April 2007

“Have you heard of the Jewish tradition called ‘Counting the Omer’?”

If I had asked that question several decades ago, I’m willing to bet many Jews would have said no. That certainly would have been my own answer twenty years ago, when I was a liberal Jew with a strong Jewish identity but little Jewish learning.

However the times are changing and Counting the Omer, like a number of other traditional practices, has entered the mainstream of Jewish life. Even people who don’t actively take part in this seven-week ritual are likely to have heard of it in one way or another.

Still, here’s a brief explanation for those who are not entirely sure what this practice entails. An “omer” is a measure of grain. Historically, on the second day of Passover, in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem, an omer of barley was cut and brought to the Temple as a thanksgiving offering for the spring grain crop. This grain offering was referred to as the Omer.

The Torah instructs us to count for seven weeks, beginning from the day of that offering, for a total of 49 days. The fiftieth day is the holiday of Shavuot. These 49 days of counting are a constant reminder of the connection between Passover--the redemption from slavery--and Shavuot when as free people we freely accepted the Torah. This ritual of Counting the Omer is also a mindfulness exercise, keeping us aware and helping us prepare spiritually for our own recommitment to Torah on Shavuot.

I think of the seven-week period of Counting the Omer as a forceful reminder to appreciate and to purposefully use every single day of our lives. As the psalmist says, “teach us to number our days that we may attain a heart of wisdom.” The Counting of the Omer is an extended meditation on the nature of time, on making every day count.

Counting the Omer is a Jewish practice regarding time; counting a minyan is a Jewish practice about people. According to Jewish law, a gathering of ten Jewish adults (that is, age 13 and up) are required in order for certain prayers such as the Barachu (the call to worship) and the Mourner’s Kaddish to be said. We also need the presence of a minyan to read from the Sefer Torah.

Large congregations often take for granted the presence of a minyan during services. However in a congregation of our size, every person’s presence is noted and appreciated.

I am not just referring to participation in services when I speak about the importance of each individual person. I’m thinking about all of our congregation’s activities, from Purim party, to diaper drive, to helping with Project Hospitality, to participating in a havurah, and much more. Our congregation is so vibrant and has so much to offer because our members recognize that we all have to pitch in. We need all of our hands and hearts and voices. Each and every congregant counts!
L’shalom,
Rabbi Helen

P.S. For those who want to learn more about Counting the Omer, the web link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_of_the_Omer is a good place to start.