Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Sefiros, Spiritual Refinement Through Counting The Omer

"Hayom yom .... l'omer." Do you know what day it is? What is the significance of the day anyways? What should I do about it? All those answers and more are in Sefiros, by Rabbi Yaacov Haber and Rabbi David Sedley.

Sefiros -- spiritual refinement through counting the OmerJudging the Book by its Cover -  a first glance review:

The cover is a simple colorful one, which gives it a respectable sefer-like look. When flipping through the pages, you can see that each sefira is printed with a different shade. The layout of each "day" is clear, with a summary of the essence and "Action Points".

Some Details I Liked:

For a long time, I have been working on the idea that life is 3D. Meaning that in order to be the best you can be, you have to work in 3 areas - With God, With Others and With Yourself. In Sefiros, there are practical suggestions for how to grow in each area, each day.

Who This Book is For:

This book is for growing people. For someone who wants to better understand sefiros and/or the time period of sefiras ha'omer. It can be learned as a daily/nightly read throughout the 49 days, or it can be stretched and appreciated throughout the year.

Who This Book Isn’t For:  

Being that this book is a serious book, I'd say pick it up only if you want to genuinely learn. Its not watered down. I think it can be appreciated by children when parents use it as a teaching tool. 

What I Didn’t Like/Would Have Made it Better: 

To try and find room for improvement on a book devoted to being better, is a nonsensical task. As much as I have had this book and read it over the years, I have not yet mastered its curriculum and continue to learn from its wealth.

In Conclusion:  

This is a basic, yet complex book to own, learn and cherish throughout sefiras ha'omer specifically, but is also valuable throughout the year. It is a classic which I highly recommend.