Contrasting the Sefira of Yesod and Women

Are you counting the sefira every night? I am. And for those of you who haven’t been doing it this year, I encourage you to try doing it next year. It’s a lifechanger. I know that’s a dramatic statement, but I stand by it. The few minutes of connection with Hashem every evening, of following the footsteps that brings us closer to Matan Torah, is changing who I am. It’s creating a subtle shift of priorities that I wasn’t even aware was happening, because it was happening so gradually. The shift between it’s-11pm-and-the-house-is-still-flying nerves that I usually am, to – one minute, there is something greater than the dishes in the sink that I’m working on. I’m counting towards Kabbalas Hatorah. 

And for those doubting the meaning of women counting the Omer – The Ramban (Nachmanides) in “Kiddushin 34” posits that the mitzvah of counting the Omer is not time-bound, thereby obligating women to participate¹. 

Not much is written about the meaning behind every day’s sefira, most of it is cloaked in mystical kabbalah, and yet, every day is designed to make us more wholesome people.

What is the meaning of Yesod, and how does it relate to us as women?
The sefira of Yesod is a pivotal concept in Kabbalistic thought, serving as a bridge between the Divine and the material world. The connection between Yesod and women can be explored through its role in spiritual and physical realms, its symbolic representation, and its manifestations in daily life and practices.

Yesod, which means “foundation,” functions as the conduit through which all divine energies and blessings flow into the world. It harmonizes and balances the sefirot of Netzach (eternity) and Hod (glory), and channels these energies into Malchut, the sefirah that represents the material world, and is often associated with the feminine aspect in Kabbalistic symbolism. The Targum explains the phrase “for everything in heaven and earth” as meaning “the One Who unites heaven and earth”². This union is the essence of Yesod, making it the sefirah that enables the flow of divine wisdom and blessings into our physical world.

The sefira of Yesod is a pivotal concept in Kabbalistic thought, serving as a bridge between the Divine and the material world. The connection between Yesod and women can be explored through its role in spiritual and physical realms, its symbolic representation, and its manifestations in daily life and practices.

In understanding the role of Yesod, we recognize its function as the intermediary that translates spiritual truths into tangible realities. This is illustrated in the verse from 1 Chronicles 29:11, which enumerates the sefirot and culminates in the phrase “for everything in heaven and earth.” This verse lists a number of the sefirot and teaches that “for everything in heaven and earth” refers to Yesod³.

The relationship between Yesod and women is deeply rooted in the symbolic and practical aspects of Kabbalistic teachings. Women, in many ways, embody the qualities of Yesod. We are the nurturers and sustainers of life, roles that require a profound connection to both the spiritual and material realms. 

In our families we serve as the foundation, the Yesod, ensuring the transmission of values, traditions, and spirituality to the next generation. We were given the ability of great emotion (which can distract us at times), paired with great sensitivity and a sense of logical sense, that allows us to make both tiny and huge daily decisions – essentially encompassing our roles as the foundation of our homes.

Moreover, the practical applications of Yesod are evident in various mitzvot and minhagim. For example, the act of lighting Shabbos candles, traditionally performed by women, is a physical manifestation of bringing the light of kedusha into our homes, an act resonant with the attributes of Yesod⁴. This act not only illuminates the physical space but also symbolizes the spiritual light that women bring into their families and communities.

The role of Yesod in the context of prophecy is also significant. Kabbalistic teachings associate the powers of prophecy with the sefirot of Netzach and Hod, which receive divine light and pass it to Yesod⁵. Women, through their intuition and spiritual sensitivity, often exemplify the qualities of prophecy, channeling divine wisdom and insights into their everyday lives and interactions.

In Kabbalistic symbolism, Yesod is likened to the male command to be fruitful, to bring forth life. However, this is not seen as exclusively masculine. The essence of Yesod transcends gender, embodying the principle of giving and receiving, which is central to the feminine role in creation and sustenance. The bond between husband and wife, encapsulated under the chuppah during marriage, is a profound manifestation of Yesod, symbolizing the unity and flow of Kedusha into the world through their union.

The connection between Yesod and women is further illustrated in Bereishit. On the sixth day, Hashem created Adam and Chava, instructing them to “be fruitful and multiply”⁶. This commandment reflects the power of Yesod, which not only brings life into being but also nurtures and sustains it. Women, as the bearers of life, inherently possess the qualities of Yesod, embodying Hashem’s Will to bestow life and blessings.

Yesod. It’s all inside of us. The divine, and the mundane. The spiritual and the physical. The ability to give, and the ability to receive. The tiny little acts we’re doing every day, that’s the yesod, the foundation of our homes, our families, and of yiddishkeit in general. And when we accept the Torah on Shavuos, we stand as equal partners in receiving His Will. because it’s Hashem’s Will, only Hashem’s Will that we do strive to do every day.

1. Ramban, Nachmanides. “Kiddushin 34.” ↩︎
2. Targum interpretation on 1 Chronicles 29:11. ↩︎
3. https://aish.com/48970221/
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4. https://aish.com/kabbalah_22_yesod_foundation/
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5. https://www.chabad.org/kabbalah/article_cdo/aid/380802/jewish/Netzach-Hod-Yesod.htm
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6. Genesis 1:28. ↩︎