By: Rabbi Noach Peled
On Him We Count
In this week’s parsha we are introduced to the mitzvah of Korban Omer — the Omer offering. The Korban Omer is offered each year on the 2nd day of Pesach — the 16th of Nisan, from the new grain harvest’s yield.
In addition to the mitzvah of Korban Omer, our Parsha adds another mitzvah which also begins on that same day, the 2nd day of Pesach — the 16th of Nisan, culminating with Shavuos.
וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת־עֹמֶר הַתְּנוּפָה שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימֹת תִּהְיֶינָה
“And you shall count… from the day you bring the (Korban) Omer… seven weeks” (Vayikra 23:15). This mitzvah is known as Sefiras HaOmer — the counting of the Omer.
So, in addition to mitzvas Korban Omer, we also have mitzvas Sefiras HaOmer.
Now, as is obvious from the language of the above pasuk, the Torah is clearly linking the mitzvah to count till Shavuos to the Korban Omer. Why? What is the connection?
To answer this, we must first understand the Korban’s name — Omer.
Other korbanos have specific names which identify and describe their role, like Chatas for a chet (a sin), Toda for hoda’ah (thanks), Olah which is oleh (elevated completely to Hashem), Shelamim which brings shalom (peace), Pesach for Pesach, etc.
Yet this korban is named Omer, which is merely the quantity measurement of this korban. Why is this korban simply named after the amount? Why is that the name of this korban?
The Medrash (Vayikra Rabba 28:3) reads as follows:
“Hashem said to Moshe, go tell Yisroel — when I gave you מן (mann), I provided an omer amount for each of you. Now that you are giving to Me (the Korban Omer), it is but a single omer from all of you collectively.”
The Medrash is teaching that the Korban Omer, which celebrates the new grain harvest, symbolizes the מן. That is why this korban is plainly called Omer — to remind us of the מן which was measured as an omer, and which clearly revealed that Hashem is our Provider and Sustainer, with absolute clarity and no uncertainty.
On Shavuos / Maamad Har Sinai, we committed — and continue to commit — ourselves to the Torah. Commitment to the Torah is no small thing. The Torah creates many physical boundaries, greatly limiting how we live, what we may eat, and significantly regulating what we may or may not do to generate income and earn a living.
We may at times find it difficult to remain fully committed. We may hesitate, because the many limitations and demands can make it hard to live and sustain ourselves.
Therefore, leading up to Shavuos, we are commanded to specifically give an omer amount of the new grain harvest — to bring us back to the מן, and remind us of the true Provider and Sustainer.
And we are further commanded to recall the מן by counting the Omer each day from that point until Shavuos — bringing us to a complete readiness to commit to the Torah, with all its boundaries and limitations, knowing full well that our Provider is boundless and our Sustainer is never limited.
Taken from the Kollel Avreichim Hollywood
