Community at Temple Israel
Rabbi’s Message – April 25, 2024
We were instructed in the book of Leviticus to count forty-nine days between Passover and Shavuot, beginning on the second night of Passover. This period symbolically links Pesach and the Exodus to Shavuot and our arrival at Mt. Sinai. The period of the omer once referred to the ancient tradition of bringing an omer of barley to the Temple as an offering. Today, it has a new meaning for us. It is a period of time to express gratitude, refocus our priorities, and look more deeply at the responsibility that comes with freedom. It is a period of tikkun hanefesh, repairing the soul, in preparation for the giving of the Torah.
There are a number of customs by which we explore the intellectual, psychological and emotional significance of this time. In her book From Time to Time, Rabbi Dalia Marx describes many of these customs, such as reading from Pirkei Avot, reciting Psalm 67 and the Song of Songs, exploring the Mishnah’s list of forty-eight things by which Torah is acquired, examining the kabbalistic concurrence of sefirot, studying the Talmudic tractate Sotah, and in recent years exploring a variety of female biblical characters.
I know that these traditional texts don’t always speak to us with the same clarity as they may have spoken to our ancestors. I, of course, encourage us to try again. I, for one, was struck by how timely the traditional words of the Haggadah seemed this year. But, if you are interested in a more contemporary source of motivation for counting the omer and engaging in personal reflection, here are a few modern resources I would encourage you to explore. Enjoy, and be sure to make every day count!
Counting the Omer (Taylor’s Version) https://ritualwell.org/ritual/counting-the-omer-taylors-version-5784/
Thought provoking daily questions and answers addressed by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks https://rabbisacks.org/archive/omer-questions-and-answers/
Crafty and fun ideas for children to participate in counting the omer:
https://brittnigreenberg.com/blogs/flowers-and-flour/counting-the-omer-making-it-fun-for-children https://jewish.momsandcrafters.com/sefirah-chart/
A free Journal workbook created by Rabbi Jill Zimmerman https://ravjill.com/spiritual-journeying-counting-the-omer/
A DIY Lego omer counter https://biblebeltbalabusta.com/2015/04/09/lego-omer-counter/
A free Omer counter app https://neohasid.org/omer/iphone/