Every1Counts 2024
A daily reminder and suggestion of a mitzvah for each day of the Omer, as well as a weekly suggestion of an action step you can take to support Israel and the families of the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza
Begin counting the Omer in the evening on April 23 after the second Seder
and join us at Erev Shavuot services, June 11, 7:30pm at Temple Beth Abraham when we conclude counting the Omer.
For resources and suggestions on how to count the Omer at TBA, click HERE
Week 1 (April 23-April 29): Chesed – Lovingkindness
Tuesday, April 23, Pesach I/Passover Day 1
Today is One Day of the Omer: Lovingkindness and Lovingkindness: Everyone has the capacity to love in their hearts. The question is if and how we actualize and express it.
Reach out to someone with affection.
Wednesday, April 24, Pesach II/Passover Day 2
Today is Two Days of the Omer: Might and Lovingkindness: Healthy love must always include an element of discipline. In my love is there as much emphasis on the one I love and their ability to contain my love as there is on me and my giving?
Help someone on their terms not on yours. Apply yourself to their specific needs even if it takes effort.
Thursday, April 25
Pesach III/Passover Day 3, CH”M (Chol HaMoed/Intermediate Days)
Today is Three Days of the Omer: Beauty and Lovingkindness: True love includes empathy and compassion which makes it a beautiful love. Real love is expressed even when one gets nothing in return; even when the other doesn’t deserve love.
Offer a helping hand to a stranger.
Friday, April 26, Pesach IV/Passover Day 4, CH”M
Today is Four Days of the Omer: Eternity and Lovingkindness: Is my love enduring? Does it withstand challenges and setbacks? How much am I ready to fight for the love I have?
Take on a fight for a loved one.
Saturday, April 27, Pesach V/Passover Day 5, CH”M
Today is Five Days of the Omer: Splendor and Lovingkindness: Do I realize that the ability to love comes from a greater, higher place–from God? And, knowing that, shouldn’t I enter into any love with total humility, recognizing the great privilege of being able to love?
Swallow your pride and reconcile with a loved one you have quarreled with.
Sunday, April 28, Pesach VI/ Passover Day 6, CH”M
Today is Six Days of the Omer: Foundation and Lovingkindness: For love to be eternal it requires bonding. An intimate connection, kinship and attachment, benefiting both parties. This bonding bears fruit; the fruit born out of a healthy union.
Start building something constructive together with a loved one.
Monday, April 29, Pesach VII/Passover Day 7
Today is One Week of the Omer: Majesty and Lovingkindness: Mature love comes with – and brings – personal dignity. Any love that is debilitating and breaks the human spirit is no love at all. For love to be complete it must have the dimension of personal sovereignty.
Highlight an aspect in your love that has bolstered your spirit and enriched your life – and celebrate.
According to the Times of Israel, as of April 21, 2024, 129 hostages are still in captivity in Gaza. For ideas on actions you can take to help bring them home, go to: everyonecounts.live
Week 2 (April 30-May 6) Gevurah — Justice and Discipline (Might)
Tuesday April 30, Pesach VIII/Passover Day 8
Today is One Week and One Day of the Omer: Lovingkindness and Might: Tolerance of people should never be confused with tolerance of their behavior. On the contrary: love for people includes wanting them to be the best they can and therefore helping them be aware of anything less than perfect behavior.
Before you criticize someone today think twice if it is out of care and love.
Wednesday, May 1
Today is One Week and Two Days of the Omer: Might and Might: Is my discipline disciplined or is it excessive? Do I have enough discipline in my life and in my interactions? Am I organized? Is my time used efficiently?
Make a detailed plan for spending your day and at the end of the day see if you’ve lived up to it.
Thursday, May 2
Today is One Week and Three Days of the Omer: Beauty and Might: Not just love but compassion must drive discipline. Love comes from recognizing one’s merits and positive qualities. (Discipline channels and directs those strengths and weeds out the negative.)
Be compassionate to someone you have reproached.
Friday, May 3
Today is One Week and Four Days of the Omer: Eternity and Might: Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious. Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Am I perceived as a weak disciplinarian?
Extend the plan you made on day two for a longer period of time, listing short-term and long-term goals and review and update it each day, and see how consistent you are, if you follow through.
Saturday, May 4
Today is One Week and Five Days of the Omer: Splendor and Might: The greatest catastrophes have occurred as a result of people sitting in arrogant judgement of others. Am I arrogant in the name of justice (what I consider just)? Do I ever think that I sit on a higher pedestal and bestow judgement on my subjects below?
Don’t judge anyone unless you are doing so selflessly with no personal bias.
Sunday, May 5/Erev Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Today is One Week and Six Days of the Omer: Foundation and Might: For discipline to be effective it must be coupled with commitment and bonding. Both in disciplining yourself and others there has to be a sense that the discipline is important for developing a stronger bond. Not that I discipline you, but that we are doing it together for our mutual benefit.
Demonstrate to your child or student how your bonding with each other is an essential ingredient in discipline and growth.
Monday, May 6/Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
Today is Two Weeks of the Omer: Majesty and Might: Healthy discipline should bolster self-esteem and help elicit the best in a person; cultivating his sovereignty. And that does not compromise the discipline; on the contrary it fosters and enhances it.
When disciplining your child or student foster his self-respect.
MAKE THIS MINUTE COUNT!
There are still 133 hostages in Gaza including elderly men and women, fathers, young women, disabled, and chronically ill. Go to https://oneminaday.com/ to see how you can help in just one minute a day!
Week 3 (May 7) Gevurah — Justice and Discipline
Tuesday, May 7
Today is Two Weeks and One Day of the Omer: Lovingkindness and Beauty: Truth is accessed through selflessness: rising above your ego and your predispositions, enables you to realize truth. Ask yourself: Is my compassion tender and loving or does it come across as pity? Does my compassion overflow with love and warmth; is it expressed with enthusiasm, or is it static and lifeless?
When helping someone extend yourself in the fullest way; offer a smile or a loving gesture.
Wednesday, May 8
Today is Two Weeks and Two Days of the Omer: Might and Beauty: Express your compassion in a focused and constructive manner by addressing someone’s specific needs. Discipline in compassion is knowing that being truly compassionate sometimes requires withholding compassion. Because compassion is not an expression of the bestower’s needs but a response to the recipient’s needs.
Express your compassion in a focused and constructive manner by addressing someone’s specific needs
Wednesday, May 9
Today is Two Weeks and Three Days of the Omer: Beauty and Beauty: Is my compassion compassionate or self-serving? Is it compassion that comes out of guilt rather than genuine empathy? How does that affect and distort my compassion?
Express your compassion in a new way that goes beyond your previous limitations: express it towards someone to whom you have been callous.
Thursday, May 10
Today is Two Weeks and Four Days of the Omer: Eternity and Beauty: Is my compassion enduring and consistent? Is it reliable or whimsical? Does it prevail among other forces in my life? Do I have the capacity to be compassionate even when I’m busy with other activities or only when it’s comfortable for me? In the middle of the busy day take a moment and call someone that needs a compassionate word.
Defend someone who is in need of sympathy even if it’s not a popular position.
Friday, May 11
Today is Two Weeks and Five Days of the Omer: Splendor and Beauty: Compassion must include humility for it not to be condescending and pretentious. Do I feel superior because I am compassionate? Do I look down at those that need my compassion? Am I humble and thankful to God for giving me the ability to have compassion for others?
Express compassion in an anonymous fashion, not taking any personal credit.
Saturday, May 12/Erev Yom HaZikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day)
Today is Two Weeks and Six Days of the Omer: Foundation and Beauty: For compassion to be fully realized, it needs bonding. It requires creating a channel between giver and receiver. A mutuality that extends beyond the moment of need. A bond that continues to live on.
Ensure that something eternal is built as a result of your compassion.
Sunday, May 13/Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day)
Today is Three Weeks of the Omer: Majesty and Beauty: For compassion to be complete (and enhance the other six aspects of compassion) it must recognize and appreciate individual sovereignty. It should boost self-esteem and cultivate human dignity. Both your own dignity and the dignity of the one benefiting from your compassion.
Rather than just giving them charity, help them help themselves in a fashion that strengthens their dignity.
#BringThemHomeNow
Add your name to the petition from The Hostages and Missing Families Forum. to release the hostages. The goal is 1,000,000 signatures. Can we count on yours?
