Counting the Omer: Day 29

Let's Learn Together

      Although the manna was sufficient to provide all of the nutritional needs for the children of Israel, because they complained about not being able to eat from the 'flesh pots' of Egypt, HaShem decided to also give them meat to eat in the form of quail.

      "And the LORD spoke to Moses saying, 'I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel Speak to them, saying, "At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled
with bread. And you shall know that I am the LORD your God."'
"So it was that quails came up at evening and covered the camp, and in the morning the dew lay all around the camp. And when the layer of dew lifted, there, on the surface of the wilderness, was a small round substance, as fine as frost on the ground.
      "So when the children of Israel saw
it, they said to one another, 'What is it?' For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them 'This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat. This is the thing which the LORD has commanded: "Let every man gather it according to each one's need, one omer for each person, according to the number of persons; let every man take for those who are in his tent."'"
(Ex. 16:11-16)

      It is interesting to note that the amount of manna that the children of Israel were to gather was one omer for each person. Likewise on the sixth day of the week they were to gather two omers for each person. Also, no matter how much each person gathered, they all ended up with one omer apiece.

      Now comes what seems to be an unusual test:

      "And Moses said, 'Let no one leave any of it till morning'"
(Ex. 16:19)

      Of course that did not seem logical. After all, they had already experienced hunger on this trip, who was to say it would not happen again? So instead of obeying the direct command of HaShem, some decided to put aside a portion for the next day.

      "Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was very angry with them."
(Ex. 16:20)

… will continue tomorrow

COUNT THE OMER:  DAY 28

BA-RUCH A-TAH ADO-NAI E-LO-HE-NU ME-LECH HA-OLAM ASHER KID-E-SHA-NU BE-MITZ-VO-TAV VETZI-VA-NU AL SEFI-RAT HA-OMER.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.

Today is twenty-eight days, which is four weeks of the Omer.

For the Choirmaster; a song with instrumental music; a Psalm. God be gracious to us and bless us; may You make Your countenance shine upon us forever; that Your way be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. The nations will extol You, O God; all the nations will extol You. The nations will rejoice and sing for joy, for You will judge the peoples justly and guide the nations on earth forever. The peoples will extol You, O God; all the peoples will extol You, for the earth will have yielded its produce and God, our God, will bless us. God will bless us; and all, from the farthest corners of the earth, shall fear Him.

We implore You, by the great power of Your right hand, release the captive. Accept the prayer of Your people; strengthen us, purify us, Awesome One. Mighty One, we beseech You, guard as the apple of the eye those who seek Your Oneness. Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful righteousness. Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, guide Your congregation. Only and Exalted One, turn to Your people who are mindful of Your holiness. Accept our supplication and hear our cry, You who knows secret thoughts. Blessed be the name of the glory of Your kingdom forever and ever.

Master of the universe, You have commanded us through Moses Your servant to count the Omer, in order to purify us from our evil and uncleanness. As You have written in Your Torah, "You shall count for yourselves from the day following the day of rest, from the day on which you bring the Omer as a wave-offering; [the counting] shall be for seven full weeks. Until the day following the seventh week shall you count fifty days," so that the souls of Your people may be cleansed from their defilement. Therefore, may it be Your will, Lord our God and God of our fathers, that Your people may be purified and sanctified with Your holiness.  Amen, selah.