Counting the Omer

The Counting of the Omer is the seven-week period during which Jews mark each day with reflection and anticipation, moving from liberation at Pesach to receiving the Torah at Shavuot.

The Omer refers to the ritual counting of the seven weeks between the festivals of Pesach and Shavuot.

This period of 49 days, which usually spans April to May, marks both the agricultural transition from the barley to the wheat harvest and the spiritual journey from liberation to revelation – from the Exodus from Egypt to the receiving of the Torah at Sinai.

In the Torah, an “Omer” is a measure of barley offered to God as a thanksgiving for the harvest. From the second night of Pesach, the Torah guides us to count each day until Shavuot, creating a rhythm of anticipation and reflection.

Pesach recalls our emergence from slavery, while Shavuot celebrates the moment we became a people of purpose and covenant. In this way, the Omer becomes a symbolic bridge… from brokenness to wholeness.

Though we no longer bring offerings of grain, the practice of counting the Omer continues as a spiritual discipline.

Each evening, a blessing is recited followed by the day’s count, for example: “Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the Omer.”

This simple ritual, observed for generations, transforms the passage of time into a sacred journey, culminating in the celebration of Torah and renewal.

Lag B’Omer

Lag B’Omer, the 33rd day of the Omer, is a minor festival that brings a burst of joy into this reflective season.

Its origins are layered, linked by tradition to Rabbi Akiva and the end of a tragic plague among his students. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a disciple of his, is also said to have died on Lag B’Omer. The day also gestures toward the spring harvest and the anticipation of Shavuot.

Lag B’Omer events often take place outdoors, with bonfires, picnics and communal gatherings.

The flames of Lag B’Omer are said to symbolise the light of Torah – its warmth, its wisdom, and its enduring power to illuminate even the darkest times.

If you want to count the Omer, or experience Lag B’Omer, in a welcoming, inclusive, and egalitarian setting, we’d love to welcome you into one of our Progressive congregations.