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We are in the period between the second Passover Seder and Shavuot called Sefirat Ha-Omer, the counting of the Omer. What are we counting, and what is an Omer? An Omer is a dry measure of grain, equivalent in today’s world to 10 dry cups, which is 2 ½ quarts. What is missing during this period is its historical roots. Our three Biblical festivals have ancient, agricultural origins that pre-date Judaism. Passover was the beginning of the barley harvest in the ancient land of Israel. With the beginnings of Judaism, this ancient festival took on Jewish themes, with gratitude to God being primary. Biblical law (Leviticus 23:9-11) forbade the use of the barley harvest until an Omer was brought as a sacrifice. Thus, an Omer of barley was brought every day to the High Priest as an offering of gratitude for the barley harvest. The text in Leviticus went on to say that beginning with that first day, we should count 50 fifty days. This evolved into what we now call Sefirat Ha-Omer. 

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge that simultaneously there is a more tragic counting that continues to take place. As of the writing of this blog, it is 577 days that 59 hostages remain captive in Gaza. Certainly, this is a counting that none of us would ever want to do, but we must do, so that the families of these hostages know that we care, and that the world knows that we care. I certainly wish that there was a tenable solution long ago and am grateful that some of the hostages have been released. Israel will never capitulate to Hamas’ demands to cease all military activity and withdraw from Gaza as a pretext to release them, for releasing them removes their only bargaining chips. It saddens me that this is how 59 hostages are viewed. I continue to pray for Divine guidance upon Israel’s leaders, and Divine mercy embrace their captors, to end this madness.

During Sefirat Ha-Omer, is it customary, especially between Mincha and Maariv on Shabbat afternoon, to study Pirkei Avot, literally “the chapters of the Sages” – pithy observations by the Rabbis of the first Century about life. What is remarkable about these statements is that they are as true today as they were 2,000 years ago. In Chapter 1, Mishnah 2, we read the following: Shimon HaTzadik was one of the last members of the Great Assembly. This was a favorite teaching of his: The world rests on three things – on Torah, on service to God (Avodah), and on deeds of love (Gemilut Hasadim). Imagine for a moment one of the massive globes of our planet in the public library that sits inside a frame that has three legs. If any of the legs is damaged or imbalanced, the globe will fall out and shatter. The lack of sufficient people adhering to God’s teachings (Torah) makes the world vulnerable. When we don’t pray to God and create an ongoing relationship with the Holy One, the globe is in trouble. When there is a palpable lack of deeds of love, the entire planet is in danger. I would submit that each of these three legs is unstable, creating an unstable planet for all of us. Our mission is to restore the balance missing. What a simple yet profound statement.

Many people have asked me about whether the Cantors Assembly will be livestreaming any of the concerts during the convention May 18-22 in NJ, and the answer is YES! There will be a rousing concert of Broadway greats on Monday evening, a moving generations concert featuring our newest members paired with longer term members on Tuesday evening, and then my installation as president of the Cantors Assembly followed by a choral concert of great Jewish choral music with all the Cantors as one huge chorus! For those of you who live anywhere in the Philadelphia-Jersey Shore corridor, you can purchase tickets to join us in person. For those in the Tree of Life Congregation and beyond who are unable to join me in person, you can purchase a livestreaming ticket. Just click on this link below and follow the instructions to select the concert(s) of your choosing. Please note that Monday evening’s concert will NOT be livestreamed. Thank you for your support of the Cantors Assembly.

https://www.cantors.org/convention25-concert-tickets/