Shavuot is also called the “Feast of First Fruits,” referring to the Temple offering. Since Passover and Shavuot were both pilgrimage holidays, meaning that all the males of Israel were required to present themselves with their offering at the Temple, this period would have also been a festive (and crowded!) time in Jerusalem! The Omer period therefore connected not only between two major holidays but also between two major offerings to God at the Temple.
#Counting of omer meaning full#
21 On that same day you are to proclaim a sacred assembly and do no regular work. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.Īccording to Leviticus, the Counting of the Omer occurred during the harvest season, a period full of hope, expectation, and probably anxiety for healthy, plentiful crops which could be offered at the Temple. They are a sacred offering to the Lord for the priest. 20 The priest is to wave the two lambs before the Lord as a wave offering, together with the bread of the first fruits. 19 Then sacrifice one male goat for a sin offering and two lambs, each a year old, for a fellowship offering. They will be a burnt offering to the Lord, together with their grain offerings and drink offerings-a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 18 Present with this bread seven male lambs, each a year old and without defect, one young bull and two rams. 17 From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of first fruits to the Lord. 16 Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. God commands Israel to count the Omer in Leviticus 23, saying:ġ5 “‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. (Aish.The Counting of the Omer, or Sfirat haOmer in Hebrew, is a 49-day period which begins on the second night of the festival of Passover, celebrated beginning on the 14 th of Nissan, and culminates with the harvest festival of Shavuot, the 50 th day, celebrated on the 6 th of Sivan. Traditionally, each week of counting is dedicated to a spiritual quality that we aspire to attain in greater measure of excellence.
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The tone of the Counting of the Omer is customarily not joyous, but one of somber introspection. “Today is 9 days, which is one week and two days of the Omer.”Īlthough Jews no longer bring their Omer offering to the Temple, the Counting of the Omer is still observed as a time to reflect on one’s character before Shavuot, which in Jewish tradition is regarded as the time of the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. “Blessed are You, Lord our God, Ruler of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning counting the Omer.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrates Shavuot with Israeli children. Before counting, a special blessing is recited: Today, these 49 days are counted aloud every evening after sundown. Similarly, we are to be counting the days in blessed anticipation until Yeshua (Jesus) returns and establishes His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and justice on this earth. This counting links Passover, which commemorates the Exodus, with Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Law.Īccording to Jewish tradition, the Israelites were told when they left Egypt that they would receive the Torah in seven weeks.Įach day was counted with eager expectation.Ĭounting the Omer today reminds the Jewish People that their redemption from slavery in Egypt was not complete until they received the Torah. Therefore, the counting of the Omer for seven weeks of seven days (49 days) represents the expectation of completion and the age of a universal “rest,” which will occur at the coming of Messiah and the Messianic age. Carrying the Torah scroll, which is protected by an ornate silver case, at the Western (Wailing) Wall.
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