Shavuot begins in four days - on Tuesday evening. We begin the process of counting up to Shavuot from the evening of the second seder on Passover until the holiday begins: 7 days x 7 weeks = 49 days. This period of counting is called "counting the Omer." The Omer was an ancient unit of measure, used for counting grain. This practice of counting the Omer, rooted in our Torah, serves as a bridge from the physical liberation of the Exodus to the spiritual elevation at Mount Sinai.
We are a people who finds comfort, strength, and spirituality in the notion of "counting:"
- 7 days of creation
- 40 days and 40 nights of rain for Noah's ark
- 969 years - the age the oldest person in the Torah lived (Methusaleh, grandfather of Noah, in the book of Genesis)
- Brit Milah (the covenant of circumcision) on the 8th day after birth
- 12 sons of Jacob
- 3 patriarchs
- 4 matriarchs
- 10 commandments
- The 5 Books of Moses (= the Hebrew Bible)
- 2 candles to bring in Shabbat, holy days, and our festivals
- 3 stars in the evening sky to conclude our holy time and space
In our modern context:- We count down until the days of a joyous life-cycle event (wedding, graduation, the birth of a new baby)
- 7 days of sitting shiva following the death of a first-degree loved one (those for whom we say "Kaddish" and sit shiva: mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, son, daughter).
- 1.5 months until a long-awaited summer vacation
- 4 days since Mexico elected the first female and first Jewish president in its 200-year history, Claudia Scheinbaum. (She is the former mayor of Mexico City and a climate scientist)
- 244 days of war in Israel since October 7th
- 124 hostages in Gaza, 43 of them declared dead, 131 hostages returned.
We "count our blessings" - this isn’t a denial of how challenging things are in the world. Rather, it’s a spiritual practice that helps us focus on gratitude for the sake of ourselves and those around us. For us as a Jewish people, we are supposed to do this by reciting 100 blessings a day.
The notion of the importance of "counting" is also found in our Torah portion for this week, B'midbar (Hebrew trans. "In the wilderness," but known in English as The Book of Numbers). This week we begin reading from the very beginning of Numbers. Numbers begins with God commanding Moses to take a census of the Israelite community. This act of counting each individual underscores that every single person within the collective has value and is important in their own right. The detailed census count in Numbers is a recognition that every individual matters. It is a poignant reminder that in the eyes of God, everyone counts.
Similarly, the counting of the Omer, which we are currently observing, is a time-honored practice that encourages mindfulness and spiritual growth. Each day we count represents an opportunity for introspection and improvement, leading us towards the celebration of receiving the Torah on Shavuot. This daily counting instills a sense of purpose and progression, reminding us that each day is a step forward in our spiritual journey. In our tradition, counting is not just about numbers; it's about imbuing each day and each person with meaning and purpose.
Today, however, our hearts are heavy as we count the days since the Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza by Hamas. Each day that passes is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace and the urgency of our prayers for their safe return. We count these days with a sense of anguish and hope, longing for the day when they will be reunited with their families, the war will be over and peace will prevail.
Counting is a recurring theme in our lives. We count the days of the Omer, we count the members of our community, and we now count the days of waiting and uncertainty. Let us use this act of counting to strengthen our resolve, to remain united in our support for those in captivity, and to continue our prayers and actions for their release.
In these challenging times, may our counting be a source of reflection and motivation. Let us remember that every individual counts, every day is significant, and every act of counting brings us closer to understanding our place in the world and our responsibility towards one another. May our counting lead us to a time of peace, freedom, and fulfillment for all.
The Season of Counting, by Alden Solovy
This is the season of counting:
Of counting days and nights,
Of counting the space between slavery of the body
And freedom of the soul.
This is a season of seeing:
Of seeing earth and sky,
Of seeing renewal in the land
And renewal in our hearts.
This is a season of journey:
Of inner journeys and outer journeys
Taking us places that need us,
Places that we need.
This is the season of counting,
The season of joyous anticipation,
Of wondrous waiting,
In devotion and awe,
For our most precious gift,
The gift that binds our hearts to each other across the millennia,
The gift that binds our souls to G-d’s Holy Word.
© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day, by Alden Solovy |
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