Specifically, since Rabbi Akiva's students showed a lack of proper respect, during the Omer period we try to look for the best way to treat our family, friends and acquaintances, so that we may make a "tikkun" (spiritual correction) on the mistakes of the past. Each day during the Omer, we focus on a different aspect of the Sefirot, with the hopes of attaining spiritual improvement in that specific area. (see: Kabbalah 101) Each of the seven weeks is associated with one of seven Sefirot, and each day within each of the seven weeks is associated also with one of the same seven Sefirot – thus creating 49 permutations. no haircuts or shaving, unless for business purposesĮach day of the Omer is related to a different level of the kabbalistic "Sefirot," the emanations through which God interacts with the world.not listening to instrumental music, either live or recorded (vocal music is permitted).Therefore, for the 33 days from Passover until Lag B'Omer, we observe these signs of mourning: The Talmud tells us that Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students who tragically died during the Omer period, because they did not treat each other with sufficient respect. Thus according to many authorities, if one missed counting any day, the 7-week period can no longer be considered 'complete'. The reason is because regarding the Omer, the Torah writes: "Seven weeks, they shall be complete" (Leviticus 23:15). Why can't you "continue counting with a blessing" if you miss counting one day? This means to say that if a person neglected to count the Omer for an entire day and did not recall until the following evening, he should continue counting on subsequent days – but without a blessing. you have not missed counting any of the days so far.you count the Omer during the evening, and.The Omer may be counted with a blessing only if both of the following conditions have been met: (Since you must recite the blessing before you count, don't mention the count for that night beforehand.)īefore counting, stand and say the following blessing:īaruch ata Adonoy, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher kid'shanu be'mitzvo'sav ve-tzivanu al sefiras ha'omer.īlessed are You, God, King of the Universe, Who made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us on the counting of the Omer. "Today is 33 days, which is 4 weeks and 5 days of the Omer." "Today is 21 days, which is 3 weeks of the Omer." 7, 14, 21 – we say as follows, for example: On days 1-6, we say only the number of days. To properly 'count the Omer,' you must say both the number of days and the weeks. 30 minutes after sunset), which is the start of the Jewish 'day.' (In the synagogue it is counted toward the end of the Maariv service.) If a person neglected to count the Omer one evening, he should count the following daytime, but without a blessing. The Omer is counted every evening after nightfall (approx. Thus we were commanded to count from the second day of Pesach until the day that the Torah was given – to show how greatly we desire the Torah. The commentators say that we were freed from Egypt only in order to receive the Torah and to fulfill it. Shavuot is the day that the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, and as such required a seven-week preparation period. This is an important period of growth and introspection, in preparation for the holiday of Shavuot which arrives 50 days later. Starting on the second day of Passover, the Torah (Leviticus 23:15) says it is a mitzvah every day to "count the Omer" – the 50 days leading up to Shavuot. This was called the "Omer" (literally, "sheaf") and in practical terms would permit the consumption of recently-harvested grains. In the days of the Holy Temple, the Jewish people would bring a barley offering on the second day of Passover (Leviticus 23:10). » Click here for the complete Omer section «
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