From the Teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, Zt”l
This week's Torah portion, Emor, contains the mitzva of Sefirat Ha'omer, the commandment to count the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot: "And you shall count from the next day after the Sabbath...seven Sabbaths shall be complete."
As with any other mitzva, counting the omer requires a blessing. Each day of the Sefira period we recite the blessing, then count how many days (and weeks) have elapsed.
But what happens if we've forgotten to count? According to one opinion, each day of counting is a mitzva in its own right. If one day we forget to count, it doesn't affect the coming days and we may continue. According to another opinion, the entire 49-day period is a single mitzva. If we forget to count one day, the mitzva has been compromised, and we may not continue. Jewish law establishes, however, that even if we miss a day we should continue counting, albeit without a blessing.
A person who converts to Judaism during Sefira was obviously unable to perform the mitzva before he became Jewish. Starting from the day he converts he is obligated to count; nonetheless, he cannot truthfully say, "Today is the third day" (or whichever day it is), being that he has not counted the previous days.
A child who becomes Bar or Bat Mitzva during Sefira is obligated by the Torah to count, even though the counting began before he attained majority. He is even permitted to continue reciting the blessing, as his performance of the mitzva before Bar Mitzva was for educational purposes. (However, while still a minor, his counting was only obligatory by Rabbinic law.)
There are some halachic authorities who opine that at present, until Moshiach comes, the entire mitzva of Sefirat Ha'omer is only Rabbinic. If Moshiach comes during Sefira (may it happen immediately), we will continue counting and reciting the blessing, once again obligated by Torah law.
Our Sages teach that the mitzvot we observe during the exile are only in preparation for the mitzvot we will perform in the Messianic Era. As we say in our prayers, "There we will offer to You our obligatory sacrifices...in accordance with the command of Your will." In other words, when the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, our mitzvot will be "in accordance with the command of Your will"; in the meantime, they are not the ultimate objective, but a preparation for and semblance of the future.
Nonetheless, the mitzvot we do now are still precious, as they are the channel through which we will eventually perform them after the Final Redemption. Moreover, Sefirat Ha'omer is particularly important. In the merit of this mitzva, may we continue to count Sefira with Moshiach's arrival.
Reprinted from the Acharei Mos-Kedoshim 5762/2002 edition of L’Chaim. Adapted from Volume 1 of Likutei Sichot.
For any man in whom there is a blemish shall not approach (21:18) When Rabbi Jacob was appointed chief rabbinical authority of the city of Lissa he had many opponents. One day he approached their leader and asked him why he objected. "Do you think I am not enough of a scholar? Are you dissatisfied with my qualifications?" "Oh, no," the man replied, "it's just that you are too young. It doesn't look nice to have a person your age as our head." "In that case," the Rabbi replied, "you needn't worry. I promise you that it is a 'temporary blemish,' and that with every passing day it will lessen..." (Mei'otzareinu Hayashan)
Reprinted from the Parshat Emor 5785 email of R’ Yedidya Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet for the Young Israel of Midwood in Brooklyn.
