Omer Day 1

Please do not say the phrase Day (Number) out loud, until you have completed the ritual below. If you say this phrase it is considered that you have "Counted the Omer" without the appropriate Blessing and ritual and you lesson the energy involved.

Starting on the second day of Pesach which is the evening of the16th day of Nissan begins the counting of the Omer. This ritual is part of the process of earning the Light of Shavuot, which is the Light of the Revelation of the Torah. This ritual helps you build your vessel in order to reveal the Light of the Torah.

The Seder (order) for the Sefirot HaOmer.

Night of April 6 2023 which is 16th of Nissan in the year התשׁפג

Please, say all of the below (if unable to read the Hebrew scan the Hebrew letters prior to saying the transliteration) while standing and facing East towards Jerusalem or the Rising of the Sun.

The traditional steps of the ritual are delineated as "traditional", prior to that step. The additional steps are delineated as additional, also prior to that step. It is recommended that you do all of the steps both traditional and additional each day. If time considerations are an issue then please do the traditional steps while doing the additional steps later when you do have the time.

It is best to do the ritual as close right after sundown (in the evening - when you can see three stars in the night sky) as possible. If one has forgotten to do one day and remembers to do so during the day then one should not say the Blessing which is step 3, but do the rest of the ritual. If one has forgotten to do one of the days, the Halacha says there is no way to make it up. I suggest that one make up the missed count without the Blessing (step 3) and then proceed to continue the count with the appropriate count and Blessing. It is better to do the Mitzvah even partially then to stop doing it altogether.

We stand during this process of performing the ritual so that we can be available to draw the Light of Cleansing. When ever we sit in a process of prayer we are manifesting the energy of that particular prayer. An example of this is the saying of the Shema Israel. This draws the energy of Healing and thus we sit when saying this so that we may manifest that Light of Healing.

Step One of the Omer Ritual

Traditional

1. This step will cause your soul to knowingly do this Mitzvah with the proper Kavenah (intention).

Please say the following:

לשם יחוד קודשה בריך הוא ושכינתיה (יאהדונהי) בדחילו ורחימו (יאההויהה) ורחימו (איההיוהה) ודחילו ליחדה שם יוד הי בואו הי ביחודה שלים (יהוה) בשם כל ישראל הנה אנחנו באים לקיים מצות ספירת העומר לעשות נחת רוח ליוצרנוו ולעשות רצון בוראנו ויהי נעם אדני אלהנו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ימעשה ידינו כוננהו

Transliteration

Leshem Yechud Kudsha Berich Hu VeShekintay (יאהדונהי) Bidchilu Urchimu (יאההויהה) Urchimu Udchilu (איההיוהה) Leyachda Shem Yood Hei and Vav Hei Beyachuda Shalaim (יהוה) BeShem Kol Israel Henay Anachnu Ba'Aim Lekayaim Mitzvat Sefirat HaOmer. LaAsot Nachat Ruach LeYotzranu VeLaAsot Ratzon Boranu. Vayhi Noam Adonai Elohainu Alainu UmaAsay Yadainu Connah Alainu Yamaseh Yadainu Conanaihu.

Translation

For the sake of unification between the Holy Blessed One and His Shechinah, with fear and love and with Love and Fear, in order to unify the Name Yood Hei and Vav Hei in perfect unity, and in the Name of all Israel, we have hereby come to fulfill the commandment of the Counting of the Omer. In order to give pleasure to our Maker and to fulfill the wish of our Creator. May the pleasantness of HaShem, our God, be upon us and may He establish the work of our hands for us and may the work of our hands establish Him.

Step 2. Here are some additional Verses to say or scan.

Traditional

תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 138:8

יהוה יגמר בעדי יהוה חסדך לעולם מעשי ידיך אל-תרף

Transliteration

Adonai Yigmor BeAdi Adonai Chasdecha LeOlam MaAsay Yadicha El Teref.

Translation

The LORD will accomplish that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; forsake not the work of Thine own hands.

תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 57:3

אקרא לאלהים עליון לאל גמר עלי

Transliteration

Ehkrah LaiElohim Elyon LaEil Gomair Alai:

Translation

I will cry unto God Most high; unto God that accomplisheth it for me.

יחזקאל YeHeZKeL Ezekiel 16:6

ואעבר עליך ואראך מתבוססת בדמיך ואמר לך בדמיך חיי ואמר לך בדמיך חיי

Transliteration

VaEhEhVor AhLaYiech VaEhrAich MitBoSehSeht BeDaMaYich VayOmar Lach BeDaMaYich ChaYi VaOMaR Lach BeDaMaYich ChaYai:

Translation

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live;

תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 104:1

ברכי נפשי את-יהוה יהוה אלהי גדלת מאד הוד והדר לבשת

Transliteration

Barki Nafshi Et Adonai Elohim Elohai Gadalta Meod Hod Vehadar LaVashta:

Translation

Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with glory and majesty.

תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 104:2

עטה-אור כשלמה נוטה שמים כיריעה

Transliteration

Oteh Ohr Kasalma NoTeh Shamayim KaiRiAh:

Translation

Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;

Step 3. Say this Blessing which activates Surrounding Light or Ohr Makif.

Traditional - review the discussion above regarding when not to say this Blessing.

This link (below) teaches the Kavenah for all Blessings. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this Kavenah and do this with every Blessing that you say. It will enhance your connection to the Creator.

ברוך אתה יהוה (יוד הא ואו הא) אלהינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על ספירת העומר

Transliteration

Baruch Ata Adonai (יוד הא ואו הא)Ehlohainu Melech HaOLam Asher KidShanu BeMitzvotav Vetzivanu Al Sephirat HaOmer:

Translation

Blessed are You Hashem Our God, King of the Universe, Who set us aside in order to sanctify us with his Mitzvot and instructed us to Count the Omer (at this time).

Specific Kavenah to this Blessing.

Large Hebrew Letters above have a Gematria of 65 which is the same as Adonai, a Name of God relating to Malchut or manifestation. Malchut is our physical world.

Step 4. Saying the next Hebrew Statment is the actual "Counting of the Omer"

Traditional

The purpose of Counting the Omer is to climb the Tree of Life Sefirah by Sefirah, as well as to count up to the Day of Shavuot with anticipation. We actually count in three different ways. One is to count days. One is to count days of weeks and the third way is to count the Sefirot. Today we only count in two ways. This is because of the unity expressed in the number ONE.

היום יום אחד לעומר

Transliteration

HaYom Yom Echad LaOmer

Translation

Today is One Day of the Omer

Specific Kavenah

Please consider in what ways the unity expressed in the number one applies to you in the frame of your life today and what aspects of unity do you wish to increase in your life.

Step 5. Ohr Penimi - Inner Light

Traditional

הרחמן הואיחזיר עבודת בית המקדש למקומה המהרה בימינו אמן

Transliteration

HaRachaman Hu YaChazeir Ahvodat Bait Hamikdash Limkomah Bimharah BeYamanu AMEN:

Translation

to be done later

Step 6. Per the ARI (Rabbi Issac Luria) we utilize Psalm 67 in 2 specific ways to cleanse specific attributes of our character in order to elevate a specific Sefirah. This Psalm is unique in that it has 7 verses with 49 words and the middle verse has 49 Letters. We will utilize a word each day (Large Bold Letters) during the counting and also a Letter (Large Bold Italic Letter) within the middle verse for spiritual cleansing. The more one learns about each Letter and Word the stronger, more thorough their cleansing will be. The cleansing of a specific character trait allows one to move higher (closer) to HaShem. This is called Building Your Vessel in Kabbalah.

Traditional

תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 67

למנצח בנגינת מזמור שיר

Transliteration

LamnatzaAch BinGeNot Mizmor Shir:

Translation

Verse 1: For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm, a Song.

Kavenah

This first verse does not count as one of the 7 verses as it is describing the type of Psalm:

Verse 2

אלהים יחננו ויברכנו יאר פניו אתנו סלה

Transliteration

EloHim YaChaNanu VeVarkanu YaAir Panav ETanu Selah:

Translation

God be gracious unto us, and bless us; may He cause His face to shine toward us; Selah

Kavenah

Eloheim is a name of God usually considered an aspect of Judgment. In what way are you judgmental? Do you want to change this aspect of your character? What can you do to change this aspect of your character? What will you do to manifest this change in your life. What habit or pattern of behavior will you change?

Verse 3

לדעת בארץ דרכך בכל-גוים ישועתך

Transliteration

LadaAt BaAretz Darkehcha Bekal Goyim YeShuAhTecha

Translation

That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.

Verse 4

יודוך עמים אלהים יודוך עמים כלם

Transliteration

Yoducha Ahmim Elohim Yoducha Ahmim KuLam:

Translation

Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God; let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.

Verse 5

ישמחו וירננו לאמים כי-תשפוט עמים מישור ולאמים בארץ תנחם סלה

Transliteration

Yismechu Verannu LeUMiM Ki TeshPot AhMiM MiShor Ulumim BaAretz Tanchaim SELAH:

Translation

O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for Thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, and lead the nations upon earth. Selah

Kevanah

There are actually only 48 Letters in this verse not 49 as the ARI teaches. He adds one Italic Vav's to equal a total of 49 Letters. This is quite a common technique since the vowel itself is the Vav only the word is spelled incompletely and will change when the Mashiach arrives.

The Letter Yood is the First Letter of the Name of HaShem. It has a Gematria of 10 or 20 when fully spelled out Yood Vav Dalet. What character attribute do you think the Yood will cleanse? When its gematria is 10 it represents the 10 Sifirot in unity. When it is 20 it is the 10 Sefirot of direct light and the 10 Sefirot of returning light. This is similar to a Torah Shekel which is made up of 20 Gerar. This Yood can be used to improve your relationships and your sharing with the people within your relationships. Think about one person that you would like to bring closer to HaShem. In what way will changing yourself accomplish that goal? How are you going to go about that today? Do you truly want to bring that person you are thinking about closer to HaShem? Then go the extra mile to change yourself.

Verse 6

יודוך עמים אלהים יודוך עמים כלם

Transliteration

Yoducha Ahmim Elohim Yoducha Ahmim KuLam:

Translation

Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God; let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.

Verse 7

ארץ נתנה יבולה יברכנו אלהים אלהינו

Transliteration

Ehretz Natnah Yevulah Yevarkanu Elohim Ehlohainu:

Translation

The earth hath yielded her increase; may God, our own God, bless us.

Verse 8

יברכנו אלהים וייראו אתו כל-אפסי-ארץ

Transliteration

Yevarkanu Elohim VeYeru Oto Kal Afsai Aretz:

Translation

May God bless us; and let all the ends of the earth fear Him.

Step 7: It is now time to say the Ana Bekoach which has 42 words (actually 49 - the seventh word in each verse is the word with all of the first letters of the other six words - they are printed at the end of the verse). This is the 4th cleansing tool that we will utilize tonight. The Letter that we will use tonight will be large and bolded. Stop and meditate on that Letter using the Kavenah written below the verse.

Traditional

Verse 1

Kavenah on First Verse

Meditation while saying the first verse of the Ana Bekoach is "unconditional Love". As well as removing the negative aspect of the physical world as well as the Power of Redemption.

Chesed - חסד

אנא בכח גדולת ימינך תתיר צרורה אבגיתץ

Transliteration

Tzerurah Tatir Yemincha Gedulat BeCoach Ana

7th word is pronounced Aleph Bet Gimmel Yood Taf Tzadi

Translation

Please - with Power - Greatness - Your Right Side - Releasing - Knot

Kavenah

Meditate on the Alef which represents the unity within a duality. Its Gematria is ONE. The appearance of the Alef is a diagonal firmament separating the waters of the above from the waters of the below and yet both waters are in unity along with the firmament. How will you create greater unity within your relationships today? What will you change about yourself to achieve greater unity and manifest unconditional love or remove Hatred for no reason which is the opposite?

Verse 2

Kavenah on Second Verse

Meditation while saying the second verse of the Ana Bekoach is "Tearing Up Satan" and "Guarding our Gates". Our gates (eyes, ear, nose, and mouth) are the entry point for the negative system.

Gevurah - גבורה

קבל רנת עמך שגבנו טהרנו נורה קרעשטן

Transliteration

Norah Taharenu Sagvenu Amcha Rinat Kabel

7th word is pronounced Koof Resh Ayin Sin Tet Nun

Translation

Awesome - Purified - Our Praise - Your People - Rejoicing - Receive

Verse 3

Kavenah on Third Verse

Meditation while saying the third verse of the Ana Bekoach is Parnassus and Sustenance and returning the energy that we gave away.

Tiferet - תפארת

נאגבור דורשי יחודך כבבת שמרםנגדיכש

Transliteration

Shamraim Cevavat YeChudecha Dorshai Gibor Na

7th word is pronounced Nun Gimmel Dalet Yood Caf Shin

Translation

Observe - Like a Letter Bet - Your uniqueness - Demand - Strengthen - Please

Verse 4

Kavenah on fourth Verse

Meditation while saying the fourth verse of the Ana Bekoach is Eternal Victory and Acknowledgment

Netzach - נצח

ברכםטחרם רחמי צדקתך תמיד גמלםבתרצתג

Transliteration

Gamlaim Tamid Tzidkatecha Rachamai Tacharaim Barchaim

7th word is pronouncedBet Tet Resh Tzadi Taf Gimmel

Translation

Grant Them - Eternal - Righteous - Compassion - Purify Them - Bless Them

Verse 5

Kavenah on fifth Verse

Meditation while saying the fifth verse of the Ana Bekoach is Appreciation and Thankfulness

Hod - הוד

חסיןקדוש ברוב טובך נהל עדתךחקבטנע

Transliteration

Adatecha Nahail Toovcha Barchaim Kadosh Chasin

7th word is pronouncedChet Koof Bet Tet Nun Ayin

Translation

Your People - Govern - Goodness - Abundance - Holy - Invincible Your

Verse 6

Kavenah on sixth Verse

Meditation while saying the sixth verse of the Ana Bekoach is "spreading the wisdom of Kabbalah"

Yesod - יסוד

יחידגאהלעמך פנה זוכרי קדושתךיגלפזק

Transliteration

Kedushatecha Zochrai Penai Le-Amcha Ga-eh Yachid

7th word is pronouncedYood Gimmel Lamed Pey Zion Koof

Translation

Your Holiness - Remember - Turn - Your People - Proud - Unity

Verse 7

Kavenah on seventh Verse

Meditation while saying the seventh verse of the Ana Bekoach is "completion and perfection through / with Loving Kindness"

Malchut - מלכות

שועתנוקבלושמע צעקתנו יודעתעלומותשקוצית

Transliteration

Ta-Alumot Yodaya Tziakatanu Ooshmah Kabel Shavatanu

7th word is pronouncedShin Koof Vav Tzadi Yood Tav

Translation

Hidden - You Know - Our Wail - And Hear - Receive - Our Cry

Verse 8

This Verse is said "silently" in a whisper

Kavenah

This verse grounds any excess energy

ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד

Transliteration

Va-Ed Le-Olam Malchuto Kevod Shem Baruch

Translation

Forever World Your Kingdom Honor Name Blessing

Step 8: The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the 42 stops that the Children of Israel made while in the desert for 40 years is a metaphor for the Stages of our Life and can also be used for the steps of any process. Here is the teaching by Rabbi Simon Jacobson expanding the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov by using modern psychology.

Additional

First Journey - Ramses Egypt

This Journey is connected to the Alef of the First Verse in the Ana Bekoach.

The first leg of our life journey is birth, and it spells out the purpose of the entire voyage (whether our life or the next 49 days as we build our vessel to receive the Torah again, on Shavuot): Freeing ourselves of the constraints of the womb and of all our material boundaries (Mitzrayim). At birth we come also armed with the strength and tools to overcome all our future challenges (we emerge triumphant “before the eyes of mitzrayim”), but we will need to be trained and educated to realize our potential.Birth is thus a joyous occasion, coupled with the anticipation how we will do on our long journey ahead. This is also alluded to in the word “Ramses,” which was the “best of the land” (Genesis 47:11).

Meditation

It is good to contemplate weather we are making the "best" use of the tools and potential we have been given at our birth or our start of this portion of our journey.

Step 9: We will now count the Sefirot as part of the "Counting of the Omer".

Please say the following in which ever language you prefer. Hebrew is recommended, due to the energy that it generates:

רבונו של עולם: אתה צויתנו על ידי משה עבדך לספור ספירת העומר כדי לטהרנו מקלפותנו ומטומאתנו כמו שכתבת בתורתך: וספרתם לכם ממחרת השכת מיום הביאכם את עמר התנופה שבע שבתות תמימת תהיינה: עד ממחרת השבת השביעת תספרו חמשים יום כדי שיטהרו נפשות עמך ישראל מזוהמתם: ובכן יהי רצון מלפניך יהוה אלהים ואלהי אבותינו שבסכות ספירת העומר שספרתי היום יתקן מה שפגמתי בספירה

Transliteration

Ribono Shel Olam, Ata Tzivitanu All Ydi Moshe Avdecha LiSPor Sepherot HaOMeR KeDai LetaHaRaiNu MiklePoTaNu UMTuMATaiNu KiMo ShKaTaVTa BeToRaTach: USPaRTaM LaChem MimCHaRaT HaSHaBaT MeYoM HaVeAhCHeM ET OMeR HaTeNuFah SheVa SheBaToT TeMiMoT Te'YeNa: MiMaCHaRaT HaSHaBaT HaSHVeIT TeSaFRU CHaMiSHiM YoM KeDai SHeYeTaHaRu NaFSHoT AhMCHa YiSRaEL MeZoHaMaTaM: UVCHaiN YeHi RaTZoN MilFaNeCHa HaShem ELoHaNu ELoHai AVoTaNu SheBiZKuT SeFiRuT HaOMeR SHeSeFaRTi HaYoM YeTuKaN Ma SHePaGaMTe BeSePHeRa

Translation

Master of the World, You have Commanded us through Moshe Your Sevant to enumerate the Counting of the Omer, in order to purify us from the Klipot and ou defilements. This is as it is written in Your Torah: And you shall count for yourselves, from the day following the Shabbat, from the day on which you bring the portion of your wave offering, there shall be 7 complete weeks, until the day following the seventh week. You shall count 50 days so that the spirits of your Nation Israel shall be purified from their defilements (Leviticus 23:15-16): Therefore may it be pleasing before you HaShem our God and the God of our ForeFathers, that by virtue of the Counting of the Omer, that i have counted today, the flow that i have caused in the Sefirah of

Kavenah and Actual Counting

חסד שבחסד

Transliteration

Chesed SheBe Chesed

Translation

Loving Kindness within Loving Kindness

Instruction and Kavenah for meditation

After saying the above phrase, (which is the actual counting of the Sefirah) STOP and meditate on what is the meaning of this phrase. Here are some attributes that will help you. Realize that this list is not complete.

Love, Expansion, Sharing without Expectation, Fatherhood and Motherhood, Hospitality, Unselfish, Humility, Torah study, Human Dignity, and Self-control

Hesed is Loving Kindness. This whole week starting tonight is in the frame of Loving Kindness. What is Loving Kindness? How does it differ from Loving Mercy or Tiferet? In what ways do you show Loving Kindness to yourself? to Others? How do you receive Loving Kindness from Others? What can you do in your life to Show additional Loving Kindness to Others? What does it mean to be Loving and Kind? in the Frame of Loving and being Kind? Is it Loving and Kind to. . . (ask your own question)?

Continue to finish the paragraph as follows:

ואטהר ואתקדש בקדשה של מעלה אמן סלה

Transliteration

VeTaHaiR VeETKaDeSH BeKDuSHa SHeL MaALa Amein SeLah:

Translation

will be corrected and i shall be purified and sanctified with supernal sanctity, AMEN SELAH:

You have now finished the Traditional Counting of the Omer. Please continue as the additional sections will help you to build your vessel to receive the Light of the Torah which is revealed on Shavuot.

Step 10: Each day of the year there are Tzadikim (Righteous People) who have chosen to leave this world on a particular day. There is a connection between these souls and this day. They ask us to utilize their connection to Hashem, to strengthen our own connection to Hashem, and to our spiritual actions during this day.

The more one learns about a particular Tzadik, the better is ones connection to their connection. All these actions are bringing us closer to Hashem.

Historically Birthdays have not been celebrated by the Jewish World until the last 200 - 300 years. Kabbalah teaches that the Birthdate represent the Keter or potential of the Soul while the Death Anniversary or Hilula represents the actual accomplishments of the Soul. While the Hilula is the stronger of the two from our perspective we can also utilize the Birth Date of a Tzadik to assist us in our spiritual connection.

Step 11: Rabbi Chaim Drizin (zoharialev@aol.com) teaches that there is a correlation between the Sefirah we just counted and the 55 Prophets from the Book of Prophets in the Tanach. By studying the verses that were channeled to US through these male and female Prophets we enhance our connection to the Sefirah and continue to build our vessel.

Rabbi Drizin teaches that the Prophet associated with Chesed SheBeChesed is Avraham Avinu. He suggests we read section of Genesis that connects us to the Keter relationship with Avraham from the Tanach. Here are a few verses and it is our intention to add more verses as time permits.

Beraishit Chapter 11 Verse 27

ואלה תולדת תרח תרח הוליד את-אברם את-נחור ואת-הרן והרן הוליד את-לוט

Transliteration

VeEleh Toldot Terach Terach Holid Et Avram Et Nahor VeEt Haran Veharan Holid Et Lot.

Translation

Now these are the generations of Terah. Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begot Lot.

Commentary

This verse is the first verse in the Torah where Avram is mentioned. Thus it is the seed level or the Keter of our knowledge of Avram.

The Zohar explains that Avram represents the Soul as it journeys from the Throne of HaShem to join a body in the physical world. Lot represents the "evil inclination" within our souls. This explains why Avraham needed to go to war against the 4 Kings in order to free Lot. The spiritual connection between ourselves and our "evil inclination" is very strong and must be maintained although the "evil inclination" MUST BE CONTROLLED!

How will you start to control your evil inclination? And which aspect of your evil inclination will you work on to learn that control?

Beraishit Chapter 17 Verse 5

ולא-יקרא עוד את-שמך אברם והיה שמך אברהם כי אב-המון גוים נתתיך

Transliteratioin

Velo Yikaray Od Et Shimcha Avram VeHayah Shimcha Avraham Ki Av Hamon Goyim NeTaTeCha.

Translation

Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee

Commentary

This verse is the first time the Name Avraham appears in the Torah. So this is the seed level or Keter level for the name Avraham.

The Zohar explains that Avraham is a metaphor for the soul as it inhabits the body in the physical world and also experiences the process of Tikune or correction?

How will you implement the promise from HaShem that you will be a "father of many nations", since that applies to every person in every generation?

Additional

Step 12: Here are some additional insights into the consciousness of Chesed SheBe Chesed from Rabbi Drizin, as well as some additional thoughts from Chanoch

Kevenah about Chesed She Be Chesed

Reading these will help to grow your vessel. Meditation using these letters of חסד שבחסד after reading the Kavenah will also be beneficial.

Gematria

Chesed SheBe Chesed has an external gematria of 146 which connects to Hebrew words and phrases with the same gematria. Some of these are:

Sof which means "end " in Hebrew and Fulfillment in Aramaic

Olam which means world or universe as well as eternity, antiquity, and something hidden or concealed.

Chama VeLavana which means Sun and Moon

Loving Kindness Between Man and G-d

1. A person should contemplate the kindnesses of HaShem, Blessed be He, namely how much good G-d does with His creations in general and with me specifically. And he should contemplate that he is neither worthy nor deserving to receive the kindnesses of G-d, Blessed be He. Yet G-d is greatly kind and gives him unearned kindness, and with this intent, the person will be overwhelmed and he will love Hashem, Blessed is He, with a great love. It comes out that he attains the attribute of Chesed (which is this love and greatness) through the attribute of Chesed itself (for with it is the action of kindness).

2. Also, by his being overwhelmed and by his love of the Creator, Blessed is He, he will acquire an acquisition within his soul to do kindness (Chesed) with his Creator. That is to say, he will behave in all of his actions beyond the letter of the law. It comes out that he completes his love to the Creator, Blessed is He (which is rooted in Hesed) by way of his doing kindness (Chesed) with his Creator.

3. When he busies himself with the mitzvah of Chesed, he should intend to awaken the supernal attribute of Chesed so that it should be completed in its flowing of Hesed to do good to the world. It comes out that he draws down the attribute of Chesed in the world by his actions of kindness.

Loving Kindness Between Man and Man

1. One should look at the actions of his friend with a good [generous] eye and with love, and by way of this, he will come to judge him favorably. Through this, he will by way of seeing in his friend the good point within him and with this he is doing his his friend kindness, especially if his friend is pious or a Kohen, and it comes out that he completes and attains the attribute of Chesed (which includes these terms love, good, pious and Kohen), by way of Chesed itself (meaning judging favorably and doing kindness).

2. Moreover, he should attempt to do good to those who sin, and to do kindness to them (but not G-d forbid to cause them to continue to sin) in a way that they will be inspired by his actions and they will come by wy of this to recognize the greatness of the Creator, Blessed is He, who commanded upon Chesed. They will then return through repentance and in that way one attains the Chesed with others outside of himself by behaving with the attribute of Chesed.

3. He should be prepared to relinquish his piety in order to fulfill the mitzvah of doing kindness to others. Also, when he receives kindness from others, he should attempt to do kindness with the one who is giving the kindness, that is to say, he should not exert too much upon the one who is doing the kindness to him. With all the kindness he does, he should attempt to accomplish more kindness. It comes out that he completes the attribute of Chesed with the attribute of Chesed itself, as is elaborated by the Sefer Omer HaTenufah, and these are his words:

The attribute of Chesed sh'beChesed teaches us the knowledge to understand that when a person does kindness to his friend as is the Mitzvot of the Torah, nevertheless, the Chesed is complete only based upon the kindness which is in it, that is, to give the poor man at a time when things are cheap or at the time that he needs it more. Our Sages of blessed memory teach us in the Gemara Sukkah 49b on the verse from Hoshea "and you shall reap based on the kindness." This is hinted to by the attribute of Chesed sh'beChesed, which teaches us that even in the kindness and the charity there is a greater level of inner praise of Chesed, that is, in the necessary time as we have explained.

With Physical Acts

One should use one's right hand to do kindness, for example to give charity to a poor man with one's right hand. So too one should give food to one's guests specfically with one's right hand. And if he needs to bring close his son to hug him, he should attempt to do this with the right hand. It comes out that he completes the limb of Chesed (the right hand) with the actions of Chesed.

In Time

1. He should do kindness during the day, and in particular in the morning

2. He should attempt to connect in the Morning Prayers which were established by Avraham Avinu, in the blessings of Yotzer before reading the Shema with the blessing Ahavah Rabbah, and in the Amidah, during the blessing of Selach Lanu.

Please see our classes on Morning Prayer on the Yeshshem website.

3. When one says the Name Kel, he should intend that it corresponds to Chesed during the recitation of this Name especially during the Morning Prayers.

Step 13: The Pirkei Avot teaches 48 ways to ACQUIRE TORAH

The first Acquisition of the Torah taught in the Pirke Avot Chapter 6 is With Torah Study

There will be more added to this section in coming years.