Today, the 18th day of the Omer, was also Shabbat. Shabbat is a foretaste of the world to come. Abraham Joshua Heschel taught in his book, “The Sabbath” that “The hours of the seventh day are significant in themselves; their significance and beauty do not depend on any work, profit, or progress we may achieve. They have the beauty of grandeur.Beauty of grandeur, a crown of victory, “a day of rest and holiness, a rest in love and generosity, a true and genuine rest, a rest that yields peace and serenity, tranquility and security, a perfect rest with which Thou art pleased” (quoted from the Sabbath afternoon prayer).”
Beauty of grandeur, that is exactly what tiferet means in its rare meaning. So Shabbat, a sign of the world to come, is in fact a sign of G-d’s everlasting compassion, netzach b’tiferet.

Today when I was davening I was caught by two phrases. “Baruch Chai l’ad v’kayam lanetzach. Blessed is the One who lives forever who endures eternally. There’s the use of the word netzach again. And from El Adon we sing “Tiferest ug’dulah” Glory and greatness.

After services I experienced more of that beauty, splendor, grandeur and compassion. I went for a walk with the puppy, During that walk we saw a snowy egret in flight and it landed right before us. We also saw a goose nesting and sitting on her egg. She was tucked next to a building looking very content and maternal. Then I took a nap. Taking a nap is definitely a sign of G-d’s everlasting compassion. May we always have the freedom and the opportunity to be able to experience the grandeur of Shabbat and be able to take a nap, then we will know that Shabbat is truly a palace in time and not just a series of thou shall nots.