hazzan Diana Brewer was ordained through the aleph ordination program. she leads prayer services regularly at the jewish community of amherst, and is on the staff of the davvenen leadership training institute.

Omer Day 15 חסד שבתפארת Chesed SheBeTiferet

Love. Giving. Kindness. Generosity. Flow within Beauty. Balance. Harmony. Art. Glory.

Oh, isn’t it yummy? The thought of this is balm for the chilly gloom of this wintry, mid-April day. I’ll admit it, my spirit is weary of this protracted winter, but I truly am comforted this morning by the place of Love within Beauty and Glory. 

One of my favorite things about our tradition is the way we learn to hold tension, fear, grief, uncertainty right alongside gratitude, praise, wonder, and awe. We shower our Creator with praise in the face of loss. We make heartfelt entreaties for rain and salvation during our fall festival of abundance. We pour off wine as we recite the dreadful plagues that were part and parcel of our transition from slavery into liberation. 

Today, I think I shall wrap myself in a furry blanket of Love and Beauty, Flow and Harmony, Generosity and Glory, even as my body and spirit are chilled by this continually unseasonable weather.

May you feel the Love and Kindness writhin the mysterious Glory of whatever this day has to bring. 

Omer Day 16 גבורה שבתפארת Gevurah SheBeTiferet

Omer Day 14 מלכות שבגבורה Malchut SheBiG’vurah