Sefirat Ha’Omer: Weaving Past, Present, and Future

Probably due to the obvious parallel given that I am 49, am turning 50, and am dealing with life challenges, I’ve thought hard about Sefirat Ha’Omer, the 49-day period from Passover to Shavuot. I have – perhaps far too late in life – come to realize that though its name is modest and underwhelming, this vibrant, challenging season holds profound relevance for the Jewish People, connecting our ancient roots to our modern journey.

As a religious teenager in the UK, I found the Omer dreary. It felt marked by restrictions on music, shaving, and celebration, and endless, intricate debates over Israel’s religious significance and its flag. I longed for it to end.

Here in Israel, it’s a vivid, colorful tapestry, reflecting our highs and lows—ancient and modern, religious and secular. It’s a journey through time, linking past, present, and future.

Pesach: The Journey Begins

Passover sets the stage. It’s a whirlwind of cleaning (or escaping to avoid it) at great expense, eating matzah, and braving crowds for picnics/BBQs or usually unnecessary trips to IKEA. The Seder, with its unique storytelling, unites Jews of all stripes, reminding us our ancient story remains vital, shaping our future. For an outsider’s humorous take, check Sebastian Maniscalco’s first Seder clip.

Pesach ends with celebrating the Red Sea crossing, launching us into the Omer’s 49-day count, which I once found so tough.

The Omer: Interwoven Themes

The Omer is not one-dimensional. It weaves multiple themes, spanning our ancient Exodus, historical milestones, and modern realities.

• It traces our biblical journey from Egypt to Sinai, reliving the shift from physical freedom to spiritual covenant with G-d at Shavuot.
• It honors our agrarian roots, counting the barley harvest and celebrating the “Foot Festivals,” a reminder of nature’s miracles and our economic ties to the land.
• Since Roman times, it mourns Rabbi Akiva’s students, whose disputes sparked a plague, lifted by Lag Ba’Omer’s vibrant celebration, especially at Meron, explaining bans on music and weddings.
• Modern additions include Yom HaShoah, honoring Holocaust victims; Yom HaZikaron, grieving those lost defending Israel, deepened since October 7; Yom Ha’atzmaut, celebrating the Jewish State’s rebirth and ongoing survival and strength; and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), where the Eternal City was liberated (and I turn 50). These days show our generation vividly lives the Jewish journey, perhaps like few others since our forebears left Egypt and the fact there are still hostages shows how live it is. May they be returned to us immediately.

The Peak: Shavuot

Shavuot culminates the journey, where we embrace our spiritual covenant with G-d. This bond, rooted in the Torah and Ten Commandments, has sustained us for over 3,000 years, outlasting empires much bigger and stronger than us. It also marks the profound impact the Jewish faith has had on the world through the Abrahamic covenant.

Israel, and Beyond

This cycle, paired with Rosh Hashanah to Simchat Torah, is unique. In Israel, its pulse is strongest—blending our collective experience spanning Egypt, Roman Judea, our exile, the Holocaust, and modern Israel. From priestly blessings at the Western Wall to Lag Ba’Omer’s fervor at Meron (sometimes marred by tragedy), to intense and emotional memorial days recently made much more vivid, and the unparalleled joy of Independence Day. Where else does a nation halt highways for silent tribute three times in a week?

This is reflected in the Omer’s nightly count, unbroken to bless, which mirrors our unbroken chain, counting upward to build from past to future.

Israel feels these highs and lows acutely, exposing our cultural, religious, and political fault lines. Yet, since October 7, this resonance has grown global, with renewed spirit in Diaspora communities. In Israel, this has seen Jews and non-Jews alike sharing pain and heroism on the battlefield.

Unity’s Challenge

Like the Exodus or Rabbi Akiva’s time, unity eludes us. Sadly, some distance themselves from Israel’s modern project—its celebration or defense—posing a profound challenge, which requires sensitive approaches. Change is complex and painful, but urgently needed. I pray it unfolds respectfully, unlike history’s harsher shifts.

Unity is a broader issue on many fronts, and we need to find paths to reconciliation and collaboration, which will be the test of future leadership. The Seder’s four sons coexist, as did Sinai’s 12 tribes. We can too. But achieving this requires building bridges with mutual respect. As I wrote in a previous article, it is more about how than the actual goals – we need to treat each other with mutual respect and stop the Machiavellian “ends justify the means” methods we have employed in our politics.

We’re writing the Jewish story in real time and are learning to embrace its joys and cope with its sorrows. Our generation bears both the miracle—and the weighty responsibility—of living in and governing the modern Jewish State and defending against the resurgent perils of antisemitism.

On a personal note I have to reflect my absolute pride in the Men and Women who have fought so hard on so many fronts to do their part for their defence and those who have supported them in all areas. Wishing everyone a meaningful Sefirat Ha’Omer and having just had the Seder and turning 50 on Yom Yerushalayim, may we take a leaf out of the Hagaddah and next year may we celebrate in the capital city in the light of its true meaning – A City of Peace and Unity!