Yesod Shebenetzach Foundation of Endurance Day 27 of the Omer

Source sheet for guided meditation on Foundation within Endurance

(ה) יָֽסַד־אֶ֭רֶץ עַל־מְכוֹנֶ֑יהָ בַּל־תִּ֝מּ֗וֹט עוֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃

(5) He established the earth on its foundations, so that it shall never totter.

יְסוֹד הַיְסוֹדוֹת וְעַמּוּד הַחָכְמוֹת לֵידַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מָצוּי רִאשׁוֹן. וְהוּא מַמְצִיא כָּל נִמְצָא. וְכָל הַנִּמְצָאִים מִשָּׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ וּמַה שֶּׁבֵּינֵיהֶם לֹא נִמְצְאוּ אֶלָּא מֵאֲמִתַּת הִמָּצְאוֹ:

The foundation of foundations and firmest pillar of all wisdom is, To know that there is a First Being, that He caused all beings to be, and that all beings from heaven and earth, and from between them, could not be save for the truth of His Own Being.

Mishneh Torah, Foundations of the Torah 1:1

Here in the joining of strong right thigh to centering pubic bone, here in the weaving of my life and yours, the melding of my purpose and The Purpose, here you are staying still, staying present for as long as you need, for all time like the ocean promises the sand, like the stars promise the black expanse of night, here you are the lone tree not fallen despite wind, despite rain, if nothing could shake your roots, here is where you would find yourself and what would you do with this enduring foundation holding you firm, what would you dare?

Rabbi Tamara Cohen

אָדָם יְסוֹדוֹ מֵעָפָר וְסוֹפוֹ לֶעָפָר. בְּנַפְשׁוֹ יָבִיא לַחְמוֹ. מָשׁוּל כְּחֶֽרֶס הַנִּשְׁבָּר. כְּחָצִיר יָבֵשׁ. וּכְצִיץ נוֹבֵל. כְּצֵל עוֹבֵר. וּכְעָנָן כָּלָה. וּכְרֽוּחַ נוֹשָֽׁבֶת. וּכְאָבָק פּוֹרֵֽחַ. וְכַחֲלוֹם יָעוּף.

Adam yesodo mei-afar v'sofo l'afar

b'nafsho yavi lachmo, yavi lachmo.

A person's foundation (substance) is earth (dust)

and their end is to become earth (dust).

Oy mashul k'cheres oy mashul k'cheres

k'cheres hanishbar, adam, adam, adam.

Oy k'chatsir yavesh, k'tsits novel, k'tsel over,

adam, adam, adam.

U'khe'anan kalah, k'ruach noshavet,

ukh'avak pore'ach, v'chachalom ya'uf

adam, adam, adam.

like a broken shard, dried out grass, a withered bloom, a pasing shadow, a cloud consumed, a floating breeze, flying dust, a fleeting dream.

-from the Musaf repetition on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Kerith Spencer-Shapiro

Topics

Part of Collections

Jewish Meditation