According to Kabbalistic tradition, each day of the Counting of the Omer corresponds to a different combination of sephirot — Divine attributes revealed in the world. A period of time devoted to self-betterment and personal growth, these characteristics serve as a guide as to which personality traits we should be working on throughout the process. Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, corresponds to «Hod Sh’B’Hod» — Humility within Humility. Written by Rabbi Patti Haskell, this poem delves into the authors personal interpretation of humility and how it connects to Lag B’Omer and the natural world. The author shared her poem on Ritualwell, a project of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College that provides a platform for creating new Jewish practices and observances.
Lag B’Omer: Hod Sh’B’Hod
Soaring skyward
The potential of release settles in
As I meld into my seat.
Gazing down upon clouds,
Sepia toned mountains,
Sandy flats, and wandering rivulets,
I ponder this day.
Lag B’Omer: day when
In the midst of a journey
The difficulties stopped
If only for a while.
Day to relinquish all mourning
And rejoice with bonfire
And celebration.
Day of hod sh’b’hod:
Presence within presence,
Beauty within beauty,
Gratitude within gratitude.
Day of mingling, and exploring
Presence with beauty, beauty with gratitude
Gratitude with presence with…
Life. Trees. Tree of life.
When the mourning subsides
How do we enter life again?
When our own seemingly tragic experience
Begins its descent into history
How do we release our grip
And let it float away into the past?
I write. When I finish this poem
I will take paper fresh with new words,
Paper that absorbed the tears of my aches,
And crumple it with all my strength
To adamantly lob into the bonfire
Begging the flames to release
The fears I’ve hidden, the pain I’ve held.
Then my gaze will rise with the flames
And in the spiraling smoke I’ll glimpse my future:
My gratitude shall be grounded,
Grounded in the beauty above,
Planted in the beauty all around.
And beauty will abound
In the Presence of All That Is.