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During the period of the Omer, i.e between Pesach and Shavuot, we read and study every Shabbat one chapter of the Pirke Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers. What are the Ethics of our Fathers? It is a tractate of the Mishna (the first compilation of the oral law, authored by Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi (approx. 200 C.E.)).

Usually, the Mishnayot deal with the laws of the Torah, i.e the laws of Shabbat, of Kosher etc. But Pirke Avot is different. It does not deal with commandments of G-d, but with our personal spiritual growth, how to behave righteously. According to the Talmud, someone who wants to do more than it strictly required by law, (in the words of the Talmud, to be a Chasid), should follow the teachings of the Pirke Avot.

Let us take an example from Chapter 3, which we will read this Shabbat afternoon after the prayer of Mincha, Mishna 10:

“[Rabbi Chanina Ben Dosa] would also say: One whose deeds exceed his wisdom, his wisdom endures. But one whose wisdom exceeds his deeds, his wisdom does not endure.”

The study of Torah must be translated in good deeds. Someone who is concerned only with the study, all his knowledge and all his wisdom will not endure the trials of life.

Why do we study the Pirke Avot during this period? As we explained before, Sefirat Haomer is the period when we prepare for the Receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. Part of this preparation is the study of the Pirke Avot, to be reminded but also to learn how to be better.

Shabbat Shalom,

Arie from the Yeshiva

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The month of Iyar is a very particular month. It is the only month of the Jewish calendar where every single day has a special Mitzvah, the Counting of the Omer. As explained here, the Counting of the Omer is a preparation for the Receiving of the Torah.

The month is Iyar is special because through the Counting of the Omer, we understand and recognize the importance of our work, the significance of our own actions in this world.

After the month of Nissan, where the emphasis is on the fact that G-d took us out of Egypt, not necessarily because we were worthy of it, but because He chose us as His people, comes the month of Iyar, where the emphasis is on our own work of counting the Omer, of preparing ourselves to receive the Torah. G-d gives us the Torah because we are “worthy” of it, because we prepare ourselves and refine ourselves for receiving it.

But even the power to work on our own comes from G-d. This is why the month of Iyar is preceded by the month of Nissan, where G-d gives us the strength and the freedom necessary for us to advance in our spiritual journey and prepare ourselves and the world for receiving the Torah.  

Shabbat Shalom,

Arie from the Yeshiva

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During the period of Sefirat Haomer, we observe several practices of mourning, such as not getting a haircut, not getting married, refrain from several leisure activities etc.

Why? Because about 2000 years ago during this time of the year, there was a great epidemic in Israel. The 24,000 students of the famous Sage Rabbi Akiva died, and there was almost no Torah scholar left.

After this tragic event, Rabbi Akiva succeeded in finding 5 students and these were the ones who transmitted the knowledge of the Torah to the next generation.

The epidemic lasted from Pesach to the 33rd day of the Omer, where it stopped. But those who had already fallen ill continued to die until Shavuot. This is why on the 33rd day of the Omer, we do not mourn but on the contrary, we celebrate, because the epidemic stopped. But we continue the next day to observe the mourning practices until Shavuot

Shabbat Shalom,

Arie from the Yeshiva

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There is a Mitzvah to count the days and weeks from Pesach until Shavuot, and to celebrate Shavuot on the 50th day. This count establishes the date of the holiday of Shavuot.

The count starts on the eve of the second day of Pesach. We count on the eve of each day. For instance, tomorrow (Friday 2/04/21) will be the 5th day of the Omer, and we will count tonight (Thursday 1/04/21) 5 days. The counting is accompanied by a blessing.

If someone forgets to count in the evening, he can count during the entire next day until nightfall, though without making a blessing. On the next days, he continues to recite the blessing as ususal. Yet if someone forgets to count even during the next day, from the next evening and on, he can (and should) fulfill the Mitzvah of counting, but without the blessing.

This count is called the (Sfirat Haomer). What is the Omer? It is a sacrifice that was offered on the day after the First Day of Pesach. During the times of the Temple, the Offering of the Omer marked the beginning of the count to Shavuot.

One of explanations given by our Sages for this count is the following: When the Jews left from Egypt, they knew that they are about to receive the Torah and their enthusiasm led them to count the days until it arrived. On Shavuot we celebrate the Giving of the Torah. The counting reminds us that we are about to receive the Torah once again on the upcoming Shavuot and that we need to prepare for it.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,

Arie from the Yeshiva

The blessing is (when we say the blessing, we need to know which day we are about to count): 

Baruch Ata Ado-na: Elo-henu Melech haolam asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al sefirat aomer.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

We count the days:

Tonight (Thursday 1/04/21) after nightfall we  say: Hayom chamishayamim laomer.

Today is (we mention here the number of days and when applicable the number of weeks) of the [count of the] Omer

After counting we say:

Harachaman hu yachazir lanu avodat bet hamikdash limkoma bim'hera veyamenu Amen Sela.

May the Merciful One restore unto us the service of the Bet Hamikdash to its place, speedily in our days; Amen, Selah

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The Seder is a beautiful evening where we celebrate our Exodus from Egypt (which happened 3332 years ago in the physical sense but continues to happen every day in the spiritual sense).

What are the minimum requirements for the Seder night?

1.       We should eat (each one of us) Matzah, at least 27 gr (which is about half a round Matzah), leaning to the left.

2.       We should eat (each one of us) Maror, bitter herbs, at least 27 gr (which is about one leaf of lettuce).

3.       We should drink (each one of us) 4 cups (at least 86 ml) of wine, leaning to the left. The first for Kiddush, the second after recounting the story of the Exodus and before the meal, the third one after Birkat Hamazon (the Grace after the Meal) and the fourth one after the last hymns to G-d.

4.       We should tell the story of the Exodus and understand it. This is why we can say it in our language. The Hagadah helps us tell the story. It is important to understand what we say, because otherwise, it is a reading, not a story. This is why people read the Hagadah in Hebrew, and then in their own language, so that everyone understands it.

5.       We need to celebrate and rejoice on the night of the Seder, and also during the whole week of Pesach. (From Shabbat evening until the Sunday evening of the next week)

Shabbat Shalom and Pesach Kasher Vesameach!

Arie from the Yeshiva