As we observe the world around us and wonder, "Why is our world in such a turmoil? So many are acting out their hatred for others with murder and disregard for human life. Have we lost our way to a better and more humane world? Will we find our way back to civility and humanity and achieve what Hashem tells us is our goal in life, קדושים תהיו כי קדוש אני?"
During this Sefira period, though it is a time to count, it is even more important to use this time as a period for Cheshban Hanefesh.
Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik זצ׳ל perceives an important lesson embedded in the act of Sfirat Ha’omer. The Rav suggests that in a Jewish experience, an individual can perform the act of counting within two realms: the realm of Sfira and the realm of minyan. The root of each of these terms means “to count”.
When you count in the realm of Minyan, the Rav explains, all that matters is the attainment of the ultimate goal, the end point of your counting. Nine upstanding, righteous men can assemble for a prayer service but, without a tenth, there is no minyan.
When you count in the realm of Sfira, however, things are different. Although you still count towards a goal, each individual unit in the calculation becomes a goal, as well. While someone counting precious diamonds, for example, is certainly interested in the total number of diamonds he has, he also pauses and holds each gem up to the rays of the sun, admiring its unique facets, color and shape.
The act of Sfirat Ha’omer teaches us to “count our days in the realm of Sfira” – to see each day as a goal unto itself.
Too often, we live exclusively goal-oriented lives; moving from accomplishment to accomplishment, from milestone to milestone, rarely stopping to appreciate the significance of each passing day. And yet, when all is said and done, the quality of the journey, in large measure, defines our lives – and the ordinary moments spent with family and friends are as significant, if not more significant, than the milestones themselves.
The Rav’s observation may also be mirrored in two versions of the verbal formula for Sfirat Ha’omer which have developed over the years. Some communities recite, “Today is the —-day la’Omer ,literally “to the Omer” ,while others count “ba’Omer ,literally “in the midst of the Omer”. Taken together, these two versions form the balance that should mark our approach to life.
On the one hand, without goals our lives are aimless. We therefore count la’Omer, towards the end point of the Omer count. On the other hand, never losing sight of the journey’s value, we also count Ba'omer, in the midst of the Omer.
May we remember the reason that Rav Akivahs students died and for whom we mourn and to set our goals to achieve a greater sense of Ahavas Chinam to one an other and in doing so we will be able to approach the Yom Tov of Shevous, כאיש אחד בלב אחד.
We, who live in far more sophisticated times might find it instructive to pause to take inventory among our priorities and values.
With an attitude of Achdut we will encourage the ביאת גואל צדק במהרה בימנו.
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