Parshat Emor 5778
Rabbi Jablinowitz
One of the main topics we read in this week's parsha is the parsha of the Chagim. Included in this section is the mitzvah of Sefiras Ha'Omer. We count from the period of Yetzias Mitzrayim, the second day of Pesach, until the receiving of the Torah at Shavuos. And though this mitzvah of counting takes places between the Chagim, we need to ask why it appears in this section. This section includes the festivals themselves and seemingly the days of Sefirah are not considered to be a festival.
Firstly, the Ramban teaches that the days of Sefirah are considered like a Chol Hamoed between Pesach and Shavuos. Each week of the seven weeks we count is like one day of Chol Hamoed and the day after we finish counting the seven weeks is Shavuos, which is called Atzeres by Chazal, similar to the eighth day after Succos being called Shemini Atzeres after seven days of Succos. This would explain why the mitzvah of Sefirah appears in the section of the Chagim.
Further, the Torah teaches that we count (Chapter 23, Pasuk 15), Sheva Shabasos Temimos Tihyena; we are commanded to count seven complete weeks. The Sfas Emes says we learn from here that the period of Sefirah has a status like Shabbos, and since Shabbos itself appears in this parsha with the festivals, then certainly Sefirah should appear here as well. Nonetheless, we need to understand what is it about the days of Sefirah that give it a status like Shabbos?
The Sfas Emes points out that these days of Sefirah are the time of the growth of the wheat crop. This period is marked in the beginning with the harvest of barley, the time when we bring the Karban Omer, and at the end with the wheat harvest when the Shtei HaLechem is brought in the Mikdash. The period in between is the period when the wheat actually grows. And this period of agricultural growth in the physical world is reflective of a period of spiritual growth and shefa of bracha from the upper spheres.
This is because this period is the movement from leaving impurity, as we did in Mitzrayim, and achieving purity in order to receive the Torah on Shavuos. These days are an opportunity for us to grow in holiness, as the pasuk says U'Sefartem Lachem, the counting is for you. Just as Shabbos is called a Matanah Tovah, a good present from Hashem, a day of holiness and spiritual growth, so too the days of Sefirah are a present to us to give us the opportunity to grow in purity. And the Medrash teaches on the word Temimos, when are they Temimos, i.e. when are they complete? K'Sheosin Retzono shel Makom, when we do the will of Hashem.
Just as the success of the wheat crop affects our bounty for the year, and enables us to have physical sustenance for the year, so too this period of counting towards Kabbalas HaTorah affects us for the year. It is a special time to take advantage and do the will of Hashem and grow in Taharah. This is the once a year transition from the Leil HaSeder at Pesach to the receiving the Torah at Har Sinai. We move from being a Jew who has left behind the impurities of Mitzrayim to one who accepts upon himself the purity and the holiness of the Torah.
Good Shabbos
Print this article