We prepared for Pesach by searching for the chametz and purifying ourselves of all that does not serve us. But now we engage in a singular ritual of counting the omer. There is nothing else like it in the Hebrew calendar. Each day of counting is the dawn of a new pairing of the Sephirot, the divine emanations. We immerse ourselves in that fresh conjunction of qualities at every sundown, trusting what unfolds. We say Hineni in our opening blessing and then the brucha for counting the omer....

“We breathe in what the trees breathe out And the trees breathe in what we breathe out. So we breathe each other into life.” - Rabbi Arthur Waskow From the darkness of Tevet we come to the joy of Shevat. and the full moon on Tu B'Shvat, the new year of the trees. Not hidden but emanating bright light, we celebrate as the sap is rising and the fruit is beginning to ripen. And He made the letter Tzadik King over taste. Good flavor is the holy spark revealed! Tu B'Shvat celebrates the potential...

We have not yet touched the deep darkness of Tevet. We are still in Kislev. So much more the need to prepare in this time. Our ancestors did their part, now we must find the courage to do ours. As we light a candle each night of Hanukah and say the blessing, we see a need that we can fill, we sense an opening or imagine a person who needs our forgiveness or compassion. The Blessed One Lights the Way, makes firm our step, renews our strength. We long for the moon, but exile does not have to be...