Sefirat Ha’omer: From mourning to dancing | Commentary
The 50 days between Passover and Shavuot are commonly known as Sefirat Ha’omer (Leviticus 23:15, 16). From a biblical perspective, these days relate to the barley offering brought on the second day of Passover and the wheat offering brought on the festival of Shavuot. These are days of hope that the produce from the ground grow fruitfully and plentifully.
Not coincidentally, the Hebrew for 50 is chamishim, which recalls the word chamsin, the hot, often destructive wind prevalent during that time of year. We pray that it not harm the successful reaping of the crop.
In addition, this period of time relates to the counting of time from Passover, the holiday marking our physical exodus from Egypt, to Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah. For this reason, we count up and not down from Pesach to Shavuot, spiritually reaching higher and higher as we approach that moment in history when the Torah was given.
It is fitting that we count up to forty-nine. This is because the number seven in Judaism symbolizes completion, wholeness, and spirituality – the number of Shabbat. Forty-nine is seven sets of seven; therefore the omer period is the ultimate completion of the completion, the holiest of the holiest.
As Jewish history progressed, though, these joyous days became sad ones. Between Passover and Shavuot, the students of Rabbi Akiva died. According to tradition, this occurred because these learned men were involved in endless dispute (Yevamot 62b).
Too often, Torah scholars become so engrossed in their understanding of Torah that they begin to believe that their approach is the only correct one. They often cannot see the truth in any other opinion. It would be beneficial for all of us to remember that different views are recorded in the Talmud to teach that, while one should continue to focus and deepen one’s view of Torah, doing so should not lead to tunnel vision. People with different outlooks should listen to one another.
And so, the days of the omer, which were originally joyous, became days of mourning. In fact, the Aruch Hashulchan notes that the most intense attacks against the Jewish People during the Crusades occurred during Sefirat Ha’omer (Orach Chayim 493:1). Indeed, Dr. Yaffa Eliach implored children of survivors to be especially kind to their parents between Pesach and Shavuot, as the Nazis – aware of the importance of these holidays to Jews – were particularly brutal during this time of year.
Today, we see a slow reversal, as Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) and Yom Yerushalayim (commemorating the liberation of Jerusalem) are joyously celebrated during Sefirat Ha’omer. May the day soon come when God wipes away tears from all faces (Isaiah 25:8), and all days of “mourning turn into dancing” (Psalms 30:12).
Candle lighting:
Emor parsha
May 17th at 7:43 p.m.