Counting the Omer: day 26

Count for this day in the evening of the date shown above.

Counting the Omer began the second night of Passover, which was on April 9, 2020. The last day of counting is May 27, 2020.

You can learn more about the practice and history of counting the Omer here.

day 26 of the Omer: qualities of focus

The fourth week of the Omer is focused on Endurance (Netzach). The quality of Netzach is about how we endure, and about what endures in our lives, and in the world around us. It’s also about the enduring nature of the Divine.

The fifth day of the week is focused on Splendor and Humility (Hod).

The twenty-sixth day of the Omer is focused on splendor and humility wrapped in endurance.

the blessing for counting the Omer

It’s traditional to say a blessing each evening, followed by reciting which day it is in the Omer journey. Here’s the blessing in English, feminized Hebrew, and the traditional masculine Hebrew. Use whichever Hebrew and/or English versions work for you!

English version of the blessing

Blessed are you, Eternal One-ness, Source and Breath of All Life, that has made us holy with your mitzvot, and compels us to count the Omer.

If you prefer feminine God language in Hebrew:

בְּרוּכָה אַתְּ יָהּ אֱלֹהֵינוּ רוּחַ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בִּמְצַוְּתָהּ וְצִוָּנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר

B’rukhah at Yah Eloheynu khay ha’olamim asher kideshatnu bemitzvoteha vetzivatnu al sefirat ha’omer.

If you prefer masculine God language, or just like the traditional way of saying the blessing:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲדֹנָי אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר

Baruch ata adonai, eloheynu melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al sefirat ha-omer.

here’s today’s count, in Hebrew (transliterated), and English.

Ha-yom shishah v’es’rim yom, shehem shloshah shavuot v’chamisah yamim la-omer.

Today is twenty-six days, which marks three weeks and five days of the Omer.

Let me know if you have any questions. I’ve never done this before via blog post, and need your help to make sure everything works.

prefer Hebrew script?

If you prefer to read the blessing and count using Hebrew text, check out this app.

Or look in your favorite siddur (prayer book). It can often be found at the end of the evening service.

today’s poetic meditation

I’m posting a poetic meditation for each day to enhance the journey. Each meditation is focused on the kabbalistic qualities (sefirot) associated with the day.

The kabbalists often used the image of gates to describe the portals of consciousness represented by the sefirot, and that’s reflected in the ending to each of the meditations.

The kabbalists also often referenced the Tree of Life, upon which the sefirot are represented by the trunk and branches.

Some people like to read the meditations when they say the blessing at night. Others like to contemplate them in the morning to provide spiritual nourishment for the day’s activities.

Experiment, and see what works for you!

Hod b’netzach: humbled by the splendor, wrapped in enduring beauty

Hod within
netzach,
splendor
within endurance,
is a gorgeous
garment,
made of tough
fabric,
that lasts
and lasts,
and when
it finally
gives out,
biodegrades
to renew
the earth.

Consider an
intricate and
colorful piece
of embroidery
stitched on
thick linen with
impeccable
precision,
one you can tell
took great focus
and time
for the artisan
to realize.

Consider
the first thing
the artist might
have done
to prepare
for this work:
what materials
were required,
what kind of
studio or space,
what sorts of
assistance?

Think of 
something
you're proud of,
something
that took time
and focus,
even something
small, and when
you were done,
it was a pleasure
to sit back
and say “ah,
I am so very
pleased
at how this
turned out.”

What is the very
next thing
you will do
with a vision
of beauty, and
an intention
to nurture
your life,
and feed
your world?

Wear your
intention
as a garment,
to protect
and adorn
your vision,
as you travel
through the
26th Gate.

Copyright Shifrah Tobacman, 2012.

prefer to hold a book in your hand?

You might be interested in Rabbi Shifrah’s collection Omer/Teshuvah: 49 Poetic Meditations for Counting the Omer or Turning Toward a New Year. Write to rabbishifrah@gmail.com to get a copy!