Rabbi Howard Morrison

On the second night of Pesach, we began to enumerate the seven weeks of the Omer, connecting the festivals of Pesach and Shavuot. In Biblical literature, the agricultural harvest and the ripening of the first fruits united the seven-week season. In rabbinic literature, our Sages determined that Pesach and Shavuot were connected by the spiritual themes of physical freedom and spiritual purpose in the giving of the Torah. In both approaches, the counting of forty-nine days was joyful and anticipatory.

In the aftermath of the second Temple period, our ancestors sought to reestablish Jewish sovereignty in Jerusalem. Tragically, the Bar-Kochba revolt resulted in massacre and horror for the Jewish people. Much of the devastation took place during the Omer period. Thus, for all or part of the seven weeks, many Jews refrain from haircuts, weddings, and live music.

Recently, new developments took place during this season during the twentieth century. Yom Ha'Shoah occurs a few days after Pesach. A week later, next Wednesday and Thursday, we commemorate Yom Ha'Zikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut. With Israel's remembrance and independence days in mind, we are grateful for the hostages returned, even as we continue to be anxious and pray for the remaining ones held in captivity. It is as if we ride a spiritual roller coaster of ups and downs during the Omer period. Ultimately, however, the entire spring season of counting will culminate with Shavuot, a festival of joy and celebration.

May we commemorate the days of sadness and remembrance even as we celebrate ancient and modern occasions for rejoicing.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Howard Morrison