#SPSCounts - Passover to Shavout

The Things that (we) Count project was designed to encourage all of us to consider the importance of counting during the season of Sefirat Ha’Omer when the Jewish community concerns itself with counting the days from the Exodus to the Revelation at Mt. Sinai. We asked members of the SPS community to share with us; What do you count? What “counts” for you? Maybe you are counting the days until you are reunited with a loved one? Perhaps you count collectible items from your travels? You might have trouble sleeping and count sheep? The possibilities are limitless, as long as it is important to you Our goal was to gather a short reflection for each day of the Omer on what counting means to a member of our community. We made plans to share these reflections so that we can all enrich our counting of the Omer by learning from each other.  

 So What Have I Been Counting?

I have been counting everyone's submissions. At first, it was about getting to 49. Would we have all the participants we needed to complete the project? However, as I have read each post, it has become about counting all of our blessings, our challenges, our joy, and our sadness. For centuries, counting the Omer has brought our attention to the fragility of life, and this project has shown the incredible impact that the act of counting has on us all. I hope as you read a new submission each day that, you are as moved as I am by all that our community counts. I am so grateful for everyone's thoughtful entries and look forward to discussing your reactions.

On the pages that follow, you will find a page for each week of the Omer, complete with the blessings and a reflection for each night of the Omer. Our writers will be invited to share their submissions at evening minyan on the day of their post, to bring these sacred countings to life. I hope you will consider contacting the author when a post moves you.

Please accept my best wishes for a meaningful Sefirat Ha’Omer and my sincere thanks to all of our contributors. 

B’Shalom,

Rabbi Dave Levy
Director of the Block Center for Jewish Exploration and Education