"Dai, kvar!"

It is taught in the Talmud that a person should always have two notes in their pockets (not literally, I don't think). One note that says "I am nothing!"  and another note that says, "the whole world was created for me!"

Like this, when someone is feeling down and out, they whip out the latter note and remember that God Himself created the whole world just for him.  Alternatively, when he's feel quite arrogant, he should whip out the first note and remember that he came from dust, "I am nothing!"

I think Black folks should carry yet a third note!

A note that says, "Dai kvar!" This is an Israeli expression that means, "enough already!"

I believe that Black folks were probably one of the first people on earth, thus they are sort of like the foundations (Yesod) of things. As such, they have access to two powers or two abilities: Netzach - which is endurance, perseverence, long lastingness; and Hod - which is splendor.

With the passage of time and much suffering, I think the Black world -or many from there- got a good whack on the right side. The Netzach side. Thus I think the Netzach needs a bit of work. For instance, it is a great thing that we can endure.  We've (I mean as a people) have dealt with cruel slavery, mental anguish in America, colonialization in Africa and the Carribean, discrimination and hate, and so on and so forth.  Thank God we can endure!!

However, the not so great part about endurability is that we never -or it takes a very, very long while before we get to the point of saying, "Dai kvar !!!"

Harsh situations continue year after year and everyone wonders how to save Black women from the clutches of evil ridden ghetto and all the crimes associated therein -year after year.  This is too grave a situation to let it go on for so long. And yet we endure.  We deal with racism constantly, and yet to this day there is no systematic way to deal with it. And yet, we endure.

Dai kvar

Enough already

Its time to get fed up with what's wrong in our society, in our lives, etc.  This is partly why I like the Black Women Empowerment movement.  While I do confess that I am weary slightly about groupthink -and I've seen BW get burned for not towing the "line" that has somehow appeared, overall its a positive movement.   Again, I have my concerns because life is always a game of fiddler on the roof --don't tip too much to the left, and don't tip too much to the right lest you fall!  And I pray they are making good choices, but again, overall its a good thing.

Everything in its proper measure.  Even endurance needs to be measured and the proper dosage used, otherwise, we'll just keep enduring and enduring - and eventually come out okay- but there would be more joy, more happiness, more confidence in ourselves if we would give our own selves for God to creates changes rather than hoping to endure until "its over" not by any effort from us.

Flashback Post: After Divestment? Netzach

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Netzakh means dominance, perseverance, longevity, etc. I don't have a one word translation which is why I am using the Hebrew word.

Netzakh is represented by the right leg.

The one who personifies netzakh is Moses. Everything he did, he tried to make sure it was a permanent fix. After he led the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt, he came down with the Torah and yearned and tried to make sure the Jewish people made it to the promise land. Unfortunately he died before doing that last action. For that, the land being permanently in Jewish hands was not a permanent thing; many times they were captured and taken away. Returned and captured again, etc. But everything before that was done with a dose of netzakh, including the yearning for the land.

That is also why Moses' seemingly small errors (such as hitting the stone extract water)where so grave.

Netzakh with lovingkindness/Chessed (giving, unconditional lovingkindness). "For anything to endure it needs to be loved" (from Aish website). Interestingly, many AAs are back tracking and reflecting. They are looking for their good points and that is very crucial.If there is no vested interest in something or someone, the actions that we do towards it or for it will not be for permanence; it'll be of a way to "get rid" of someone or something.


Netzakh with gevurah (strength, restraint). Being diciplined in our determination is an essential key to endurance. I remember long ago, I used feed on my anger to get fuel to get things done. "Nevermind nobody's helping me, I'll do it on my own!" "No! now that you feel bad for me, now I for sure don't want your help!!" Oh brother! Do I regret those. Well, at the time I only knew how to draw strength (and adrenaline) from negtivity (anger). There is strength to be drawn from joy. from fulfillment of one's good desires as opposed to from one's negativity.

In brief, check one's self to see where is our energy coming from, that will let us see in the long run where it will take us.

Netzakh with tiferet (beauty). Once the perfect combo of giving and holding back is established, this ought to be consistently pushed and upheld.

Netzakh with netzakh. I tend to think of this as dominance overload. Or obnoxious pushing. But even that has its uses. Especially when confronting a powerful enemy. For instance, I see many abused people using this when they realize that no one will believe them that there is a problem with the (abusive ) husband, or father, or whatever. At a certain point, the abused person has to just shut their mind, hold onto their beliefs and ram through.

Netzakh with hod (spendor, empathy). This is a tough one because the two seem like opposites. Can one have dominance without stepping on anyone's toes? Hmmmmm......

Netzakh with yesod (foundation, creativity, sexual purity). In creativity, its important that time does not constrain the art. Its like a movie that makes reference to a current event --in a few years that phrase they inserted in the movie will have no relevance. Rather the movie may have more value if a time -memorial quote was used such as "Rome was not built in a day" (a classic quote) rather than "you can't handle the truth!" (from A Few Good Men movie).

Netzakh with malkhut (kingship). Here is where we take from the world and give back in a long lasting way. The only example I can think of (sorry) is beating up a bully; After taking much from the bully, the response is a good kick in the pants. That way, he will know in a permanent way, not to mess with you again. lol.

I'm Actually Tired of Blogging.../ After Divestment Week 4

I have a bunch of unfinished work to complete, the After divestment series, others, pics I meant to put up, etc.

But lately, possibly from the terrible cold the family, including myself, is going through, I have been very uninterested in blogging about anything. Also, Ive been spending my blogging time reading either Muslin Bushido's blog and then running over to Black Woman Blow The Trumpet blog, then back again. Pretty interesting stuff going on! I just hope each understands the others POV.

But that leaves me too sleepy to blog on my own blog. I feel tempted to post a comment at Bushido, but I think this is the time to exercise restraint. The topic is specifically for and about AA BW. I even wonder if that is a first!

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After Divestment week 4: Netzakh

Netzakh means dominance, perseverance, longevity, etc. I don't have a one word translation which is why I am using the Hebrew word.

The one who personifies netzakh is Moses. Everything he did, he tried to make sure it was a permanent fix. After he led the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt, he came down with the Torah and yearned and tried to make sure the Jewish people made it to the promise land. Unfortunately he died before doing that last action. For that, the land being permanently in Jewish hands was not a permanent thing; many times they were captured and taken away. Returned and captured again, etc. But everything before that was done with a dose of netzakh, including the yearning for the land.

That is also why Moses' seemingly small errors (such as hitting the stone extract water)where so grave.

Netzakh with Chessed (giving, unconditional lovingkindness). "For anything to endure it needs to be loved" (from Aish website). Interestingly, many AAs are back tracking and reflecting. They are looking for their good points and that is very crucial.If there is no vested interest in something or someone, the actions that we do towards it or for it will not be for permanence; it'll be of a way to "get rid" of someone or something.


Netzakh with gevurah (strength, restraint). Being diciplined in our determination is an essential key to endurance. I remember long ago, I used feed on my anger to get fuel to get things done. "Nevermind nobody's helping me, I'll do it on my own!" "No! now that you feel bad for me, now I for sure don't want your help!!" Oh brother! Do I regret those. Well, at the time I only knew how to draw strength (and adrenaline) from negtivity (anger). There is strength to be drawn from joy. from fulfillment of one's good desires as opposed to from one's negativity.

In brief, check one's self to see where is our energy coming from, that will let us see in the long run where it will take us.

Netzakh with tiferet (beauty). Once the perfect combo of giving and holding back is established, this ought to be consistently pushed and upheld.

Netzakh with netzakh. I tend to think of this as dominance overload. Or obnoxious pushing. But even that has its uses. Especially when confronting a powerful enemy. For instance, I see many abused people using this when they realize that no one will believe them that there is a problem with the (abusive ) husband, or father, or whatever. At a certain point, the abused person has to just shut their mind, hold onto their beliefs and ram through.

Netzakh with hod (spendor, empathy). This is a tough one because the two seem like opposites. Can one have dominance without stepping on anyone's toes? Hmmmmm......

Netzakh with yesod (foundation, creativity, sexual purity). In creativity, its important that time does not constrain the art. Its like a movie that makes reference to a current event --in a few years that phrase they inserted in the movie will have no relevance.

Netzakh with malkhut (kingship). Here is where we take from the world and give back.