Sometimes it is wicked annoying. One more thing to do at night when I am exhausted. I really just wanna read my (e)book and go to bed. But man oh man... sometimes... who am I kidding, usually the day's Omer is dead on.
So you may have no idea what I am talking about. Let me explain. For the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot we literally count each night. It starts on the second night of Passover with 1 and it ends on the night before Shavuot with 49, which is seven weeks of the Omer. Some people choose to use seven of the sephirot (similar to the chakras) to guide them through this Omer process. The 49 days of the Omer is a time to reflect on self and inner growth. Additionally, this is a time where we are in a level of mourning. There are many theories behind why this is anywhere from a plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students to a time to honor those who rose up against the oppressive Roman rule and were killed. Some even postulate that this is a time period to honor all the Jews killed in all the pogroms and crusades.
So during this time halacha (Jewish law) forbids us from getting haircuts or having weddings or parties. The only outlier? Day 33 (or four weeks and five days of the Omer) is called Lag B'Omer (literally, in Hebrew it means the 33rd day of the Omer). This is a seriously joyous holiday and all mourning activities are forbidden.
On Lag B'Omer you are supposed to sing and dance, have picnics, shoot arrows, have bonfires, and cut your hair. In fact, it is a big honor to have an Upshernish (a little boy's first hair cut on his 3rd birthday) or a wedding on Lag B'Omer.
Anyway, there is your introduction to the Omer...
The point is...
Today's Omer is this - Today is 10 days which is one week and three days of the Omer. Representing tiferet of gevurah or compassion in discipline.
It ends with saying - Tiferet is a result of total selflessness in the eyes of G-d. You love for no reason, you love because you are a reflection of G-d.
Wow. Finding the discipline in love. It is so hard and it is so hard to love without expecting something back.
It's hard to be a reflection of G-d, all that human stuff gets in the way.
So you may have no idea what I am talking about. Let me explain. For the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot we literally count each night. It starts on the second night of Passover with 1 and it ends on the night before Shavuot with 49, which is seven weeks of the Omer. Some people choose to use seven of the sephirot (similar to the chakras) to guide them through this Omer process. The 49 days of the Omer is a time to reflect on self and inner growth. Additionally, this is a time where we are in a level of mourning. There are many theories behind why this is anywhere from a plague that killed 24,000 of Rabbi Akiva's students to a time to honor those who rose up against the oppressive Roman rule and were killed. Some even postulate that this is a time period to honor all the Jews killed in all the pogroms and crusades.
So during this time halacha (Jewish law) forbids us from getting haircuts or having weddings or parties. The only outlier? Day 33 (or four weeks and five days of the Omer) is called Lag B'Omer (literally, in Hebrew it means the 33rd day of the Omer). This is a seriously joyous holiday and all mourning activities are forbidden.
On Lag B'Omer you are supposed to sing and dance, have picnics, shoot arrows, have bonfires, and cut your hair. In fact, it is a big honor to have an Upshernish (a little boy's first hair cut on his 3rd birthday) or a wedding on Lag B'Omer.
Anyway, there is your introduction to the Omer...
The point is...
Today's Omer is this - Today is 10 days which is one week and three days of the Omer. Representing tiferet of gevurah or compassion in discipline.
It ends with saying - Tiferet is a result of total selflessness in the eyes of G-d. You love for no reason, you love because you are a reflection of G-d.
Wow. Finding the discipline in love. It is so hard and it is so hard to love without expecting something back.
It's hard to be a reflection of G-d, all that human stuff gets in the way.
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