The period of the Omer begins the second night of Pesach and continues until Shavuot. Literally translated, Omer means “a sheaf.” It refers to the measure of grain that was once offered at the Temple in Jerusalem. The Torah commanded that seven weeks be counted for the Omer. Why is it important to count the days from the bringing of the Omer until Shavuot?
Shavuot in the Bible was not connected with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, as it is now. It was an agricultural festival. And its focus was the Temple. Since the Temple no longer stands, and most of us are no longer involved in agriculture, what’s the point of counting the Omer today?
And yet, our holy rabbis regarded the Omer period as a preparation for receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. Each day we take one more step away from the impurities of Egypt that have remained within us. Today, counting the Omer can be a time of meditation where we renew our spirits as we prepare for Shavuot.
According to the mystics, each week of the seven is represented by a mystical aspect of the Divine to focus on. And each day of the 49 is a combination of two aspects.
- Chesed: Overflowing Loving kindness
- G’vurah: Judgment, Justice, Rigor
- Tiferet: Compassion, Beauty, Balance
- Netzach: Victory, Efficiency, Prevailing
- Hod: Glory, Splendor
- Yesod: Foundation, Intimacy, Generativity
- Malchut: Majesty, God’s Earthly Realm
At a time when the Jewish People are fiercely divided on core issues of identity, politics, and religion, we should take lessons from this period of time and work on ourselves.
The Gemara teaches us that 24,000 students died in a plague between Pesach and Shavuot. The initial reason the Gemara gives for their deaths is lack of kavod (honor or respect) for one another. The Gemara then presents an opinion that they were struck down by a mysterious plague.
I believe the two reasons can be harmoniously combined. It was precisely because of the breakdown of civil discourse and respect for one another that they were afflicted with a plague and died.
Disagreements over interpretation and halachic practice often become heated, particularly over issues that hit home personally. The old adage about two Jews in a room ending up with three opinions is never more fitting than today. We must never lose respect, though, for those with whom we disagree.
The lesson we learn from the students of Rabbi Akiva is that acting towards one another with respect is extremely important. We must take inspiration from tragedy. Even now, many years after the students of Rabbi Akiva died, we must be “inspired” by their death.
Let each day of the 50 days be a time of meditation to work on our best selves and prepare to receive divine rules to live by (the Torah) on Shavuot. May we learn how to make our lives easier, yet more meaningful, as we celebrate in a small way each day, focusing on the important moments of life.
