Dear Friends,
It’s almost Passover. And that means that Shavuot is not far behind: 50 days from 2ndseder to be precise. And in between, we have the period known as the Counting of the Omer. Since 2012 we here at TBA have turned it into an amazing program called Every1Counts (E1C).
This year, we’d like to share your voice with the congregation! Read on for more info!
The biblical word for measure is omer. In biblical times, the Jews used to take a measure of barley, called an omer, to the Temple in Jerusalem as a sacrifice to God to say “thank you” for giving them a good harvest. From the second day of Passover until the festival of Shavuot, we count each day for seven weeks, and each day in ancient times an omer of barley was brought to the Temple. This period between Passover and Shavuot is called the “counting of the omer”. At Passover we escape from Egypt and spend 49 days traveling across the Red Sea, through the dessert to the base of Mount Sinai where we receive the Torah. The journey from slavery to Sinai moves us as a people from slavery to chosen-ness and with chosen-ness comes responsibility.
As Jews, we are taught that we all stood at Sinai and said, ”Naaseh v’nishma: we will do and we will listen.” This year we wish to enhance our community by listening to each other, so we are asking you to tell us, in 150 words or less, “What Does Being Jewish Mean to You?” Then, each day of the 49 days of the omer, we will share one response to the question.
Peace and Blessings,
Rabbi David K. Holtz |
Cantor Margot E.B. Goldberg |
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