Between Passover and Shavuot: Counting the Omer and Becoming Free

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Traditional Rabbinic Commentary has determined that the period of time between Passover and Shavuot is a time of deep spiritual growth, learning and healing. Passover commemorates the passage of the Children of Israel from ancient Egyptian slavery, while Shavuot commemorates the experience of revelation on Mount Sinai. Both of these festivals are not based solely upon ancient historic events, but are supposed to be applicable to our own journey as well. We are commanded to observe rituals in order to help us to feel, viscerally, our own path from bondage to freedom.

On Passover, each person is commanded to experience the season as if it were WE, ourselves, who were liberated from Mitzrayim (translated as Egypt, but literally the narrow, restrictive and oppressive spaces in our own lives). The rituals such as eating unleavened bread and horseradish are just some of the many physical activities designated to help us begin to feel this truth in our bodies, not just in our heads.

Many might suggest that the first step to freedom in general is to feel one’s self as free in our bodies, not only our minds. Dr. van der Kolk writes powerfully in his groundbreaking book “The Body Keeps the Score” how experiences of trauma are not easily healed. The rabbis recognized this truth in their explanation of the reason that it took 40 years for the Children of Israel to travel from Ancient Egypt back to the Promised Land… it was an important step in liberation. While Passover commemorates the leaving of Mitzrayim, on a physical level, it would take much longer to be liberated from the internalized bondage that remained deeply imprinted upon the bodies and psyches of those who had been enslaved and oppressed.

For many of us as well, past trauma may continue to haunt us in our bodies, minds, hearts and spirits. We may live with an internalized Pharoah (the rabbis explain that the Hebrew word can be read as “peh ra” which literally means “evil tongue”. How often do we make a mistake and blamed ourselves? Sometimes the most abusive person we can live with is ourselves. Even if we work on becoming kinder to ourselves, we may still carry within us the remnants of trauma through inherited narrative scripts- the ways in which our unconscious continues to push us into the same unhealthy patterns over and over and over again.

It is therefore critical that we understand that the festival of freedom is not a one-time event. Rather, it is a step by step journey. We begin by understanding from whence we come and the ways we carry that trauma with us, and then we continue the journey to healing through learning, healing, integrating, releasing those memories and patterns that cause us harm and unlearning the beliefs and habits that chain us to our past.

The rabbis teach that the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are a time to undertake this healing, and that we should work on this, not just once, but each year. No matter our best efforts, we often find ourselves recreating old scripts. The healing that is needed is deep, and this season is uniquely suited to support us in this spiritual task. The period of time in between these two powerfully transformative events (Passover/Exodus from slavery and Shavuot/Revelation at Mount Sinai) has been determined to be a time of spiritual transition- not only reflective of the journey undertaken during biblical times, but also reflective of the journey that each of us must undertake in our own days.

There are many ways that we can observe and sanctify this sacred time, which the rabbis call “counting the Omer” as a way of honoring the land-based teachings at the foundation of the biblical religion that is the ancestor to both Judaism and Christianity as we now understand it. The Kabbalistic traditions of Judaism explain that it is important for each of us to utilize this time period for our own spiritual healing. Counting the Omer is a way to re-member ourselves and heal ourselves, and in the process, this universe within which we live.

Every night between the second night of Passover and Shavuot, Jews are commanded to count the Omer, and measure the passage of time in an active manner. In what ways does our passage through this world and through this life lead us toward freedom or return us to the same oppressive patterns that we state we wish to leave? Contemporary therapists remind us of the same wisdom that the rabbis of Jewish tradition sought to teach: becoming free is not simply a physical experience. We must reflect upon the ways that we have internalized that which once wounded or oppressed us.

The spiritual and kabbalistic practices involved in the counting of the Omer remind us of the importance of equilibrium and balance. Trauma can throw us off and it is important to stop, breathe, reflect and recalibrate ourselves. When we find ourselves struggling, we must ask ourselves: are we reacting to a current trauma or an echo of an older trauma? In what ways do we prioritize in our mind and in our lives the spiritual nourishment and joy that our souls need?

Just as the Children of Israel depended upon manna throughout their journeys, so do we depend upon the blessings that show up in our daily activities. This is the nourishment that can sustain us in our own journey to healing. The first task to healing and preparing for revelation is to be open to the ways that the universe seeks to nourish us… what can we learn? how can it heal us? the practice of gratitude is essential as we embark upon this period of unlearning and healing…

May each of us take the time we need to tend to the ways our souls are aching to grow and evolve into who we were created to become… may Revelation guide us in our journeys.

Published by rabbi n siritsky

Originally from Montreal, Canada, I studied in Jerusalem at several Orthodox yeshivas, prior to beginning my studies as a Reform rabbi at Hebrew Union College. I am a second generation Holocaust survivor, and early on, wanted to do whatever I could to build a world where hatred and prejudice would never again have the upper hand. For me, studying Judaism from traditional perspectives was crucial because “it was important to understand what we are reforming”. I believe in making educated choices from the rich set of resources provided by Jewish tradition, in order to ensure that every ritual and prayer is meaningful. I was a founding board member of the Society of Classical Reform Judaism (now Roots of Reform), due to my unwavering commitment to advocacy for interfaith families and the creation of inclusive Jewish communities that are unconditionally welcoming of all spiritual seekers, regardless of their religious background, relationship status, identity or Hebrew speaking ability. In addition to nearly two decades working in synagogues, teaching, counseling and participating in life cycle events, I am also a social worker, psychotherapist, mediator and trained as an interfaith chaplain. I worked with the American Red Cross after 9/11, providing counseling and support at the family assistance center, Ground Zero and the morgue. My doctoral research was focused on burnout and compassion fatigue, as part of my years of work in hospice and palliative care. My life experiences have taught me hope and how to cultivate resilience and wisdom. This blog reflects my attempts to distill rabbinic wisdom into insights that can speak to all people. I have dedicated my life to healing and spiritual alchemy. I first began the writings that formed the basis of this blog as part of my role as Vice President of Mission for KentuckyOne Health, an interfaith hospital system that brought together Catholic, secular and Jewish hospital systems, in order to bring wellness, healing and hope to all, including the underserved. I began my weekly reflections on the Torah portion, in order to share some of Jewish Hospital's heritage and values with staff that may not have known much about Judaism. These reflections were then shared by staff with others who asked to be placed on my blind copy list, as well as by the system mission leader of Catholic Health Initiatives to his own reader list, along with his own reflections. I have been profoundly humbled by the reactions to these writings, and as more people have asked to have access to them, I eventually worked to overcome my discomfort with the internet in order to publish them online. I realized that Jews and non-Jews were drawn to my inclusive interpretations of the biblical text, and my reflections on how to apply these in our every day. I believe that, much like the Sufi teaching that describes all the religions of the world like different prayer beads, with the same string of truth that runs through each of them, so too can these ancient spiritual and mystical teachings can come to life, when we reflect on the echoes of other world traditions and by contemporary psychological theory. As my professional journey has continued to evolve, and I have found myself transitioning from pulpit rabbi to community rabbi, to who I am becoming as I seek to move beyond all labels, I have found that this site remains an important way for people to get to know me, and understand my theology. I am fundamentally committed to the sacred act of translation- seeking to discern the Divine through text and life, and to translate those words of Torah and wisdom into reflections that can speak to people of all faith traditions... and in so doing, hopefully encouraging others to do the same. We are all created in the Image of G!d, and as such, each of us has our own unique understanding of the Sacred. In the same way as the rabbis teach that if even one letter from the scroll of the Torah is missing, the entire Torah has lost its sacredness (is no longer kosher), so too is this world diminished so long as people silence themselves. For too long, organized religion has been used as a weapon, to keep people silent and to teach shame... my quest as a rabbi, and indeed, as a human being, is to work to translate religious teachings into redemptive and healing truths, to seek to liberate s/Spirit and to work toward "tikkun olam" (the healing of the universe). My current rabbinate is dedicated to teaching and mentoring other rabbis, and working with interfaith families, as well as those traditionally marginalized from mainstream Judaism. In the same way as the holiness of the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit) can be found in its fringes (tzitzit) so too do I believe that the most important contribution I can make to the Jewish people is "Keruv" (helping people find their way home), and to the broader world is "shleimut" (helping people to find wholeness). I also serve G!d as a social worker, doing what I can to work for justice for all people. It is my prayer that the insights in this blog will bring healing and insight to others, and encourage others to find their voice and path. Thank you for your time reading my work.

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