Count for this day in the evening of the date listed 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 10: qualities of focus
The second week of the Omer is focused on healthy boundaries and discipline (gevurah).
The third day of the week is focused on balance and beauty (tiferet).
The tenth day of the Omer is focused on the beauty, and in balancing open-hearted loving-kindness with healthy boundaries and discipline.
the blessing for counting the Omer
It’s traditional to say a blessing each evening, followed by reciting which day of which week 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 asarah yamim shehem shavua echad v’shloshah yamim la-omer.
Today is ten days, which marks one week and three 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 in Hebrew, 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.
They also often referenced the Tree of Life upon which the sefirot were 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!
Tiferet b’gevurah: beauty, balance, and discipline
The young martial artist stands perfectly still, one leg bent high in front of him, arms up like wings in the pose of a crane, perched upon a post with the ocean before him the sound of waves that could be distracting without discipline, but which instead pose infinite possibilities. How did he get to this place? Practice, devotion, the love of a thoughtful mentor. Imagine climbing a stairway, at the top there’s a door, you knock and are greeted by someone wise: your own Inner Sage, a perfectly balanced version of your most fulfilled self. Take in the being before you, and the surroundings in which you find yourself. Ask a question. Wait for an answer. Say thank you. Walk back down the stairs and through the 10th gate committed to your own inner beauty.
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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