WOMEN SHOULD PARTICIPATE
Although women are technically exempt from the obligation to count the omer (since it is a time-bound commandment), nevertheless, “women in certain countries accepted the commandment upon themselves, rendering it obligatory” – and all women can assist their sons and husbands, ensuring that they do not miss a day of counting.
COUNTDOWN TO MATAN TORAH APPLIES TO ALL
Most importantly, women can and should assist in the essential theme of the counting: To awakening a yearning and longing for Matan Torah (the Giving of the Torah).
YEARN FOR GEULAH
As we impatiently count the days leading up to Shavuos, we should impatiently express our desire for the Final Redemption – for we are also counting down the days, years and generations of our lengthy exile – and cry out, ad masai, “How much longer...?”
TEACH YOUR FAMILY: TORAH IS OUR LIFE-FORCE
In receiving the Torah at Sinai, G-d told Moshe to address the women before the men; this was due to their status as the bedrock of each Jewish household. Similarly, they should precede the men in the annual preparations for Matan Torah that takes place on Shavuos. Women should strive to permeate their families with a longing for Matan Torah – filling them with the awareness that the Torah is “our life and the length of our days”.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE AMENDS
During the sefirah, we are given extraordinary powers to mend our character traits and fix all that requires repair.
TIME TO MAKE UP
The period of the sefirah is treated as a state of semi-mourning for the thousands of students of Rabbi Akiva who perished during this time. Our Sages state that they were punished for failing to “conduct themselves with respect one to the other” (shelo nahagu kavod zeh lazeh). It is now that we are granted particular ability to correct any lack in our respect for fellow Jews.
RESOLVE DIVISIVE ISSUES
We should express our ahavas Yisrael by speaking with each other peacefully and in a friendly manner, and by reaching unanimous decisions on matters that previously caused a divide.
INSTINCTIVE LOVE FOR FELLOW JEWS
The precise words of our Sages, nahagu... “conduct themselves with respect,” teaches us that ahavas Yisrael should become our minhag – “custom”. It should be as routine and commonplace as a local custom; we should not require effort to act respectfully to each other.
PROACTIVE AHAVAS YISRAEL
The term nahagu shares the root of the word manhig – “leader”. This indicates that each of us should “take the lead” in all matters pertaining to Jewish unity and brotherhood. And we should influence all those with whom we have contact – so that for them, as well, it will become instinctive to act with ahavas Yisrael.
RECITING SHEHECHEYANU DURING SEFIRAH
It is our custom to refrain from reciting the blessing of shehecheyanu on a new fruit during the sefirah. The exception to this custom is on Shabbos and Lag B’Omer. Nevertheless, those who already have the established custom to recite shehecheyanu during the sefirah should certainly not stop doing so. Quite the opposite – may they continue making such blessings.
Diversity leads to fuller truth
The possibility for human beings to act towards each other with disrespect stems from the fact that G-d created us dissimilar, or, as our Sages put it, ein dei’oseihem shavos, no two minds think alike. But why did G-d create us with such mental diversity? So that, through presenting a wide-spectrum of views on any given topic, together we can formulate many innovative ideas, each person innovating according to the nature of his unique intellect. The end result is a far more correct understanding, conclusion and ultimate decision.
Firstly, different people with varied approaches discuss a topic between them, without any of them subduing or foregoing his personal opinion on the matter; doing so would run contrary to G-d’s purpose in creating people with diverse natures. They then evaluate the matter from many angles, and reach a final conclusion – a far truer conclusion than if but a single opinion would have been considered.
Obviously, in addition to the friendship that is eventually forged by reaching a unanimous and well-rounded conclusion, the actual discussions need to be carried out peacefully and with full respect for each participant.
This, then, is what is required of us during the sefirah. Even where a disharmonious situation already exists (as was the case with the students of Rabbi Akiva), we are to introduce peace between the parties. By doing so, we generate far greater peace than that which existed prior to the divide. This is similar to a document whose validity has been challenged and subsequently researched and proven in Court; it now carries far greater authenticity than a document that remains unchallenged – and therefore unproven.
The Torah’s way
And should there remain some issue about which the two sides cannot discuss and reach an agreement – let them go to a third party, who will arbitrate between them. That “third party” should be the Rabbis in their location. After hearing the Rabbis’ ruling, both sides should then conduct themselves according to the directive and decision of Halachah. This is the way things are done according to the Torah – as should be plainly obvious.
Going beyond as part of duty
Since this conduct will have become normal or even “natural” – or at the least, “second nature”. In a way, a “custom” is superior to an obligation by law. It involves going beyond the call of duty (lifnim mishuras hadin), and is termed “pious conduct” (midas chassidus). At the same time, a custom carries the weight of the dictum, minhag Yisrael Torah hi, “Jewish custom is part of Torah” – as Rambam states regarding “the Rabbinic decrees, enactments and customs (gezeiros, takanos and minhagim) that spread throughout Jewry.”
The directive to us in all this is that we should conduct ourselves with ahavas Yisrael, in a manner of “pious conduct” that goes “beyond the call of duty”; this then becomes an actual part of the Torah and its laws.
We should connect both of these interpretations of nahagu. Our minhag (custom) of acting with ahavas Yisrael beyond the call of duty should become habitual.
And they should become manhigim, “leaders,” to influence others in this regard.
New fruit
The Chief Rabbis: There are places where they have the custom to recite shehecheyanu over a new fruit during the sefirah, but not on a new garment. This matter is totally dependent on local custom. The Rebbe: Our [Chabad] custom is... [See main text above for continuation].
