MAKING EACH DAY COUNT

This week’s parasha includes the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer—Counting of the Omer—a commandment that directly relates to the period we are currently in. What’s striking is that we are not merely asked to know what day it is, but to say it aloud. This Shabbat, we declare: “Today is the 34th day of the Omer, making four weeks and six days.” Verbalising the count is essential.

The Kabbalists take this mitzvah further. They teach that each day of the Omer reflects a unique combination of Divine attributes, or sefirot. There are seven emotional sefirot. Each week is associated with one, and each day further refines it through another. For instance, day one is Chessed she’b’Chessed—Kindness within Kindness. Day 34, this Shabbat, is Yesod she’b’Hod—Bonding within Humility. This combination reminds us that true humility should not lead to isolation, but to deep connection and lasting relationships. It prompts the question: does our humility bring us closer to others and help build something enduring?

Rav Joseph B. Soloveitchik (1903–1993) offers a powerful reflection on the act of counting. Hebrew uses two verbs for this: limnot and lispor. Limnot refers to counting towards a goal—such as forming a minyan. It doesn’t matter who the ten are, as long as the number is met. Lispor, from which Sefira derives, is different. Here, each unit holds individual value. It’s like a jeweller counting diamonds—each one is held up and admired for its unique qualities.

This perspective transforms the way we approach the Omer. Rather than simply moving through time towards Shavuot, we’re encouraged to see each day as a destination in itself. In a culture so driven by milestones and results, Sefirat HaOmer teaches us that the process matters too. The everyday moments—the quiet spaces between milestones—are where much of life’s depth and beauty reside.

By counting aloud and contemplating the spiritual quality of each day, we develop a greater sense of mindfulness and gratitude. Our awareness shifts—not just to the date, but to the meaning embedded in each day, and to the people we share it with.

The poet William Blake captured this beautifully:

To see a world in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.

Let us use these days of the Omer not merely to count time, but to elevate time—and truly make each day count.