Count for this day in the evening of the date shown above.
(OOPS! I’ve had some technical and other challenges with getting posts up the last few days, so this one’s late. Sorry about that. But I still thought you might enjoy the poetic meditation for this one. Enjoy!)
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 28 of the Omer: qualities of focus
and what endures.
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 seventh day of the week is focused on Divine Presence in our lives and the world around us (Malkhut/Shekhina).
The 28th day is primed for noticing the enduring nature of Divine Presence.
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 shmonah v’es’rim yom, shehem arba-ahah shavuot la-omer.
Today is twenty-eight days, which marks four weeks 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!
Malkhut b’netzach: the enduring nature of Divine Presence
We are turning and returning at any given moment, teshuvah. Each time we look in a loved one's eyes, each time we say ”I’m sorry” truthfully, each time we forgive another honestly, each time we are kind and forgiving with ourselves, each time we lay our head down at night and say, “I am so grateful for all you and You have given me today”, with each encounter we are returning. Walking with meaning takes endurance and the helping hands of others. Whose hand would you like to hold? Who would you like present with you in body or spirit as you make your way mindfully through the 28th 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!
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