Finding Tiferet

תפארת or Tiferet is the sixth sefira in the Tree of Life in Kabbalah, ancient rabbinic mysticism. There are ten sefirot and together the system roots spirituality with the physical self and attributes of Hashem. This particular sefira is commonly associated with balance and integrating many aspects into one whole being. תפארת is understood as the balance between the sefirot chesed, compassion, and gevurah, control.

I am on a constant search for balance. A twenty year old from suburban Massachusetts, I am challenged with balancing a full academic course load, several student organizations and my ever-wandering mind about the current state of Judaism and the environment. I am studying History, Judaic Studies and Classical Civilization. I am the President of the Junior Class Council, incredibly active in Challah for Hunger on chapter and international level, am a tour guide and coordinator for the Student Ambassador program and tutor at the Writing Center. I try to do a crossword puzzle a day, eat brownie dough raw, love reading everything from Hafiz to William McDonough and love to dance. Sometimes I watch television, listen to R&B, sing the latest jam or cruise youtube for the latest hysterical fad. Busy? Absolutely. Passionate? You bet. And despite all this, I am still so captivated and intrigued by this incredible movement. I feel empowered to establish, keeping my feet firmly planted on mother earth while keeping my head up to see the potential that we can rebuild it.

Through this blog, I will develop my vision for the future of agriculturally rooted Judaism as a parcel through traditional texts and some not so traditional, in order to find deeper meaning and understanding. I am a proud alumna of the Jewish Farm School, was Eden Village Camp head counselor and a participant in the Kayam Farm Beit Midrash and will use my experiences there to shape my postings. In addition, I am in the process of founding and organizing a Jewish agricultural initiative on campus called Shoreshim. Many of my posts will surround the establishment of and challenges with this organization. My passion is passion and my goal is setting goals that are both daring and acheivable.

Before I conclude, I would like to end with some food for thought (pun entirely intended) — "As for Me, I am going to establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living being in your care – the birds, the beasts, and all the land animals in your care – all who have gone out of the ark, all earth’s animals." Genesis 9.9-10

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