Sefirat HaOmer 162 articles

Say to the… It isn’t easy saying it. Especially when it’s real. We met at one of those crossroads; you know, one of those that are more cross and less road....

For most of my adult life I remember that early sightings of Christmas decorations near my suburban NJ home were a sign that Thanksgiving was coming. In my childhood, the opposite...

Sefiras Ha’omer, Lag Ba’Omer and The Power of Achdut: Why is the korban named after the amount which is brought? What is the connection between the Omer and Rabbi Akiva’s 24,000...

A sect, known as the Tzedukim, after one of its founders, Tzadok, believed in the absolutely literal interpretation of the Torah. Therefore, they said that when the Torah says “on the...

What the Torah Says: The Torah says, in the context of introducing the commandment of “Sefirat HaOmer,” the following: (Vayikra 23:9-14) “And G-d gave this instruction to Moshe, to communicate: Speak...

Two great giants of Jewish History are involved in the observance of the Days of Sefirat HaOmer; they are Rabbi Akiva and his student, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Rabbi Akiva is...

How does one express mourning during the Period of Sefirat HaOmer? There are a number of ways; let me count them: By not taking a haircut By not getting married (but...

Where does the name come from? The Day is given its name by its count in Sefirat HaOmer, which is thirty-three. How so? – You ask. Like so: The numerical equivalent...

First of all, what do you mean by emotions one is “supposed to feel?” Doesn’t a person just feel one way or another? How can one be commanded to control one’s...

The following is a transliterated version of “Sefirat HaOmer,” from the Alef-Bet into the English Alphabet. (Note the variation indicated by “ba-omer (or la-omer)” which refers to the two traditional texts...