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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sefirat Haomer
- The Meaning Sefirat Ha'omer
When human beings count towards an expected event, especially a meaningful and happy event, they always count how many days they have left until the date of that event finally. If this is true, then why do we count as to how many days have elapsed and not how many days that are left until we reach the goal that the holiday of Shavuot represents. We should really count that 40 days are left, or 30 days left, instead of counting that 30 days have passed, or 40 days have passed.
I know that this question did not originate with me, as over the ages of Jewish scholarship, it has been addressed by those far more worthy and knowledgeable. But, it is a matter that I have thought about again just recently, and I am offering an opinion of my own as to why we count from the past and not toward the future.
Our great teacher and the greatest of all prophets, Moshe, stated in one of the Psalms attributed to him by Jewish tradition, that we have been commanded to count our days to bring forth within us a heart of wisdom. He is, obviously, referring to the fact that we must count the days in our lives that have passed. There is no way that human beings can count days that have not yet occurred, as the future remains a mystery. Apparently, then, counting the days that have passed is the key to wisdom and understanding. Counting down towards events of the future is very chancy and uncertain. The past is reality to most of us, while the future is mystery and the unknown.
Our vision of the future is built upon expectations that we have for ourselves. Sometimes these expectations are valid and real, while at other times they are, in fact, pure fantasy. One cannot build knowledge or understanding upon the flimsy platform of unrealized expectations. The past is meant to temper our expectations of the future and create for us a more realistic approach to our lives and to our society. There is no substitute for experience, and there is no greater enemy to human progress then deluded and imaginary expectations that always doom us to disappointment and even tragedy.
Although utopian ideas, programs and governmental behavior have been built upon expectations of fantasy, human nature has not changed from the time of the Garden of Eden until today. People yearn to be free to make their own choices and decisions. They reject the tyranny imposed upon them by those that somehow feel that they know better what is good for you than you do yourself. Only the past can inform us as to the course that we should follow in the future. By ignoring the past, or, even worse, by distorting the facts and occurrences of the past, we doom ourselves to an unpleasant present and an exceedingly difficult future.
We count the days that have gone by and try to assess what we have learned in that period and through those experiences. Only by an accurate assessment of the past can the acceptance of the Torah on Mount Sinai become a reality and a holy mission that can transform a people into the kingdom of priests and a holy nation.
We all are victims of unrealized expectations. No vacation is ever as good as the one that we anticipate, and that is true about most events in our lifetime. We certainly look forward to events as good times, but they must be tempered with the realization of the experiences of past living. So, the counting of the Omer is in reality the best preparation for the holiday that we look forward to celebrating in a few short weeks.
By assessing what we have accomplished, day by day, and week by week, not only since the holiday of Pesach, but, generally, in our lives as well, can we be in a much better position to, once again, renew our acceptance of the Torah and maintain Jewish tradition in our lives. This is a profound lesson, not only for this period, but for all times and circumstances, and a message that should be assimilated within our daily behavior.
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
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.
