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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
As it is written (Leviticus 23, 15-16):
"And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the day of rest, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the waving; seven weeks shall there be complete;
even unto the morrow after the seventh week shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall present a new meal-offering unto the LORD."
Shavuot has no definitive date in the Torah. Only the counting of the Omer enables us to determine the exact time. Why is there no date for Shavuot? The Chizkuni explains that if there was a set date, we may not be so careful with the counting, but rather simply depend on the date of the holiday. Since the actual counting is so important and "great things depend on its counting", the Torah made certain that the counting be observed meticulously.
Why is it so important to count the Omer? The Ramban explains that the purpose of counting is to connect Pesach and Shavuot and to create one continuous holiday over 49 days. Pesach is the first day of Yom Tov, Shavuot is the last day of Yom Tov and the interim days are like Chol Hamoed.
Why is it so important to connect Pesach and Shavuot?
However, the Torah does not explicitly mention this spiritual viewpoint. It mentions only the agricultural aspect. The counting of the Omer is presented as a process that begins with bringing the sheaves of barley on Pesach, and culminates with bringing the two loaves of wheat on Shavuot. In other words, this is a process related to various crops. In addition, there is a progression from barley – animal feed – to wheat suited for human consumption. In any case, this process reflects the material side of counting the Omer and the expression of gratitude – not the transition from the exodus to the giving of the Torah.
This is a statement of great importance. The Torah does not merely discuss the material, agricultural side per se, but rather the crops of Eretz Yisrael in general. In the Land of Israel, there is spiritual meaning even to agriculture and farming. Agriculture in Israel emanates from a wellspring of holiness. It is related in its very essence to the role and place of Am Yisrael. The celebration of the new harvest is a celebration for the entire people (and therefore overrides Shabbat.)
This joyous period, therefore, connects the physical exodus to receiving the Torah on Shavuot. It connects our gratitude for the agriculture Hashem gave us in our Land with the understanding that the agriculture in our Land emanates from a wellspring of holiness. It symbolizes our transition from an aggregate of individuals to the building of a nation – a status which endows us with the privilege of receiving the Torah.
Counting the Omer is not simply an external act. We also progress each day through the process we have described. B’ezrat Hashem, may we merit to move forward through these days of counting, in particular, and during the course of the year, in general – stage after stage. May we merit to build our spiritual world, our world of positive "midot" (traits), and the world of Torah and Halacha.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
Chukat "HOW ENTEBBE STOLE THE BICENTENNIAL
The Difference Between Historic & Eternal"
As we approach America's 250th birthday, it's worth remembering her 200th Bicentennial birthday, on Jul. 4th 1976, when Israel "stole the show" by shocking the world & miraculously saving 101 hostages in a foreign continent. As Pres. As Pres. Trump decides which countries get priority in his new Middle-East, it's worth reminding him of the difference between historic events and eternally historic ones. This obviously connects with this week's parsha, as well!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
