Counting the Omer: Day 43

Counting the Omer is a practice begun in Biblical times to mark the period between the barley harvest and wheat harvest. From this agricultural rite, it evolved 2000 years ago into a spiritual passage from the Exodus (the liberation from captivity in Egypt or as we translate it in Hebrew: Mitzrayim, the constricted place) to Revelation at Mt. Sinai. In the 16th century, this practice evolved further to become a mystical journey, freeing our soul in service of deepening our connection with the Divine.

Each day of the Omer, we will offer a new teaching and practice for your journey.

To count each new day, stand and recite the following blessing after sunset:
הִנְנִי מוּכָן וּמְזֻמָּן לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר.
Hin’ni muchan uM’zuman l’Kayeim mitzvat asei shel s’firat haOmer.
I am fully present and ready to fulfill the sacred obligation of counting the Omer.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר.
Baruch Atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haOlam, asher kid’shanu b’Mitzvotav v’Tzivanu al s’firat haOmer.
Praise to You, Adonai, Source of Presence, who makes us holy through sacred obligations, commanding us to count the Omer.

הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר.
HaYom Shloshah v’Arba-im Yom Sheheim Shishah Shavuot v’Yom Echad LaOmer
Today is day 43, which is six weeks and 1 day of the Omer.

Counting the Omer with Congregation Shir Hadash is created by Rabbi Ted Riter, Cantor Devorah Felder-Levy, and Rabbi PJ Schwartz