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Counting The Omer
The rhythms of our ancestors' lives were set by the agricultural cycles and the accompanying rituals performed for each season at the Temple in Jerusalem. Sfirat Ha'omer, the counting of the omer, was one of the most carefully observed of these rituals. The priests would offer a measure of harvested crop, or omer, on the second day of Passover. All of Israel would then begin counting the days between Passover and Shavuot, 49 days in all.

Though we no longer have the Temple, we still count. Counting the days from the sea-crossing freedom of Passover to the Torah-receiving commitment of Shavuot -- the "counting the omer"-- guides us in reaffirming that each day we progress, clarifying and acting with our ultimate goals in mind.

MEDITATION

As I count each day between Passover and Shavuot, may I remain awake to the full potential and special texture of each passing moment. As I count from one moment to the next, may I be helped to act in light of that wakefulness, appreciating my freedom from, and my commitment to.

Hineni mukhan u'mezuman l'kayem mitzvat asay shel sfirat ha'omer.

I am ready to fulfill the mitzvah of counting the omer.

RITUAL

Beginning on the second night of Passover, toward the end of the Seder, recite the blessing for counting the omer and announce that day's count (remember, the Jewish "day" begins the evening before). On the 48 subsequent days, find an appropriate (and easily remembered!) moment to count that day's omer-as you kiss your children good night, or when you set out your clothes for the next day. Most Jewish calendars will have the day's count as a reminder. As you count each subsequent evening, focus on how you change as you move from awareness (Passover) to action (Shavuot).

BLESSING

Barukh atah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha'olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al sfirat ha'omer.

Blessed are You, Eternal God, Ruler of the universe, whose mitzvot teach us holiness, and who commands us to count the omer.

"Today is the ___day, which is ___ weeks and ____days of the omer."

TEACHING

You shall count from the eve of the second day of Passover, when an omer of grain is to be brought as an offering, seven complete weeks. (Leviticus 23:15)

The omer is the amount of ground and sifted barley offered as a sacrifice. The omer is thus neither time, nor barley, but a measurement. Why do we count a measurement? In Exodus 16:16, we learn that when the Israelites were in the desert they each received life-giving manna according to their need: one omer per person-no more, no less. Overzealous gatherers discovered that any manna in excess of an omer spoiled before it could be eaten. Fastidious gatherers, on the other hand, never came up short. An omer is thus the symbol of the precise amount to sustain someone. Maybe the period of the omer is for figuring out what we need to sustain us and how much. The days of the omer are not about counting time, but weighing an omer's worth of what counts. (Dan Judson, Sh'ma)

Hineni mukhan u'mezuman l'kayem mitzvat asay shel sfirat ha'omer.

I am ready to fulfill the mitzvah of counting the omer.

(CLAL Faculty)

CLAL's National Jewish Resource Center develops and publishes rituals that help to bridge the gap between our contemporary lives and the ancient wisdom of the Jewish tradition.