The Omer offering was made of barley, considered animal fodder in biblical times. At the end of the process, an offering made of wheat was brought to the Temple, symbolizing the growth from a state of base existence like an animal to one of higher spiritual readiness, like a human being.
Judaism emphasizes the power of change. You have immense potential, and right now, you are just beginning your journey. Compared to where you can ultimately go, you’re still far from achieving your true greatness. That is why the emphasis is on the Omer, the barley, the animal food.
A STRANGE COUNTING
The counting begins with day one, moving up every subsequent day until day 49. Why don’t we count down, like it’s done at Times Square on New Year’s Eve: ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one? Who counts up to ten? Eight, nine, ten, Happy New Year!
We count the Omer up, not down.
When you count down to something, whether it’s a vacation, a promotion, or a wedding, you’re eager to reach the end, often overlooking the journey itself. You want the intervening days to disappear and to reach your destination. In contrast, counting up encourages you to appreciate each day’s progress, to make each day count, focusing on the process rather than just the outcome.
During the counting of the Omer, each day is built upon the previous one, like constructing a building floor by floor. By the end of the Omer, if you have maximized this time period for personal growth, you are prepared to receive the Torah with a deeper understanding and greater readiness. You are ready to live as a full human being, represented through eating wheat, not barley.
Passover, the physical liberation from Egypt, was not the culmination but the beginning of a greater spiritual journey. Each day during the counting of the Omer symbolizes a step in your spiritual journey, encouraging you to keep ascending.
Whether it’s toilet training or a more profound life goal, milestones are not endpoints but stepping stones. The real journey begins after the initial success. Growth and improvement are ongoing processes, with every milestone propelling you to strive for the next level of achievement.
Keep moving forward, strive for more, by making each day count, transforming your achievements into ongoing steps toward greater heights.
RABBI ELI MANSOUR
RABBI MENACHEM LEHRFELD
