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How does the counting of the Omer connect Passover and Shavuot?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

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The holiday of Shavuot is a direct extension of Passover. In fact, technically Shavuot doesn’t have a fixed date of the month—it is the 50th day after the offering of the Omer sacrifice on the 2nd day of Passover.

[Today, with our perpetual calendar, Shavuot always falls out on the 6th of Sivan. However, when the months were determined by witnesses who saw the crescent new-moon, the holiday of Shavuot fluctuated, and could have been on the 5th, 6th, or 7th of Sivan. (See How does the Jewish calendar work?)]

The stated purpose of the Exodus (Passover) was to receive the Torah (Shavuot): “When you [Moses] take the people out of Egypt, you will worship G-d on this mountain”1. When G-d revealed Himself at the stroke of midnight to smite the Egyptian firstborn and redeem the Jews, the Jews were overwhelmed and inspired by this intense experience. They literally ran out of Egypt, leaving behind generations of cruel bondage and a lifestyle of immorality which they had adopted from their sinful taskmasters.

inspiration is merely a reaction to an external circumstance or event, and can quickly wear off when the inspiring event fades
But they were not yet ready to receive the Torah. Being inspired is very nice, but the inspired person hasn’t really changed; inspiration is merely a reaction to an external circumstance or event, and can quickly wear off when the inspiring event fades in time and fades from memory.

The Jews had to spend seven weeks working on their character, refining themselves in preparation for receiving the Torah. According to Kabbalah, the person’s soul possesses seven primary character traits, and one week was devoted to each of these traits.

Torah and its messages are timeless. Still today, the Omer period is a time for soul-searching; a time to work on being kind, gentle, and caring, and prepare for receiving the Torah—once again—on the holiday of Shavuot.

Footnotes

  • 1. Exodus 3:12

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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Passover
A Biblically mandated early-spring festival celebrating the Jewish exodus from Egypt in the year 1312 BCE.
Kabbalah
Jewish mysticism. The word Kaballah means "reception," for we cannot physically perceive the Divine, we merely study the mystical truths which were transmitted to us by G-d Himself through His righteous servants.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Shavuot
Early summer festival marking the day when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai in the year 2448 (1312 BCE).
Omer
Starting from the second day of Passover, we count forty-nine days. The fiftieth day is the holiday of Shavuot. This is called the “Counting of the Omer” because on the second day of Passover the barley “Omer” offering was offered in the Holy Temple, and we count forty-nine days from this offering. [Literally, "Omer" is a certain weight measure; the required amount of barley for this sacrifice.]
Sivan
The third month on the Jewish calendar, normally corresponding to May-June. This month features the holiday of Shavuot.
Exodus
1. The miraculous departure of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage in 1312 BCE. 2. The second of the Five Books of Moses. This book describes the aforementioned Exodus, the giving of the Torah, and the erection of the Tabernacle.
G-d
It is forbidden to erase or deface the name of G-d. It is therefore customary to insert a dash in middle of G-d's name, allowing us to erase or discard the paper it is written on if necessary.