Week 7
22 May | 28 Iyar
“Blessed is the person who trusts in the Holy One…. For they shall be like a tree planted by the water … they shall not be anxious in the year of drought.”
– Jeremiah 17:7-8 
During the seventh week of the Counting of the Omer (Days 43-49 corresponding to May 22-28, 2020) we will be focusing on the  middah  of trust. 
Understanding Trust

Bitachon  may be one of the most difficult  middot  to acquire. The Hebrew root for  bitachon  means “to be at ease,” or “to be confident.” In modern Hebrew,  bitachon  also means security. In classic Jewish literature the ultimate source of this sense of security is God.  But to practice the quality of  bitachon  does not require that we have absolute trust in an omnipotent God. Like all  middot , there is a continuum and we each locate our own souls on the continuum. Some people move through life with an unshakable faith in God’s goodness and protection. Others are more anxious and worry fills their days. Neither extreme is necessarily good. Wherever you are on this continuum, working on  bitachon  means moving towards balancing trust in a loving God or a Good Universe with taking initiative.  It may also mean asking ourselves, “From where does my sense of well-being flow? And how am I able to replenish my spirit when I am feeling depleted?” 
Cultivating Trust – An Invitation to Practice
Choose one or both practices for this week of the Omer.

  • At one point each day – a moment of decision or a moment when you need to confront something or a moment when you are seeking comfort – act as if you trust in God, whatever God means to you. 


  •     Count each day of the Omer this week (Days 43-49) by reciting the following blessing: 
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech ha-olam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al s’firat ha-omer.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, who orders the universe, allowing us the opportunity to experience holiness through the commandments and commanding us to count the Omer.

Today is the _____ day of the Omer. May I experience the blessing of trust this day.
Cultivating Trust – An Invitation to Meditate
Sit for at least 10 minutes of meditation each day this week. You may listen to the audio or simply set your own intentions during your practice.
Please note: It has come to our attention that our meditation audio files are not currently compatible with some devices, such as iPhones, and iPads. We have reached out to our technology teams to see if we can modify this and make it so that the audio works from any device. In the meantime, to ensure the most high quality meditation experience, we ask that you please access and play the recordings from a computer desktop or laptop. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. We will keep you posted on this situation.
Audio Transcript:

Take a seat as we prepare for this week’s meditation, adapted from a teaching from Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg.   
 
Allow your spine to be erect like the trunk of a tree. 
Rest your tongue on the roof of your mouth and press up to lift your tree trunk toward heaven. 
Relax your tongue and feel the lift upwards in your spine. 
Now allow your hips to be heavy and relaxed. Allow them to spread gently on your seat. 
Imagine your roots are reaching down and out, into a clear and fresh river, a deep source of endless water – a source that is ever-present, ever-giving.  
 
Notice your breath around the area of your heart. 
Breathing from the heart, slowly repeat the following phrases silently to yourself. 
 
May I feel safe. 
May I feel content. 
May I trust in the goodness of the universe. 
 
Use a full cycle of breath for each phrase. 
Realize you are just practicing offering a wish for this moment. 
 
While saying each phrase, allow yourself to feel the bodily sensations expressed by each of the phrases. Imagine your body filled with the qualities you are putting into words. 
 
This is an intention, which may or may not be realized. But you are planting seeds for these qualities that are associated with trust … with bitachon. 
 
May I feel safe. 
May I feel content. 
May I trust in the goodness of the universe. 
 
Continue to repeat the phrases and focus on your breath until the bell rings. 
 

Added Inspiration
Trust by Thomas R. Smith

It's like so many other things in life  
to which you must say no or yes.  
So you take your car to the new mechanic.  
Sometimes the best thing to do is trust.  
 
The package left with the disreputable-looking  
clerk, the check gulped by the night deposit,  
the envelope passed by dozens of strangers—  
all show up at their intended destinations.  
 
The theft that could have happened doesn't.  
Wind finally gets where it was going  
through the snowy trees, and the river, even  
when frozen, arrives at the right place.  
 
And sometimes you sense how faithfully your life  
is delivered, even though you can't read the address. 
 
Please click the button below to view last week's meditation.
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