Rabbi Shefa Gold's - Seven Channels of Commitment

The Seven Channels of Commitment

by Rabbi Shefa Gold

When I put my tefillin on each morning, I am connecting myself to the whole of life, to the Source of All, and to God as Beloved. I can get so caught up in the details of my life that I am in danger of losing my wide perspective, forgetting myconnection to the Whole of the Cosmos. This binding of vows that I give and receive is meant to set me on a path of Remembrance. My commitment has within it the requirement to stay open to the flow of blessing so that it flows through me into the world. That flow happens through seven distinct channels. As I wrap the tefillin I am checking to see if each of those channels are open. It is a diagnostic practice that will allow me to know where the spiritual work of the day might be focused. If I find a channel that is blocked or a channel of flow that is weak, then I might focus my loving attention on that aspect of my life and see how I might repair the channel. As I sing the words of betrothal and wrap the tefillin, I am checking in to each of these seven channels, and connecting up to the Great Source of Blessing.

I betroth myself to you (V'Erestich-Li L’Olam) This refers to my sense of the infinite both in Time and Space. Is my perspective wide enough to see myself as a tiny yet integral speck in the universe? Am I connected to a hopefulness about the continuation of Life through me? Can I feel myself as a link in the chain of tradition and inheritance?

I betroth myself to you (V'Erestich-Li B’Tzedek) Do I feel empowered to express my sense of Justice in the world? Are there actions that I must take this day in order to be true to the values that I hold? Can I open to the strength of my commitment to Tikkun Olam?

(Uv’mishpat) I understand this as diagnosing the state of my impeccability. How careful am I? How deliberate? How sloppy? How can I wake up my consciousness so that I can pay closer attention to the details? How can I clear the lens through which I perceive my life? How can I slow myself down enough to minimize the mistakes that happen because I am rushing?

(Uv’chesed) How open am I to the flow of God’s Love? Am I receiving beauty and nourishment through the events and relationships of my Life? Can I open my heart to be filled with Divine Grace? Can I remember how completely lovable I am?

(Uv’Rachamim) How strong is my compassion? Is my heart open to the suffering in the world? Or am I overwhelmed by it? Can I pour out this compassion to the people who I come in contact with today? Am I holding a grudge against anyone? How can I let go of my anger? Are there particular actions I can take this day to express my compassion? Is there someone I must forgive? Is there someone I might reach out to and comfort or encourage?

I betroth myself to you (V'Erestich-Li B’Emunah) This is the channel that connects me with my sense of Basic Trust – the knowledge that ultimately existence is essentially Good and no matter what happens, I will be safe. (Even Death is safe.) I check in to this channel to feel the firm foundation of Goodness beneath my life that will allow me to take risks.

(V’yadaat et Yah.) This is the channel that represents my loving awareness of God’s Presence in every moment of my life. When this channel is open I remember to look and feel and listen for that mystery as often as possible. As I sing these word I lean into the Mystery and open to the interpenetration of the Divine Essence with my own.

I’ve understood the practice of Tefillin as connecting up to and opening these Seven Channels of Commitment. As a rabbi I explore many aspects of Healing, and I strive to be a clear channel for guidance, strength and inspiration for those I serve. I have a teacher of Energy Healing who I’ve been studying with here in New Mexico for the past few years. He has a great sensitivity to the flows of energy in the body. One day I visited him and he was checking in to my energy flow before a class where I was to work on another student. He said, “What’s the matter with you?” I remembered then that I hadn’t put on Tefillin that morning and I told him. My teacher didn’t know what that was. He said, Well whatever that is….when you do it, you have twice as much healing energy available to you than when you don’t!”

Listen:

(Click to Play)

"Betrothal" (Click to Play)