Rabbi Howard Morrison

I am writing my last blog from Israel before returning to Toronto.

Fifty-one years ago, I celebrated my Bar Mitzvah at the Kotel on Shabbat Bhar, the same Parsha this past weekend.

Parshat Bhar begins with a series of countings. First, one counts every seven year cycle, with the seventh year being a sabbatical for the land. Then, one counts a series of seven cycles of years, with the fiftieth year being a jubilee year.

Currently, we are counting the seven weeks of the Omer, uniting Pesach with Shavuot. Sunday was Lag B'Omer, the thirty-third day of the Omer, a day of semi-rejoicing.

It is ironic that the counting of the Omer has been parallel to the days of the war since the horrors of October 7. For example, the 33rd day of the Omer mirrored the 233rd day of the war. 

Each day, as we count the Omer, we pray that the hostages are returned, and the war come to an end.

May our aspirations come true before the end of the Omer counting cycle.

Rabbi Howard Morrison