TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

 

It is very interesting that our Torah reading this Shabbat speaks of the counting of the Omer, a mitzvah that we are fulfilling during this period between Pesach and Shavuot.

The Torah states,וספרתם לכם ממחרת השבת...חמשים יום.......

“And you shall count unto you from the morrow after the day of rest, which is the first day of Pesach seven weeks complete, you shall count fifty days….”

There is much to learn from the mitzvah of Sefirat Haomer.  This counting experience lends incredible amount of importance on what we are counting and more so it emphasizes the importance and the value of Time.  Through the performance of Sephira we learn to cherish the Time we have and not squander it on nonsensical activities.

Looking at the word ספירה, translated as counting, can also be defined as “to illuminate”. Thus, when we count Time we are to use this counting experience to illuminate our lives and to begin to see things in a more positive way so that our lives become more enhanced.

This coming week we will be observing two very important days on our Jewish calendar, Yom Hazekaron, and Yom Haatzmaut. Herein, we commemorate two different observances that at times seem to be so antithetical to each other.  However, on closer observation we begin to realize that this is what Judaism is all about. We have our days of pain and anguish, and with our Faith and Bethachon we know that our tomorrows will turn our mourning into joy and jubilation. This is our History and as we move forward we have a Betachon in Hashem that the future will only be one of Simcha and Happiness.

This is our Sephira , it is  a Time of illuminating our days,  realizing the Blessing of having a glorious State of Israel and to cherish this hour as the most glorious one on our  Jewish calendar  and to continue to add more Spiritual light through a greater sense of allegiance to our Jewish State and to Am Yisrael.

As I share this idea with you, I equally reflect on the opening sentence of Pashat Emor where the Torah states:ויאמר ה׳אל משה אמר אל הכהנים בני אהרן ואמרת אליהם

“Hashem said to Moshe, say to the Kohanim the sons of Aaron and tell them “.

Chazal reflects upon the redundancy in the verse of a similar word Emor and V’amarta, to emphasize להזהיר גדולים על הקטנים that the Kohanim were to convey these laws to the younger generation- it thus becomes the responsibility of the adult population to teach the younger generation so that these important laws will be perpetuated.

We must remind our younger generation how our young men and young women gave their lives for the State of Israel and if it were not for their dedication and commitment we would not have our glorious Eretz Yisroel, Eretz Hakidosha.

Things do not come easy and we need to cherish every moment of Glory that happens to the Jewish People and to express our Hodaah to Hashem and to lead us to greater allegiance to our Torah and to our People.