Our praise to You, Adonai, who hallows us with the mitzvot, commanding us to count the Omer. Friday, April 17 is nine days, which is one week and two days of the Omer.
Counting the Omer commemorates the 50 days the Israelites traveled in the wilderness from Egypt to Sinai and recalls the first offerings at the Temple. The counting begins on the second day of Passover. We know our counting will conclude with the festival of Shavuot, celebrating the giving of the Ten Commandments. When the Israelites left Egypt they didn't know exactly when they would reach their destination, but at least they knew they were getting close when Mt. Sinai came into view.
In these days of stay-in-place, it is not just the Omer that we are counting. We count how many meals we’ve made, how many zoom meetings logged in on or how many tv shows we’ve binge watched. Most of all, we find ourselves counting how many more days will pass before life can return to our own normal. Today we have no such landmark. Currently, for our health and wellbeing, there is no certain day for our counting to have a specific end.
Shabbat is a twenty-four hour period when we let go of our worries and we focus on our blessings. As Shabbat begins count the many blessings that abound in your life.
Count the people that care about you and think of all those who count on you. Number the mitzvot you have fulfilled while you have stayed-at-home. In the coming week, tally all the good deeds and commandments you might complete to make a difference.
And please remember that Jewish wisdom urges us - not count our days, but make every day count. We should strive to live each day in a way that brings blessing upon ourselves, our loved ones and our world. Step by step, day by day, blessing by blessing, we will make it to a new day, and soon be anew together!
May God bless you and keep you. May you be blessed with a week of peace.
