Rabbi’s Message – April 13, 2023
Generally, when we are excited about something to come, we count down: the days until a birthday or the end of school, minutes on a timer for dinner, pages left in the service (who would do that!), and many more. The period of the Omer is different, because we count up. Starting on the second day of Passover, we count the days to Shavuot, our next Festival. One explanation for counting up instead of down during this period is that it is intended to be a period of growth, not of diminishing; much like the Chanukkah candles that we add each night, here too, we wish to add to our experience by counting up. So, how do we count? Why do we count? And What’s the Omer anyways?
The most obvious answers you will find if you were to ask the infamous Rabbi Google, would be that we do this because God said so. In Leviticus 23:15-16 there is a pretty direct command: “You shall count from the eve of the second day of Pesach, when an omer of grain is to be brought as an offering, seven complete weeks. The day after the seventh week of your counting will make 50 days, and you shall present a new meal offering to God.” (That “new meal offering” is on Shavuot).
Since the verse tells us to do this in the evening, when the omer (grain) offering was sacrificed, most count the Omer in the evening today by reciting a blessing over the act of counting, and then declaring the total count in days and weeks. If you’d like to do this, there are plenty of resources to help you keep track.
But, for many of us, the mere act of counting as reminiscent of a grain offering in the days of the Temple, doesn’t feel… fulfilling, in its own right. And we are not alone in feeling that way. The emphasis of why we count the Omer is usually focused on connecting the story of Passover with the giving of the Torah at Shavuot. Usually a variation on our freedom is not complete until we have the Torah, and thus this period marks our anticipation and excitement for receiving the Torah.
Others connect the seven weeks to spiritual elements and personal growth. There are books that connect each week and day with pairs of the mystical sefirot (manifestations of God) in our world. One of my new favorites, by Sari Kopitnikoff, focuses on different aspects of kindness each week (and is available free on her website thatjewishmoment.com). There are also books for “coloring the Omer” that give daily sources for mindfulness for those who prefer something more creative.
Whether you decide to take on a form of Omer counting this year or not, take a minute to reflect on what it is that you count up (or down) to that brings you excitement and be sure to come celebrate Shavuot with us at the end of the Omer!