Week of Malkhut, Second Day
Major sefirah: Malkhut/Royalty-Kingship; minor sefirah: Gevurah/Strength
I didn’t have much time to write today, but it occurred to me that fear has a bad reputation. Of course no one likes to be scared or live with a feeling of impending tragedy, but fear prevents us from doing harmful things, like driving our donkey down the wrong side of the road or sticking our hand in the fire.
And sometimes, we know, people get carried away with something and we have to get them to “snap out of it!” For example, if someone had too much to drink and is embarrassing himself and family, point a spear-tip in his face. He’ll sober up plenty fast!
So if I’m “drunk” on some harmful behavior, I thank God for taking the necessary measures for getting me to improve. It reminds me He’s the boss!
When I say the berakhot (blessings), I’m going to say the words melekh haolam” (“King of the Universe”) with extra care.
When I daven (pray) the Shemonah Esrei blessing Re’ei (See #7), I will ask God to forgive me for not being strong enough to properly point out to others how their Jewishness is pockmarked with mistakes.