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From the Rabbi:
This week brings us to the confluence of Hod in the Sefirat Ha'Omer, Lag Ba'Omer which celebrates Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai and Parshat Emor which primarily discusses the Kohanim. Not at all suprisingly, these three elements are neatly interwoven with a primary theme of the Sefirah of Hod. Let's unpack this a little.
Last week we discussed how the Sefirah of Hod is the root of grattitude, acceptance and appreciation of the uniqueness of every moment. If we look at the opening of the famous "serentiy prayer" by Reinhold Niebuhr we can see the Netzach/Hod dichotomy on full display. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can..." That serenity is certainly a function of Hod. Courage to make a difference is a manifestation of Netzach. Rather than "the wisdom to know the difference" the Sefirah of Yesod would conclude the prayer with something like "and the integrity to walk with you always".
Hod however goes beyond mere acceptance to appreciation. Even more perhaps, Hod הוד is also the root of the word הדר - to cherish or relish. To treasure and savor the moment, the person or the object we're engaged with. The Etrog for example is called (in this week's Parsha!) פרי עץ הדר A Treasured Tree Fruit. Rashi explains this as meaning that the fruit which dwells דר on the tree from year to year. Unlike most trees which shed their fruit every season, the Etrog can remain on the tree for several years. What a remarkable expression of Hod, lingering on the tree out of affection, delaying the inevitable parting out of desire to remain connected just a little longer. Stretching and celebrating the moment by remaining present.
This is also the essence of the job of the Kohanim highlighted in our Parsha. In the Uzhpizin, the seven guests we invite to our succah which also correspond to the seven Sefirot, the character who manifests Hod is Aharon Hakohen. His essential job is to be a representative of God to receive, and cherish every offering and every Jew. To help everyone feel Beloved of Hashem and inherently valuable and precious exactly as they are. The perfect agent to (Avot 1:12) "to seek peace and pursue it, love each creature and bring them near to Torah".
Lag Ba'Omer is the 33rd day of the Omer, Hod of Hod. The Sefirat Ha'Omer thus far has been a time of mourning, refraining from live music, haircuts, weddings and other celebratory behavior. Why? Because we're mourning the death of 24,000 students of Rebbi Akiva (Yevamot 62b) because they didn't properly honor one another. We're forlorn in the past and not able to be present in the present. Then we get to Lag Ba'Omer and it's time to celebrate. Why?
Enter Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his emergence from the cave after 12 years and 12 months. Having been alone with his son for so long, he emerged from isolation cherishing each person and each moment. After the dark times of Hadrianic persecution and the extermination of Rabbis Rebbi Shimon began teaching Torah anew, and he taught a new kind of Torah. One which rectified the previous competitive streak within Torah scholarship. At his moment of death (on Lag BaOmer) which is recorded as the Idra Zuta in the Zohar Rebbi Shimon famously tells his students "אנן בחביבותא תליא מילתא Our Torah is entirely about shared affection". Rebbi Shimon teaches us that excellence of Torah scholarship isn't in one's ability to 'be right' and win a debate, but rather in the degree to which our study engenders love of, and in, our fellows.
Please come celebrate Lag Ba'Omer, Rebbi Shimon and the shared love in our community at the cocktail hour and Shabbat dinner this Friday.
Shabbat Shalom,
Reb Shlomo
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