Rabbi Ackerman's Blog
04/09/2010 ספירת העומר Omer Counting
The seven weeks between Pesah and Shavuot feature a daily accounting known as Sefirat ha'Omer. Originally a practice of anxious farmers worried about the success of their crops, the custom of counting evolved, courtesy of the Kabbalistic tradition, into a spiritual exercise that assigns to each week an attribute of our and God's soul. For the mystics, the word sefirah - counting - hinted at the concept of sefirot - emanations/manifestions of the divine essence. Between Pesah and Shavuot the seven lower sefirot reveal themselves one at a time, and consequently, each week, we face the task of looking inward to engage that part of our being.
The sefirah for week one was Hesed, which describes lovingkindness and a sense of benevolence. Each day of that first week, and of the subsequent six weeks, takes on a different aspect of the larger Sefirah. As a result, the kabbalistic scheme assigns a distinct pair of divine attributes to each of the 49 days of counting. This second week takes up the attribute of Gevurah which bespeaks discipline, strength and awe, and on this Shabbat - day 11 of the Omer - Gevurah is paired with Netzach, an aspect colored by durability, desire and ambition. Becoming strong and staying strong thus serves as the spiritual exercise for this Shabbat. Please be careful as you explore your inner strength during this Shabbat and in the days that follow!
In the coming weeks, I'll share more thoughts and reflections about Sefirat ha'Omer and its history and traditions. Hopefully, we can all use this time to encounter our own souls in serious and spiritually meaningful ways.
Shabbat Shalom.
Previous Posts
08/02/2010 - Palestine in 1912 (Most Recent)04/09/2010 ספירת העומר Omer Counting (Current display)
03/27/2010 - Time Out From Pesah Cleaning Reading
01/23/2010 - Shavua Tov - A Prayer for Haiti
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11/24/2009 - Parashat Vayetze & Thanksgiving
10/18/2009 - 30 Tishrei 5770 - Rosh Hodesh Heshvan
10/13/2009 - Rabbi Mordecai Waxman, a Tribute
09/28/2009 - Yom Kippur Sermon 5770
09/27/2009 - Kol Nidre Sermon 5770
09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah 2nd Day Sermon 5770
09/21/2009 - Rosh Hashanah First Day Sermon 5770
09/17/2009 - L`shana Tova Tikateivu v`Teihateimu
08/21/2009 - Rosh Hodesh Elul
08/18/2009 - The Torah of Trees
08/14/2009 - Parashat Re`eh
08/05/2009 - Tu B`Av [The 15th of Av]
07/24/2009 - Shabbat Devarim-Hazon
07/17/2009 - Parashat Matot-Masei
07/10/2009 - Parashat Pinchas