A Friend

Last Saturday night after Shabbat, also known as Motzei Shabbos, tears of joy emerged from my eyes. I felt overwhelming gratitude for having such a great friend and brother-from-another-mother, who I had known for over a year now. We both participated in a weeklong meditation retreat by Dr. Joe Dispenza, but actually didn’t meet there. We met through a mutual connection we made at the event. Ever since that connection, our friendship has blossomed into a real brotherhood.

Furthermore - a cool fact - in the Hebrew calendar our birth dates are 1 day apart. Our birthdays are Yesod of Netzach and Malchut of Netzach, which are during the Counting of the Omer week of Netzach, the emotional attribute of victory/endurance. Without getting too esoteric, Yesod and Malchut are the final 2 of the 6 (7 if you include Malchut) emotional attributes that constitute a materialization of said attribute. In this case, I like to say we actualize endurance and victory.

Saturday night my friend gifted me with a book we’ve been learning online together and wrote me a very heartfelt message that led me to cry. To explain the type of friendship, the following is from Hayom Yom (daily lessons) for the 20th of Tevet, which was December 24, 2021:

The Mitteler (meaning middle, although he was the third) Rebbe once answered a student at yechidus (private audience): “When a person discusses his Divine service with a friend and they study together, there are two G‑dly souls pitted against one natural [animal] soul.” The animal soul is also known as the ego, which has desires associated with animals - to eat, survive, procreate i.e anything to distract the person from being fully present.