The Essence of Sefirat HaOmer

by | Jan 13, 2015

The Sefira (Counting of the Omer) expresses a process that transitions from the (Omer sacrifice) to the Shtei HaLachem(the Two Showbreads).  Its essence can be understood in the context of the debate with the Baytussim (heretic sect of the time of the Second Beit...

Sfirat Ha’Omer

by | Dec 24, 2014

Sefirat HaOmer – Counting Days The commandment to count the omer is one of the more questionable commandments of the Torah. We are told to count the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot. Therefore, it is very much a mitzvah in which the process is in and of itself...

Bar Mitzva During The Omer And Ben Sorer Umoreh

by | Dec 24, 2014

Having established that we conduct ourselves with concern for the Behag’s view by refraining from making a bracha on the Omer count if one missed so much as a day (see Daf Parsha Kedoshim), we now turn our attention to the nebulous question of a minor who...

Can Women Count Sefirat Ha’omer?

by | Dec 24, 2014

In last weeks Parsha we read the Mitzvah of bringing the sacrifice of the Omer on the second day of Pesach and also the Mitzva of Sefira, of counting the days  from that day till Shavuoth. Rambam (Maimonides) holds that these are two separate mitzvoth, in fact, he...

The Blessing over the Counting of the Omer

by | Dec 24, 2014

What happens if one misses a day? It is generally well known, that if one missed an entire day (the night and the subsequent day), the Shulchan Arukh states that one cannot continue to count with a berakhah. This ruling is based on the Ba’al Halakhot Gedolot, who...

Sefirat HaOmer – 5769

by | May 9, 2009

Eliad Avruch Former Shlaiach in Atlanta   For most Jewish communities, Lag BaOmer, which falls on this coming Tuesday, marks the end of the Sefirat HaOmer mourning practices. The Gemara (BT Yevamot 62b) famously explains the reason behind these customs: “R’ Akiva...