Contradictions to the OMER, Part 2

 Israel's Beauty

Photo: Miriam Woelke

B"H

Just recently I wrote a short kabbalistic point of view on "Counting the Omer – Sefirat HaOmer" and now I would like to point out a contradiction between "Sefirat HaOmer" and the present State of Israel.

On Pessach we have started counting the Omer until Shavuot. On Shavuot, the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai and until then, we are counting the Omer according to a certain way of prayer. Chabad (Lubavitch) published a great counting calendar including the daily kabbalistic Sefirot. 

It was Pessach when the Jews left Egypt and 50 days later, they received the Torah at Mount Sinai. The entire period of 50 days is seen as a spiritual cleansing process of the soul. When the Jews left Egypt, almost all of them only had a slave mentality. Moreover, many of them were influenced by Egyptian culture and mentality. If G – d hadn’t decided to finally take them out, almost all of them had soon or later fallen into Egyptian idol – worship. 

Slavery kills your own free will because you totally depend on your owner. You do what he says and he makes all decisions for you. In the end, you are not even able to manage your own life but always wait for further orders. This is how the Jews left Egypt but G – d wanted them to learn how to make decisions and lead an independent life. 

 The Sefirat HaOmer period is a time of mourning. At least until the 33rd day (Lag Ba’Omer). A day when the plague stopped killing Rabbi Akivah’s students. At the moment, however, we are still in the mourning period and listening to music, men don’t shave and no weddings are taking place. Now the great contradiction comes: A mourning period and no music. However, the State of Israel is going to celebrate its Independence Day in the middle of the Omer period. Tomorrow night. With huge celebrations, parties and the countries greatest celebration is going to take place at Tel Aviv’s Kikar Rabin. In front of the Municipality, tomorrow night at 9pm ! 

How then can Jews celebrate in the middle of the Omer period ? Is this allowed or is there a contradiction ? 

The truth is that many Haredim don’t celebrate Independence Day not only because they are against the present State of Israel but because we are still in a mourning period. National religious Jews, on the other hand, do celebrate Independence Day. However, they do so in a religious way and those of you who are in Jerusalem tomorrow night: There will be a religious Independence Day celebration at the Great Synagogue at King George Street. The Ashkenazi Chief Rabbis is going to speak and the choir will sing. 

 I am not the most enthusiastic Independence Day celebrator and I also have to work on the holiday itself. Nevertheless, I am grateful to G – d that there is a State of Israel where Jews can go to without depending on the nations alone. After all those years in Israel I cannot imagine ever returning to the Diaspora in order to live there.

Forgot to count the OMER ?

B"H 

What happens when I forgot to count the OMER the night before and I suddenly remember the next morning ? Am I allowed to still count ?

Yes, I may still count but without saying the blessing ! I only count the day and weeks.

What happens when I only count the days but leave out the weeks ? When a Jew only counts the days he is still allowed to count with a blessing (Mischna Berurah 489:7).

Kabbalistic approach to the "Counting of the Omer - Sefirat HaOmer", Part 1

 

The Counting of the Omer - Sefirat HaOmer

Quelle: Chabad

B"H

Since last night, Jews all over the world habe been starting the Omer period. Seven weeks from the second day of Pessach until Shavuot. I am sure that there are many Jews out there who don't really understand what is going on and why we still have to count a certain period where new barley was being brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. What does this have to do with me today ? Although the Omer is a biblical commandment, many Jews may see the whole issue as not really important. 

The Jewish Kabbalah, however, presents us plenty of comments on the "Counting of the Omer". The counting has a deep impact on our soul and may lead us to a Tikun (soul rectification). Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (the RAMCHAL) describes deeper insights in the book "Kitzur HaKavanot". Among others that the seven weeks stand for seven Sefirot. Each week a different Sefirah. 

The ten Sefirot are a symbolic system in Kabbalah in order to make us understand G - d's attributes. Not really understand but at least grasp something. Without this kabbalistic symbolism, we wouldn't be able to define G - d's creation of the world. How could we, as our own human understanding is very limited compared to G - d's endless and eternal wisdom ?

The first week of Sefirat HaOmer is, according to the RAMCHAL, the week of Chochmah (Wisdom). Every night while counting, Jews are able to cause a Tikun und thus transfer themselves on a higher Madrega (Level). 

I am anything but a kabbalistic specialist and in order to understand the text of the RAMCHAL, I need to do plenty of further studying. What Kabbalah is basically teaching us in this respect is that, during those seven weeks, we have the power of perfeting ourselves. A spiritual preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. And this is what Jews do on Shavuot: Receiving the Torah anew.

Rabbi Akiva and his students

B"H

A historical version of Rabbi Akiva and the death of his students

http://shearim.blogspot.com/2011/04/rabbi-akivas-students-and-omer.html

Rabbi Akiva's Students and the Omer

B"H

It is customarily to refrain from listening to music during the Omer period. At least not until Lag Ba'Omer (the 33. day of the Omer). Not only music is avoided but also cutting ones hair and weddings.

Lag Ba'Omer was the day when Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai passed away. He was a student of the famous Tanna Rabbi Akiva ben Yosef.

We are always told that the time of the Omer period is a time of mourning and that's why we have to avoid listening to music or celebrating weddings. The Talmud Tractate Yevamot 62b teaches that during this time, 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died in a plague. Our Mefarshim refer to the death of the students as a G - dly punishment because the students spoke Lashon HaRah (idle talk) about each other. Each of them wanted to be the best and most respected person and didn't see the other ones anymore.

Historians, however, make a completely different statement. The students didn't die in a plague but died during the war with the Romans. This version seems to be more realistic and I totally agree with it. Rabbi Akiva falsely saw the Meshiach in Bar Kochba and supported him in the war against the Romans. He even let his students fight for Bar Kochba and many of them fell.

There is no doubt that the time of the Omer is a mourning period but it could be that many people stress the wrong reason.

"Ahavat Israel" during the OMER

B"H

Seriously, I signed up for at least three OMER reminders and nothing helps. Almost every night, I do forget counting the Omer. Usually I do it in the morning without the blessing. I need to admit this with greatest shame.

In a kabbalistic and chassidic sense, the time of the Counting of the Omer is of great significance; let alone all the spirituality floating around. Kabbalah compares the seven weeks of the Omer to seven Sefirot (attributes). Every week stands for a different Sefira.

The Talmud tells us the story of Rabbi Akiva and his students dying in a plague due to their own "Lashon HaRah". It says that 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students died because they spoke bad about each other. This is why the Omer period until Lag Ba'Omer (33 of the Omer) is a mourning period where no weddings take place. Neither is one allowed to shave or cut his / her hair. Furthermore, no music is supposed to be played.

I must say that according to historians, Rabbi Akiva's students died because they were actually fighting against the Romans. Jews were going to war against the Roman enemy. This is a thesis I do support.

"Shaarei HaMoadim" tells us that the time of the Omer counting should be a time of "Ahavat Israel - Loving one's fellow Jew". Us fulfilling the Mitzvah of "Ahavat Israel" is a Tikun for the misbehaviour of Rabbi Akiva's students. We can only make it better.

Not that we don't express "Ahavat Israel" throughout the rest of the year; however, especially during the time of the Omer, we are challenged with adding an extra portion to it.

Don't forget counting the Omer !

The counting of the Omer prepares the Jews for receiving the Torah ! Not, that they received the Torah at Har Sinai thousands of years ago but until today, we receive the Torah every Shavuot anew.