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In this week’s Parshah, Emor, the Torah commands us to count the Omer. Beginning with the second day of Pesach, we must count forty-nine days. On the fiftieth day, we celebrate the festival of Shavuos. We read that[1] “you shall count for yourselves seven weeks from the day after “Shabbos” … Rashi cites the words “from the day after Shabbos” and comments as follows. “On the day after the (first day of) the festival (of Passover).” In other words, the term Shabbos here does not refer to the seventh day of the week. Instead, it relates to another day of rest, specifically, the first day of the Passover festival.
The Talmud tells us[2] that the Baisusim[3] interpreted the words “from the day after Shabbos” literally. Hence, they began the counting of the Omer on the night following Shabbos. However, our Sages explain that here the word “Shabbos” refers to the first day of Pesach, and therefore, the day that we begin the count depends on which day of the week Pesach begins.
We need to understand the meaning behind this. This entire disagreement is because the Torah used a word that appears to be ambiguous. Granted, the word Shabbos can, and at times does, refer to a festival. The Torah could have said “from the day following Yom Tov” instead of “the day after Shabbos.” This would have left no room for any errors.
We can answer this question in the following manner. G-d took us out of Egypt to give us the Torah. However, we weren’t quite up to the task. The centuries of slavery to the immoral Egyptians caused us to sink low. One of the ideas of counting the Omer was to refine and rectify the attributes of our Animal Soul as a preparation to receive the Torah.
The Hebrew word for counting the Omer is “Sefiras HaOmer – ספירת העומר.” The word Sefira means counting, but it is also related to the name “Sapir – [4]ספיר,” which is a type of precious stone. By counting the Omer, we cause ourselves to “shine.”
Hashem divided nature into units of seven, i.e., the seven days of creation. The seventh day, Shabbos, is the pinnacle of the week, and however, it is still within the seven days of Hashem’s creation of the world. The day after Shabbos is a level of G-dliness, which is totally above the limitations of nature. To ready ourselves to receive the Torah, we must draw on this transcendent level of Divine aid.
May we use these days of counting the Omer to their fullest and merit to receive the Torah with joy and internalize it.
I wish one and all a Good Shabbos!
Rabbi Shmuel Mendelsohn
Adapted from Likkutei Sichos Volume 1, Page 265
DEDICATED IN HONOR OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE
IN LOVING MEMORY OF
DR. MINDEL RIVKA (MURIEL) BAS REB MENACHEM MENDEL SHLOMO ע”ה STITT
PASSED AWAY ON SHABBAT PARSHAS LECH LECHA, 10 MAR-CHESHVAN, 5782
MAY HER SOUL BE BOUND IN THE ETERNAL BOND OF LIFE
IN HONOR OF
The Soldiers of Tzivos Hashem Chaim and Aiden Oded שיחיו Morris
DEDICATED BY THEIR PARENTS
Rabbi & Mrs. Menachem M. and Chaya Mushka שיחיו Morris
[1]. Our Parshah, Vayikroh 23:15.
[2]. Talmud Menochos 65, a.
[3]. They were a heretical sect of Jews. They did not accept the Oral Law, which was taught by the Sages of the Talmud.
[4]. This is usually translated as a sapphire.
The Rebbe Teaches Rashi 