged.

Do personally exert discipline. But do so with that part of your self that is true to the hod. Reply

To anonymous you're right bro. But the point here is to make the effort to be as non malicious in your judging as possible. To stay conscious enough to know that you are judging and when you realize that you are judging then make an effort to not be mean. Do this so you don't allow yourself to damage yourself with your own negativity. Sometimes we judge others negatively without expressing it to them so really we're hurting only ourselves. But if you are making an effort to stop this within yourself then you'll be less likely to express it to them and hurt them too. I'm not saying that you should ignore your bias, only use it as a tool for your own good. Thus preventing damage to others. Thats all it is bro. That's all it is. Reply

Exercise for the day "Don't judge anyone unless you are doing so selflessly with no personal bias."

Are you serious?

There is no judgement without bias; dont we evaluate choosing specific criteria to focus on?

And while we are willing to judge by any criteria; are they not personal, to some extent? Reply

Omer-Judgement Humility is the main point. A factor to meditate on. Thank you Reply

Great great! I love this so much. I'm going to be focusing on this for sure! Reply

Judging I agree that there should be no conditions around passing judgment. "Selflessly, with no personal bias, is not that clear. One usually always has some personal bias.
The Mussar trait of compassion with it's mixture of loving-kindness and judgment has always been difficult for me to grasp; that is the judgment part. Examples used in "Everyday Holiness" are a mother/father child relationship, but between adults, it's not so clear when judgment is needed as part of expressing compassion. Reply

Don't judge anyone unless you are... but i say unto you, judge no man. Only G*d can determine truth and real worth, for only He Is-real and true. Reply

Exercise of the Day ...an excellent exercise...if you are the judgement a type, this is the time to turn that dark into light. Reply

Judging "selflessly, with no personal bias" might also lead to self-righteous illusions. Better stick, I think, to the old saying:"Never judge anybody when you haven't been in his shoes" or, even better,the Saying of the Fathers: "Judge anyone favorably" Reply

Spiritual Guide to the Omer Thank you so much Simon Jacobson for this wonderful article. It really makes every day of the omer come alive and helps make these days practical for us.
Thank you again! Reply