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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
We're all familiar with the annual "count-up" that takes us to Shavuot, but some pesky questions surround the whole ritual.
The Torah specifies, "U's'fartem lachem - and YOU shall count," thus mandating that every individual counts for him/her self, even when another person - usually the Rabbi or Chazan - counts publicly in our presence. This is an exception to the general rule - based on the dictum, "Kal Yisrael arevim zeh lazeh, all Jews are responsible for one another" - that one person can be yotze, can exempt all others who have an obligation in that same Mitzva (Kiddush being the most well-known example of that).
And so, we all count the Omer each day between Pesach and Shavuot. Ok, fine and good. But why do we say a separate bracha each day?! If it is a complete set, then why not say one bracha at the beginning that covers the entire count? And if you will say that there is clearly a "hefsek," an interruption of a full day between counts, which therefore necessitates counting anew each day, then I will ask you a question. Why is it that if a person misses one day of counting, he cannot continue to count with a bracha?! If every day is its own, self-contained Mitzva, then why is he stopped from saying a bracha when he forgets? Let him begin again the next day!
In other words, is the Omer an individual act, or is it a collective one?
The answer, you may have guessed, is Yes - it's both! While the Mitzva to count is indeed incumbent upon the individual to perform on a daily basis, to merit the brachot it must encompass the entire count, because the Torah specifically requires, "Sheva Shabbatot t'mimot - seven FULL weeks," with no gaps or interruptions whatsoever.
And here we see the amazing connection to our present-day situation. On the one hand, we are very much on our own, separate and distanced from the world at large. Within our homes - even, for many of us, apart from our children and grandchildren - we are secluded; our world has shrunk down to the bare minimum. Yet on the other hand, virtually everyone else on the planet is in the exact same situation as we are! In that sense, we are not alone at all; we are just one piece of a gigantic collective undergoing the same challenge and praying for the same outcome.
And so, each and every one of us - several billion when you put us all together - are counting the days, literally, when we can emerge from isolation and bring a "Mincha Chadasha La'Hashem," a new and invigorated dedication to Hashem, who will bless us with health, life and Shalom.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
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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.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
