During the third week of the Omer, we enter the sefirot of Tiferet or compassion. This is a week of truly trying to identify with the feelings of others. Compassion allows us to take empathy a step further by creating a desire for action – a need to do something to help.

Below are my thoughts on this week’s Sefirot combinations.


Chesed in Tiferet (loving-kindness in compassion): Today, focus on genuine compassion. Take time to slow down and make sure you respond to people with sincerity.

Gevurah in Tiferet (discipline in compassion): Consider starting a morning meditation routine focusing on compassion. Or, pick a daily practice that assists the development of your own compassion.

Tiferet in Tiferet (compassion in compassion): Try to put yourself in the shoes of others today. Understand your child’s tantrums from a new point of view. Accept your spouse’s bad habit(s) from a new light.

Netzach in Tiferet (endurance in compassion): What do you need to do to make sure you are giving everyone 100%? Are you overcommitted? Are you able to provide reliable compassion?

Hod in Tiferet (splendor in compassion): Play mysterious mitzvah. Do something special for someone in your office, for a teacher at school, for everyone in your family. Do it without needing the recognition or the thank you.

Yesod in Tiferet (bonding in compassion): Commit as a family to help at a soup kitchen once a month. Create special family time while showing compassion for others.

Malchut in Tiferet (dignity in compassion): “Give a man a fish; feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish; you feed him for a lifetime.” Find a way to teach your child how to fish. Identify a trait you believe is important to carry a person through life and identify specific things you can do to help teach this trait to your child.