Day 9, Gevurah sheh b'Gevurah (strength / judgement). Michael Zank teaches that in early Judaism Gevurah “refers to that which makes the gibbor--hero, a hero.” Later, the Kabbalists, according to Rav Ginsburgh, used gevurah as "... the force which measures and assesses the worthiness of Creation." Today's Omer Walk yielded this magnificent pair of ducks on the grounds where we live. Hours later we learned of adjacent wilderness threatened by planned housing and stores, and also of an intended hearing. 
     What if we reframe the G*d name, El Gibbor, that is found in Isaiah 9:5, as the Forceful discernment of the divine nature that did not abort but rather set this beauty into creation--the "yeled" fledglings and the parents. To testify in religion has meant to stand for G*d, I've never quite related to that expression until today. The health of the G*dfield, which we all help co-create by our actions, requires the tikkun olam of testifying at that hearing

     Image Credit: "Vigilance" (c) 2016 Barry Bub