Yesod Shebigvura

Sweetest Friends Shalom!!!!

Every day of the Omer we are supposed to work on a different middah. There are seven basic middos and all of them also interplay with the other six so that all together there are 49 [each middah with itself and the other six]. The explanation of what each middah means is in the wonderful sefer "Usfartem Lachem" - PLEASE get yourself a copy.

Today's middah is "Yesod Shebigvurah." One of the areas that we can work on in this middah is to merit fear of G-d ["gvurah"] by holding on tightly to the level of Tzaddik. Tzaddik is defined by the Mekubalim as one who guards his bris kodesh. The pasuk says "Tzaddik YESOD Olam" -The Tzaddik is the foundation of the world. Yosef was a Tzaddik because he didn't succumb to the wife of Potifar despite her unrelenting seductions.

PRACTICALLY!!! First the guys - Keep your eyes DOWN when walking down the street with a constant awareness that G-d is right there with you watching. Don't read anything with inappropriate pictures. Go to mikva. Whenever an inappropriate thought comes into your mind banish it with positive holy thoughts. Don't have friendships with females outside the framework of marriage or finding a partner. There is NO room for that in Halacha and it is not the behavior of one on the level of tzaddik. If you see a female you know you can be polite but not too friendly. Make FENCES for yourself. That is part of gevurah as Rav Soloveitchik so poignantly describes in one of his famous essays when talking about Jewish heroism. To be a hero means to conquer your own passions.

Girls - TZNIYUS!!! You have such an awe and awareness of Hashem that you always dress appropriately even when nobody sees you - because HE does. When men do see you - be doubly modest. Hashem created men in such a way that they are VERY prone to inappropriate thoughts and you can help them be pure by acting in a way that exudes kedusha and tahara.

There is much more to say but for tzniyus purposes I won't. But we must remember that the YESOD - FOUNDATION of all of our service of Hashem lies in this middah. Without a foundation everything collapses. If you have any personal questions feel free to contact me.

Love and Blessings!!!!

[This blog is lzchus CA"BSM who prompted me to start writing again after a hiatus]