During the seventh and final week of counting
the Omer, we examine and refine the attribute of Malchut ― nobility,
sovereignty and leadership. Sovereignty is a state of being rather than an
activity. Nobility is a passive expression of human dignity that has nothing of
its own except that which it receives from the other six emotions. True
leadership is the art of selflessness; it is only a reflection of a Higher
will. On the other hand, Malchut manifests and actualizes the character and
majesty of the human spirit. It is the very fiber of what makes us human.
Malchut is a sense of belonging. Knowing that
you matter and that you make a difference. That you have the ability to be a
proficient leader in your own right. It gives you independence and confidence.
A feeling of certainty and authority. When a mother lovingly cradles her child
in her arms and the child's eyes meet the mother's affectionate eyes, the child
receives the message: "I am wanted and needed in this world. I have a
comfortable place where I will always be loved. I have nothing to fear. I feel
like royalty in my heart." This is Malchut, kingship.
Healthy sovereignty is always kind and loving. An effective leader needs to be warm and considerate. Does my sovereignty make me more loving? Do I exercise my authority and leadership in a caring manner? Do I impose my authority on others?
Exercise for the day: Do something kind for
your subordinates
Although sovereignty is loving, it needs to
be balanced with discipline. Effective leadership is built on authority and
discipline. There is another factor in the discipline of sovereignty:
determining the area in which you have jurisdiction and authority.
Do I recognize when I am not an authority? Do
I exercise authority in unwarranted situations? Am I aware of my limitations as
well as my strengths? Do I respect the authority of others?
Exercise for the day: Before taking an
authoritative position on any given issue, pause and reflect if you have the
right and the ability to exercise authority in this situation.
A good leader is a compassionate one. Is my
compassion compromised because of my authority? Do I realize that an integral
part of dignity is compassion? Tiferet ― harmony ― is critical for successful
leadership. Do I manage a smooth-running operation? Am I organized? Do I give
clear instructions to my subordinates? Do I have difficulty delegating power?
Do we have frequent staff meetings to coordinate our goals and efforts?
Exercise for the day: Review an area where
you wield authority and see if you can polish it up and increase its
effectiveness by curtailing excesses and consolidating forces.
A person's dignity and a leader's success are
tested by his endurance level. Will and determination reflect the power and
majesty of the human spirit. How determined am I in reaching my goals? How
strong is my conviction to fight for a dignified cause? How confident am I in myself?
Is my lack of endurance a result of my low self-esteem? Do I mask my
insecurities by finding other excuses for my low endurance level?
Exercise for the day: Act on something that
you believe in but have until now been tentative about. Take the leap and just
do it!
Sovereignty is God's gift to each individual.
Hod of Malchut is the humble appreciation of this exceptional gift. Does my
sovereignty and independence humble me? Am I an arrogant leader? Do I appreciate
the special qualities I was blessed with?
Exercise for the day: Acknowledge God for
creating you with personal dignity
Examine the bonding aspect of your
sovereignty. Healthy independence should not prevent you from bonding with
another person. On the contrary: self-confidence allows you to respect and
trust another's sovereignty and ultimately bond with him. That bond will
strengthen your own sovereignty, rather than sacrifice it.
Does my sovereignty prevent me from bonding?
Could that be because of deeper insecurities of which I am unaware? Do I
recognize the fact that a fear of bonding reflects a lack of self-confidence in
my own sovereignty?
Exercise for the day: Actualize your
sovereignty by intensifying your bond with a close one.
Examine the sovereignty of your sovereignty.
Does it come from deep-rooted inner confidence in myself? Or is it just a
put-on to mask my insecurities? Does that cause my sovereignty to be excessive?
Am I aware of my uniqueness as a person? Of my personal contribution?
Exercise for the day: Take a moment and
concentrate on yourself, on your true inner self, not on your performance and
how you project to others; and be at peace with yourself knowing that God
created a very special person which is you.
After the 49 days of Counting the Omer, after
having fully achieved inner renewal by merit of having assessed and developed
each of our 49 attributes, we arrive at the fiftieth day. On this day we
celebrate the Festival of Shavuot, the giving of the Torah (Matan Torah). After
we have accomplished all we can through our own initiative, then we are worthy
to receive a gift (matan) from Above which we could not have achieved with our
own limited faculties. We receive the ability to reach and touch the Divine;
not only to be cultivated human beings who have refined all of our personal
characteristics, but divine human beings who are capable of expressing
ourselves above and beyond the definitions and limitations of our beings.
Excerpted from "A Spiritual Guide to
Counting the Omer"
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