An inspiring lesson within Judaic learning is observing the effort, in every generation, that has gone into understanding what tradition brings forward and creating modern meaning around ancient text, customs, and events. An example – Counting the Omer. Initially a biblical command to enumerate the days of the season of the grain
harvest (barley to wheat), counting the omer was transfor
med into a spiritual practice during the rabbinic period to prepare us to receive Torah (revelation being associated with Shavuot).
The Kabbalists/mystics of the 16th and 17th centuries used the period of the omer as spiritual cleansing of sorts – preparing one’s soul to receive Divine guidance on Shavuot. Each week was assigned a spiritual quality (using seven of the ten s’firot/divine emanations through which the mystics believed God
revealed Godself in the world), and each day of each week also received one of these qualities. Thus, the seven qualities intersect in different couplings for the 49 day period and these pairings afford ample opportunity for spiritual exploration.
Today, spiritual practitioners continue to utilize the counting of the Omer as a way to heighten awareness. Rabbi Yael Levy in her spiritual guide entitled Counting the Omer – A Journey through the Wilderness offers this kavanah/intention for tomorrow, the 35th day of the omer:
Let these be the first words you say upon awakening: מודה אני Modeh/Modah ani – I am grateful. Throughout the day, pause ten times and offer gratitude. Give thanks for the food you eat, for a beuatiful sight or sound. Offer praise for an insight, a moment of connection, a memory of joy.
Such a simple suggestion; so important that it is part of our daily liturgy. Yet how many of us do this? And what if we were to all do it together? How would that shift our collective energy?
And is it merely a coincidence or, perhaps, a spiritual couplet (like the pairing of Divine qualities during the counting of the omer) that a Little Minyan friend shared the following insight just yesterday as we lamented the teeny turnout for Shabbat morning services:
“Reb Zalman is a very big on the concept of opening windows. If you open them a crack and breathe the fresh air coming in, you will want to open them further. So here is my suggestion for opening a prayer window for our kehilla. Why not encourage everyone to start each day with a deep breath followed by Modeh Ani. Emphasize that we are doing this as a community; that when we give thanks for the restoration of our own soul we are also giving thanks for the souls of everyone in the community. Imagine the power of renewing the bonds of the community in 30 seconds a day. Imagine the comfort of knowing that we are doing something as a community every day.”
Just as my wise and spiritually resonant ancestors, I am choosing to find personal relevance in ancient ritual and liturgy. I am renewing my Judaism, reconstructing it. I invite you to do this with me. Shavuah tov!
