This is an amazing time between Pesach and Shavuot...the sages tell us that on the night of the Sedar we have a vision of what our own liberation and redemption looks like, and then we have the seven weeks of counting the "Omer" , counting the days till Shavuot, so that we can work to make that vision into a reality. During this time of counting, we are also working on our 7 emotional attributes, each one corresponding to one of the weeks in the countdown... so that by the time we reach Shavuot, we have refined our emotional faculties and are fitting vessels to receive the light of the Torah and that we may resemble that version of ourselves we were able to visualize Sedar night.
If we look at this beautiful graphic above we see that the ten faculties of the soul, or the 10 "Sfirot" are divided into three vertical groups, those on the left, those on the right and those in the center. Inspired flashes of insight, kindness and persistence are on the right side of the graphic and are thought of as the masculine attributes; the capacity to integrate our understanding, have internal strength and focus, and the willingness to surrender are on the left side, the side of the feminine. Going through the middle of the graphic are the qualities representing integration of the parallel attributes on either side...Connection to the world above (Keter), integrated knowledge, balance, or the capacity to create harmony, a capacity to connect and bond (Yesod) and being able to put all of the above together in a masterful manner (Malchut) are all the qualities of integration and resolution.
Although all the qualities have intrinsic worth... the greatest blessings come from the points of integration, the resolution of opposites. We are told that when Hashem wants to bless the Jewish people, the best vessel for his blessing is Peace. (Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta taught that peace is the only vessel the Holy One found which could contain Israel's blessing ") Rebbe Nachman asks how we can recognize this peace, and answers that it is the resolution of opposites, the qualities represented by the middle line...
Heaven, we are told is a combination of fire and water, " Eish" (fire) and "Mayim" (water), thus its name is "Shamayim" a combination of these two words. Hashem (G-d) is able to hold together two opposite entities and make them one. Heaven or Shamayim is the ultimate unification of opposing entities.
Rebbe Nachman teaches us that Yosef Ha Tzaddik, (Yosef the righteous), was able to bridge opposing ways of being, bringing them into resolution and is thus identified with absolute peace. We see this, says Rebbe Nachaman from the following; He spoke in a disparaging way about his brothers to his father, which would suggest he was connecting to the side of judgement, yet he sought out their welfare when he went to find them in Shchem ( the side of Chesed-Kindness) .He becomes a ruler over many holding great power, (Gevurah) yet he is nurturing and sustains life ( Chesed). He is appointed as the Viceroy in Egypt, the word used in hebrew is " Avreich" which combines the aspects of being a father, ( Av) and with being young (Reich) another resolution of opposites. Of course he is involved with power and politics and the ways of the world, yet he is absolutely righteous and never sins and is called Yosef the Righteous !
Yosef was attractive to both men and women, in fact both genders found him irresistible. What was so compelling about Yosef?? He was integrated!!
Like his mother Rachael, he was very beautiful, but like his mother, his beauty was both inner and outer. They were harmonious, their inner selves matching their outer selves, and both aspects were in harmony!! Both of their beauty had the capacity to connect others to the beauty of the harmony of Creation and to the Creator Himself.
Yosef is a wonderful symbol for the integration and balance which we all seek. Although its Yaakov who is associated with the Sfirah of Tiferet (Balance/harmony) , and Yosef is identified with Yesod( Connection/foundation) , we know that Yosef and Yaakov were very close. When the Torah refers to Yaakov, and wants to mention his descendants or accomplishments, ( "Aleh toldos Yaakov: Yosef" ) it mentions Yosef first and foremost...In a certain way Yosef is Yaakov and Yakov sees his full expression in Yosef. The Sfirah of Tiferet holds a place in the center line that feeds down into the Sfirah of Yesod... they both are in different ways, accomplishments of integration and are connected with peace and thus are a source of blessing.
I bless everybody with the capacity to find balance and harmony; integration in balancing the different needs in our relationships, in our marriages ( if we are married) and in our parenting( if we are parents...)in our activities and in all aspects of our beings, so that we can truly live peaceful, harmonious and happily balanced lives!
Shabat Shalom.
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