B"H

Friday, Iyar 12, 5776 / May 20, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

This Shabbat, in the Diaspora, we will read Parshat Emor. Israel is one Parsha ahead of us. They will read Parshat B’Har.

In Parshat Emor the Torah gives us a description of all the Biblical holidays of the entire year.

The Parsha says, “G-d spoke to Moshe saying, Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: The appointed seasons of G-d (holidays), which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations. These are My appointed holidays…”

The Torah goes on to mention all of the holidays and their dates. Beginning with Shabbat, then Pesach (Passover); The counting of the Omer; the holiday of Shavuot, when we received the Torah on Mount Sinai; Rosh Hashana; Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

The Torah says, "And you shall count unto you... seven weeks complete they shall be.”

The counting of the Omer is a mitzvah which we perform every day from Pesach until Shavuot. Each night, at the conclusion of the evening service, we count the Omer – stating the number of the Omer for that night. The night after we finish counting forty nine, we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot.

This year we will celebrate Shavuot Saturday night, June 11.

Q.What is the significance of the “Sefirah” – the counting of the Omer?

A.When G-d sent Moshe to liberate the Jewish people from Egypt, He told them that the purpose of their freedom was to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. They counted the days in anticipation of the receiving the Torah. We count the Omer daily to remind us that the purpose and realization of true freedom, which we attained at Passover, is through the study of Torah and adherence to G-d's commandments, which elevates us to being a holy people.

The "counting of the Omer" connects the holidays of Pesach, when we gained our physical freedom and Shavuot when we received the Torah and achieved spiritual freedom.

The word "Sefirah" which means "to count" can also be understood as "to illuminate".  Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) teaches us to illuminate each day of our lives, with Torah and mitzvot. It teaches us that one should not be content with yesterday's achievements. Rather, each day we should bring additional spiritual light into our lives. 

The Torah tells us: "You shall count unto you" - consider that you are counting something which belongs to you - for your benefit.  The lesson of Sefirat HaOmer is that, we should make each day count.

SHABBAT  SHALOM

Montrealcandle lighting time: 8:06 / Shabbat ends: 9:20