Light and Radiance, Healing, Counting of the Omer, Pesach Sheini
Re-cap
In Part One we spoke in part of the significance of this little month of Iyar, the second month on the Hebrew calendar sandwiched in between the two Giant Months…Nisan, the month of Passover in which we celebrate the miraculous mass Exodus from Egypt, and Sivan, the month in which we celebrate the most amazing and awe inspiring event of all time, referred to as Matan Torah… that single one time event in history when HaShem came down in all His Glory and gave His Torah to His people…His Torah that was to be shared from generation to generation, until it would one day encompass the whole world!
It would appear that the magnitude of the events that took place in Nisan and Sivan, the first and third months, would completely overshadow any that took place in the second month of Iyar, but that is not at all the case. In the words of King Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1 we read, “For everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Given this declaration, we ask ourselves, for what purpose were we given this in between time designated as the second month referred to as Iyar or Ziv? Why didn’t HaShem in His impeccable planning choose to have Moshe bring the Children of Israel directly to Mount Sinai after bringing them out of Egypt? He certainly could have carried them on eagle’s wings straight to Sinai to meet with Him (Exodus 19:4)!
We proposed this question in our last article …”Were these former Hebrew slaves ready to immediately meet with HaShem on the Mountain, receive His Torah, and be brought into Eternal Covenant with their G-D?” The answer we brought forth was an emphatic “No!” They were not at all ready for they still had the slave mindset which called for a trek through the desert.
Iyar-A Bridge in the Gap and a Second Chance
Knowing this, HaShem provided a 49 day period of preparation, most of which He placed in the month of Iyar, a special time period that would serve as what Rabbi Richman of the Temple Institute refers to as “a bridge from the past to the future”… a bridge from slavery to freedom, from Pesach to Sinai …a bridge not only for our ancestors, but a bridge that remains intact for each of us to travel today.
What about those who were not able to celebrate Passover? We know that HaShem is a merciful G-d, and a G-d of chesed (lovingkindness), a G-d who always provides second chances for those whose hearts are sincere and have engaged in teshuvah. Therefore, He instituted Pesach Sheini, a Second Passover. We read in Bamidbar, Numbers 9, beginning in verse 1, how HaShem instructed Moshe in the second year of the Exodus from the land of Egypt to tell the Children of Israel to make a Passover celebration “at its appointed time.” There were some, however, who due to special circumstances were unable to participate. When they voiced their sorrow, HaShem graciously responded and gave them the opportunity to do so one month later on the 14th day the second month. This provision included not only the Children of Israel, but the ger or the stranger or foreigner who traveled with them. So it is today. In the Mishna it is referred to as Pesach Katan or Minor Passover (Mishna, Rosh Hashanah 1:3 and Megillat Taanit).
There is an ancient teaching in Judaism that during this season each year when we celebrate Passover, we are to bring it home to our hearts and make it our own. We are to celebrate it with the mindset that we too, having been freed from Egyptian bondage, are making our trek through the wilderness on our journey to meet our Creator at the Mountain!
We are told in Exodus 13:21-22 that HaShem went before the Children of Israel by day in a pillar of cloud and by night in pillar of fire. Today we have neither pillar of cloud nor pillar of fire as did our ancestors of old. We do however, have the incredible promise that HaShem, our Creator and the Creator of the Universe, is with us in every step that we make and every breath that we take! How awesome is that!
Plus we have the added benefit of a roadmap to follow…those precious ancient paths, mentioned in Jeremiah 6:1, those paths that has been passed down through the ages. That roadmap is the Torah. In the beautiful words of the sweet singer King David we read,”Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet and a Light unto my way” (Psalm 119:105).
That Brilliant First Light and the Light to Come!
We read of that Brilliant First Light, as it breaks forth through the darkness in the account of the Creation in Beresheit, the Book of Genesis (Gen. 1:1-3).The name of this second month, Iyar on (אייר) on the Jewish calendar, although Babylonian in origin, when translated into Hebrew is formed from the root word ohr (אור) which means light. The Jewish sages say that it represents the burst of light that was released into the world first at Creation, and then again with the Exodus from Egypt, and again at Sinai…which according to the prophets, will again be released during the Final Redemption!
Iyar which was known as “Ziv” before the Babylonian captivity, and referred to as the second month in the Hebrew Bible (I Kings 6:1, 6:37), means brightness or radiance and is obviously directly related to light. This brilliant light resurfaces all through the Torah, the Prophets, the Psalms and the Writings in the Tanakh. We also find it referenced in the Jewish Prayer Book known as the siddur. In all of these texts, it is HaShem that is seen as the Source of all Light!
The prophet Isaiah in the first few verses of chapter 60 reflect this concept of glorious Light breaking forth from the darkness which will one day again cover the entire earth and all creation! He brings it down to a personal level when he says, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, for the Glory (the Kivod) of HaShem is risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth and gross darkness the peoples, but HaShem shall rise upon you and His glory shall be seen upon you.”
What is this light? It is His Light shining forth in you …like hidden sparks beneath the surface bursting forth from deep within your innermost heart and soul, and within all those who love and honor Him! In Psalms 21:7, King David often referred to as the “sweet singer, “makes reference to this light when he proclaims, “HaShem is my Light and my Salvation!
HaShem, the Source of all Healing
The month of Iyar/Ziv is not only a month representing light (אור) as illustrated in its name. The rabbis suggest that it is also a month connected directly to healing for its very name Iyar spelled ך”א in Hebrew, is an acronym for the words, “Ani HaShem Rophecha” – “I am HaShem your healer,” (רפאך ‘ה ינא ).
Shortly after the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, HaShem spoke these words to Israel at Mara where they encountered the bitter waters which He turned into sweet…then promised them that if they would obey His commandments that He would put “none of these diseases” that he brought upon the Egyptians upon them (See Exodus 15:23-26).
Iyar is also the month during which the manna began to fall from heaven while the Children of Israel were in the desert. The Jewish sages teach that the Manna provided not only physical, but also spiritual nourishment, which was rich in healing qualities for the body and soul alike. Today we do not have the manna falling down from the heavens, but since the beginning, mankind has been given all the green seed bearing plants, trees and herbs for food which have the properties to bring us healing and contribute to our general sense of well-being. It is up to us to act responsibly, to make good choices, and to cultivate these gifts that our Creator declared as good (Genesis 1:11-13).
Bridging the Gap – Counting of the Omer
We are instructed in Leviticus 23:15-16. “From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath and then present an offering of new grain to HaShem.”
This is referred to as Counting of the Omer (Hebrew: העומר ספירת, Sefirat HaOmer). In simple terms the omer offering (Hebrew korban omer, minchat omer) was a grain sacrifice, a wave offering, brought to the temple in Jerusalem. The first-fruits was a sheaf of barley which was offered in connection with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
The Counting of the Omer is a 49 day period that falls mainly in the month of Iyar. According to Jewish tradition, it is a special season designed to not only bridge the gap between Pesach and Sinai but one to help us prepare ourselves to symbolically stand before our Creator at Sinai and renew our covenant relationship with him from year to year.
The traditional Jewish Omer blessing is said standing, at nightfall. Prior to the count, the following blessing is recited. “Blessed are You, HaShem our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.” Then we state the Omer count in terms of both total days and weeks and days. For example, “Today is the 25th day of the Omer, making 3 weeks and 4 days of the Omer.”
It is also traditional to recite several psalms from the Hebrew Bible and selected readings from the siddur which include the Jewish people and all nations… two of which I have quoted below.
“HaShem be gracious to us and bless us; and cause His Face to shine upon us; (Sela) that Your way may be known upon the earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, Oh HaShem, let all the peoples give thanks to you. Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for You shall judge the peoples with equity, and govern the nations upon the earth (Sela.)Let the peoples praise You, Oh HaShem, let all the peoples give You thanks. The earth has yielded her increase; and HaShem our own G-D shall bless us. HaShem shall bless us and let all the ends of the earth fear Him” (Psalm 67).
“We beg you! With the strength of your right hand’s greatness, untie the bundled sins. Accept the prayer of your nation; strengthen us, purify us, O Awesome One. Please O Strong One – those who foster Your Oneness, guard them like the apple of an eye. Bless them, purify them, show them pity, may Your righteousness always recompense them. Powerful Holy One, with Your abundant goodness guide Your congregation. One and only Exalted One, turn to your nation, which proclaims Your holiness. Accept our entreaty and hear our cry, O Knower of Mysteries. Blessed is the Name of His glorious Kingdom for all eternity” (Ana b’Koach prayer from the Complete ArtScroll Siddur, pg. 337).
In some traditions of Judaism, these readings are followed by a personal meditation which brings in the Kabbalistic aspects of the sefirot which are designed to bring introspection and renewal to the heart of the participant.
However we choose to the count the Omer each evening, it is important to keep in mind that we are on a spiritual journey to meet our G-d and Creator at Sinai and stand before Him (Deuteronomy 29:9-14). We look inward, take stock of ourselves and do teshuvah…we repent where we have fallen short, and we ask for strength to correct our faults and our weakness, both as individuals and as communities as a whole. With humility, penitence and kavanah (intent) we turn our hearts towards our Creator and endeavor to once again dedicate ourselves to be all that we were created to be as we walk with Him.
May we all be blessed with light, health and healing, and renewed determination to continue to break free from our own individual bondage…our own “Mitzrayim” …and the constraints that it impinges upon us. May we each delve soulfully and deeply into our own hearts and into our individual relationships that we have built with HaShem and with one another as we endeavor to live more purposeful lives and fulfill our destiny as individuals and as a community…diverse, yet Echad…united as one before HaShem!
Happy Counting as we bask in His Light and continue on our journey towards a deeper and more meaningful connection with our Beloved Creator!
More to come in Part 3 as we will continue to discover more of those hidden sparks beneath the surface in the often overlooked, yet meaningful traditional Jewish observance of a special celebration that occurs on the 33rd day of the Omer Count.
by Elisheva Tavor aka Betty Tabor Givin
