PATTERNS IN HEAVEN AND EARTH
CULTIVATING THE LIVING SPiRal, SeFeR HAIIM
EARLY LIFE PARADIGM
As a child, I imagined God as an old and wise man—a king who was too busy to pay attention to someone like me. He seemed distant and unavailable, especially during the High Holy Days when he would sit in a grand chair before an elaborate desk. His brows would be furrowed, and his focus intense, conveying the message, “Don’t bother me.” He would lean forward, reading, thinking, and writing in a large, bound leather book. Carefully and thoughtfully, he would turn page after page, making decisions that impacted everyone: who would prosper and who would be impoverished, who would win and who would lose, who would love and be loved, and who would be lonely. Above all, he would decide who would live and who would die.
poetic liturgy and the significance of a single letter
During the Yamim Noraim, Days of Awe, Jews pray for renewal, release, and realignment to manifest blessings in the new year. The Book of Life is open, and everyone signs into it with their actions. Some liturgy references “Sefer Haiim,” “Living Book”, other liturgy – Sefer haHaiim, “Book of Life.” Sefer Haiim, The Living Book, suggests that we play a role in the unfolding destiny. The embryonic spiral is being brought in, pointing to the mystery of ongoing creation. These words create a sense of community and responsibility. The “Living Book” is found in many established prayer books, such as Siddur Oz HaT’filah (Mizrahi) and Hatmeinu LHaiim (S’fardi), which feature Mizrahi and S’fardi liturgy.
“Sefer” – not exactly a book
The letters samekh, peh/pheh, and reysh.
A hieroglyphic Perspective based on writing attributed to Isaac Luria in a commentary on Sefer Yetzirah.
GEMATRIA
Every Shabbat, the liturgy read affirms that we are people who sanctify the seventh cycle.
Through these means, we see that “SeFeR” points to much more than a simple book
Sefer yetzirah
The earliest Jewish mystical book, Sefer Yetzirah, is thought to have been written around the second or third century. In the first mishnah, it elaborates on the word “SeFeR” by completing with, ‘…created the world through three S’firot (Ciphers); Book, Numbers, and Story.’
“SeFeR” Book; “S’FaR” Number; and “SeePuR” Story.
TEN S’FIROT
Etz Haiim, Tree of Life, models movement from Nothingness (Light of Ayn Sof) to manifestation (Malkhut and Earth). The word “S’FiRah” refers to energetic stations with Divine Attributes in the Tree of Life, which processes the Light of Ayn Sof.
The fingerprint of each human
The High Holy Day liturgy (Unetaneh Tokef ) highlights that the signature of each human is in it the Sefer Haim, Living Spiral (‘v’Hotem yad kol Adam Bo), like fingerprints. Our actions, positive or otherwise, leave a wake, like “fingerprints”. Each of us influences this world, and with that influence comes responsibility.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Humanity is endowed with the gift of Freedom of Choice. Unfortunately, the Earth is currently facing multiple crises. Wars continue to rage, resulting in countless senseless civilian and military deaths. Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine, and more, continue fighting.
Sadly, polarization influences our collective mindset, yet we are interconnected. When pain occurs in one part of the world, it impacts other regions, affecting us physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually.
Flooding, fires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters are more frequent than in the contemporary community. Southern California is still recovering from epic fires that torched several communities earlier this year. It is imperative now more than ever to pay attention to our beautiful planet before the mechanisms we count on for life are gone forever. Blessings like clean water, fresh air, natural spaces, and stable ground are at risk.
These are gifts previous generations took for granted. We no longer have that privilege. If the trajectory we are on does not shift, Earth will not sustain humanity.
Who by fire? Who by water? Who by plague? Who by earthquake? Who by dis-ease?
High Holy Day Musaf – oonetaneh Tokef
Earth, herself, will be fine. It is humanity that cannot sustain itself. Humans are like fleas making the planet uncomfortable, as George Carlin pointed out decades ago.
A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH
Mass production drives much of this. It is imperative to select government and spiritual leaders with attention to their stance on climate change; it is a matter of life or death. We are served to pay attention to who funds any politician and support those who are not indebted to the petroleum industry, gun lobby, factory farming, big pharma, or that ilk. Our leadership must be stewards of Earth to support life as we know it.
We can also help by doing our part personally. Minimizing landfill waste (e.g., using compostable plates and flatware rather than those that end up in landfills) honors and treasures water and its life-giving quality (fixing leaks goes a long way), and creates more garden spaces (green roof gardens, for example). We cannot complete the work on our own. If everyone does their part, we have a chance.
When you focus your heart and mind on loving and appreciating the Earth, you will often find yourself organically involved and supporting the ongoing Living SPiRal.
We each have a special part in making this planet more sustainable, in stacking the deck in favor of ongoing life.
The only way to get it together, is together – Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi zt”l
Shanah Tovah. May you weave yourself into SPiRals of ongoing life, love, and light.
What is the relationship between ShoFaR and SeFer? Is there a shared resonance? Why or why not?
