56 Spirituality Studies ish pursuits for order and harmony that may help harmonize the tension between the three manifestations of Being revealed between the four Sefirot. It can arise in various ways and at different levels of quality, ranging from modern philosophical and logical contemplation, scientific research and intuition, pseudo-scientific theories and beliefs, to other, even less-founded sources. Nevertheless, without delving into the issue of the quality of the different systematic teachings and existential perspectives that the human mind has created or had revealed throughout history, Tiferet is the Sefirah through which we should aspire to disclose and be governed by a systematic way of life and perspective that, both (1) harmonizes many aspects of reality – some of which may seem to be in tension or contradiction with one another, and, (2) is as close as possible to reality and truth, thus, does not exclude any aspect of reality and truth. Tiferet is the Sefirah devoted to harmonizing life without harming reality, truth, and wisdom, but by giving each aspect of reality and truth the right and balanced weight. Open awareness of this movement and stage means living in accordance with generally true, good, just, and beautiful norms, laws, rules, and demands. 5.5 Stage 5. Tiferet to Gevurah The fifth level of spiritual development begins by focusing attention and awareness on the emanation of Being between Gevurah (Heb. “Strength/Overcoming”) and Tiferet (Heb. “Beauty/Harmony”) [3]. The Hebrew word Gevurah can mean “strength”, “resilience”, “might”, “heroism”, and “overcoming”, used separately or in combination. This level reveals that the harmony of Tiferet is not the final truth or way of life. To continue growing in wisdom, one may be called to act in contradiction to the logic and harmony previously achieved. One may face a situation requiring the renunciation of Tiferet’s harmonious logic and order, as well as the demand to undo the foundation of what one supposedly knows, including the sacrifice of beliefs one values and aspects of one’s identity. This involves profound fears, such as loneliness, death anxiety, harming loved ones, shame, guilt, and sorrow. It may be the most difficult challenge emotionally, socially, cognitively, physically, and mentally (Kierkegaard 2013). Gevurah thus represents full devotion to the true meaning, but from an undermined ground and without any clear justification or explanation. For example, the pursuit of the unity of goodness, truth, justice, and beauty, while all their manifestations and foundations seem absent (e.g., Etty Hillesum 1996, and the astonishing testimony of devotion and spirit when she had the option to save herself; see Woodhouse 2013). A classical figure symbolizing this spiritual stage is Abraham, who, on several occasions, was willing, out of his devotion to God, to undermine the Tiferet, harmony, or logic he had constructed. Most notably, he was prepared to sacrifice his beloved son after decades of yearning. Similar echoes can be found outside the Jewish tradition in figures such as Socrates, Jesus, and Siddhartha Gautama. Each, in his own way, but all out of love, duty, and devotion to wisdom, truth, Being, or God, let go of all they held dear in the spatiotemporal world, recognizing that there would be no return. 5.5.1 A Contemporary Case of Gevurah vs. Tiferet: Henderson vs. Sanders A contemporary manifestation of awareness and attention to the movement between Gevurah and Tiferet can be found in Ridley Scott’s 2015 film The Martian. It is expressed in the extreme (Gevurah) decision taken by one of the characters. I find it important to focus on this case to demonstrate, as with all the Ten Sefirot model, how a theological category can elucidate general ethical dilemmas. Additionally, this case clearly shows the difference between Tiferet and Gevurah. A pioneering crew on Mars loses a teammate during a storm. Believing that he is dead, they finish their mission and return to Earth. However, from Earth, flight director Mitch Henderson and his superior, NASA Administrator Teddy Sanders, discover that the lost teammate is alive and potentially rescuable. However, fearing the risk to the crew’s mental and physical health, Sanders decides to conceal this from the crew and prioritizes bringing the mothership home safely rather than sending all of them back on a very dangerous rescue mission. This decision aligns with Tiferet, representing balance and rational harmony among the Sefirot of the spatiotemporal realm. Henderson disagrees. Paradoxically, out of deep care for the crew, he believes they should decide whether to return and risk their lives to rescue their teammate [4]. In an act of Gevurah, he bypasses his superior and secretly sends an encrypted message to them, revealing that their teammate did not die and is stuck on Mars. Why is this a Gevurah act? The crew believes that their colleague has died, and they still face a demanding and dangerous mission to return all five of them safely to Earth.
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