Each week is to be complete through the perfection of its individual days.
Omer definition full#
This is what's suggested by the Torah's referring to 7 complete, full or perfect weeks. In truth, our work of self-improvement during the Omer is intended to be even more fine-tuned and specific. Thus each of the 7 weeks of the Omer corresponds to one of these 7 sefirot, where each week highlights the improvement of that (Omer-specific) attribute: week 1 – Chesed/lovingkindness week 2 – Gevurah/self-control week 3 – Tiferet/spirituality week 4 – Netzach/consistency week 5 – Hod/gratitude week 6 - Yesod/sanctity week 7 – Malchut/consolidation (of all of the above). While it's beyond our scope to go into this last explanation in depth, generally, the seven lower sefirot are associated with 7 attributes or character traits. The basic idea is to use the meaning, light and energy of the sefirot to guide us in achieving all of the above: maximizing our potential within the framework of Torah and mitzvot in order to make ourselves as luminescent gems in the crown of G-d's glorious Coronation – which is Shavuot. Other commentaries add an additional understanding based on the kabbalistic idea of the sefirot. Yet another meaning is related to "sapir" or sapphire - we are to beautify, purify and polish ourselves in preparation of receiving the Torah. This meaning also implies "border" - we are to limit/control ourselves within the confines of the Torah and mitzvot. Of course, the simple meaning of sefira is count – this is the count-up in anticipation of Shavuot, the receiving of the Torah which is certainly in our collective benefit.īut many commentators refine our understanding about how this is to be done based on various other meanings of sefira: "Sefar" refers to an outlying area - we are to push ourselves in self-improvement to the limits of our ability. The commentators explain that the answer to this lies in our understanding of "sefartem". Obviously, the emphasis is on the idea that the counting is to be for us – for our benefit.
Isn't a week by definition 7 days, and therefore complete? Wouldn't it be enough to say "count seven weeks"? What's the meaning of the additional "l'chem"? Similarly, the verse states that these weeks are to be "temimot" – complete. The Torah refers to this with the verse: "u'Sefartem l'chem…sheva shavuot" – "count for yourselves seven weeks". This is commemorated with the period of the counting of the Omer – Sefirat HaOmer – in preparation for the receiving of the Torah in purity on Shavuot. After the Exodus, during the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot, they elevated themselves from each level of tumah to the corresponding level of tahara. This was so much so, that if they had stayed there any longer, they would not have been deemed worthy of redemption at all. Thanks for any clarification you have on this.Īccording to the Zohar, as a result of exile and the spiritual impurity of ancient Egypt, the Jewish people sank to the 49 th level of spiritual impurity. What is the connection between counting the Omer and working on ourselves and self-improvement? I imagine it has to do with getting ready for Shavuot, but I'm sure how that works.
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