Yesod-Foundation

The sixth week of Sefirat Ha’Omer, the counting of the days between Passover and Shavuot, is dedicated to the Sephirah of Yesod – Foundation. (For an explanation of the sephirot, please click here).

Build a house without a solid foundation, and it will fall. The purpose of a building’s foundation is to stabilize it on the ground and connect it to the earth. This basic truth of engineering is true for all aspects of life. Sometimes the foundation is physical, and sometimes it is spiritual. But, the end goal of all of our actions is connection. This is the lesson of yesod.

It is interesting to note that yesod is often associated with procreation. Each person’s relationship to his/her parents, grandparents and other ancestors is a foundation upon which they build their lives. It is very clear that many people make decisions based on the values they have inherited from their family. At the same time, becoming a parent (or even forming a solid relationship with the next generation) creates a new foundation in one’s life that directs a person’s focus away from him/herself.

According to some Torah commentators, at the time of creation, Adam was one creature, possessing both male and female attributes. This, however, led Adam to be totally self-absorbed (as he needed no one else). Therefore, God divided Adam into male and female. From this we learn that God does not want a person to be alone, but, rather, to connect to others and to use that connection to build a better world.