When something great approaches, like the start of summer holidays or the return of a loved one, we usually count down the days left. During the 49 days between the second night of Passover (which fell on April 15, 2014) and Shavuot (which begins Tuesday evening June 3), we count up.
You may have heard of Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrating our liberation from slavery thousands of years ago as if it were yesterday. Shavuot (which means “weeks” in Hebrew) is a celebration seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot celebrates receiving the Torah (sacred teachings) on Mount Sinai, the deepest reason for leaving slavery behind.
Every day while “Counting the Omer” between these two awesome events offers an opportunity for improvement. Each day, b’ezrat Hashem (with the help of The Name) we can experience more grace.
Saturday May 17, for example, was a day to explore the qualities of eternity within beauty or gratitude. In Hebrew, that’s Netzach ShebeHod. Netzach and Hod are two of seven sephirot, spiritual qualities or soul traits, expressed in the seven days of the week as well as within our bodies.
Netzach (eternity or endurance) exists within our right leg and is represented by our ancestors, Moses and Miriam, known for their enduring leadership. Hod (beauty, gratitude or humility) exists within our left leg and is personified by Moses’ and Miriam’s brother, Aaron, who beautified the world by pursuing peace with humility and Abigail who made peace between her husband and King David.
Such a day (or any day) can be an opportunity to see everything and everyone with a good eye, an “ayin tov” in Hebrew. No matter what life presents you with, try to see the good, especially in the behaviour of those closest to you. Sometimes that’s as easy as counting one two three. Sometimes more effort is involved when a loved one does something we don’t perceive as so loving.
Sunday May 18 was a particularly joyous day called Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer that marks the end of a nasty plague that ravaged the students of a great teacher in Jerusalem named Rabbi Akiva. Akiva’s students were dying, according to the 2000 year old legend, because they did not respect each other enough. Each one thought their way of interpreting Torah was the correct way, leaving no room for diversity of opinion or practice.
Lag B’Omer also marks the Yortzheit (anniversary of the death) of one of Akiva’s top students, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Bar Yochai was the author of a profound mystical text known as the Zohar, which revealed to the world the hidden secrets of the Torah, known as Kabbalah (which means “to receive” in Hebrew). This is a good day to find the hidden good or light in others as well as ourselves.
Children, for example, offer a wonderful opportunity for practice. At 21 and 24, ours come and go as their lives unfold. I miss them when they’re gone at the same time that I am thrilled with their successes and passions, which range from river kayaking and organic farming to mastering Mandarin and law. When they return home, it’s a time for celebration. That is until their unkempt rooms and other habits call on me to see the greater good and not get mired in the details.
Each day becomes another precious step on the holy road to Tikkun haMiddot (Repair of our Soul Traits) which goes hand in hand with Tikkun haOlam (Repair of the World) as we prepare to receive the greatest wisdom, b’ezrat Hashem.
Shoshana Litman is Canada's first ordained Maggidah (a female Jewish storyteller), an administrator for the Mussar Institute of Vancouver B.C., and a tour guide for Congregation Emanu-El, Canada’s oldest synagogue in Victoria, B.C.
You can read more articles from our interfaith blog, Spiritually Speaking HERE
