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 35 of the Omer: qualities of focus
The fifth week of the Omer is focused on Splendor and Humility (Hod). The quality of Hod is sometimes talked about as the kind of splendor that is so awe-filling that we can’t help but be humbled. But this sense of awe can also be nurtured as we look in our world and in our lives for what is splendorous, big or small, and allow ourselves to be humbled into gratitude.
The seventh day of the week is focused on Divine Presence in the world around us (Malkhut / Shekhinah).
The thirty-fifth day is focused on Divine Presence in our world, and our need to care for this world’s Splendor. It can be a humbling task .
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 chamishah u-shloshim yom, shehem chamishah shavuot la-omer.
Today is thirty-five days, which marks five 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’Hod: the healing that’s Present, the healing that’s needed
The Divine Shekhina likes to be known. She paints flowers and sunsets and moons. She blows fierce winds so we’ll hear her, and raises dew gently from the grass so we’ll feel her beneath our feet. Lately She’s been grumbling that we aren’t paying enough attention, and she's not feeling well at all. Her system is out of balance, her icy caps are melting too fast, her waters are falling and spilling and creating huge torrents, her temperature is rising. If only we could take her to the emergency room, let the experts bring her fever down but this illness of the earth is attacking the very systems designed to maintain her. We humans are cells that need to rally on her behalf, nurture each other, love ourselves well. What is one thing you can do today to notice the earth’s splendor, enhance the malkhut, the nobility, of another, or enrich the soil of your own life with awareness Walk through the 35th gate and notice Shekhina’s healing presence.
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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