Counting the Omer, Purity, and the Spiritual Path to Shavuot

In the Torah portion of Metzora, there is a commandment that stands at the center of the counting of the Omer. There are different opinions regarding whether women are practically obligated in this commandment. Nevertheless, according to the deeper teachings of Jewish mysticism, there is a profound connection between this mitzvah and a woman’s life and commandments.

The Zohar and the Parallel Between Two Forms of Counting

The holy Zohar in this portion draws attention to the similarity between the wording of the commandment to count the Omer and another commandment related to a woman.

Regarding the Omer, the Torah states: “You shall count for yourselves from the day after the Shabbat, from the day you bring the Omer of the wave offering. Seven complete weeks shall there be… until the day after the seventh Shabbat you shall count fifty days, and you shall offer a new offering to the Lord” (Vayikra 23:15).

A similar expression appears in the portion of Metzora: “When a woman has a discharge of blood… all the days of her discharge she shall be impure as in the days of her menstruation… and if she becomes pure… she shall count for herself seven days, and afterward she shall become pure” (Vayikra 15:28).

This commandment refers to a woman who experiences a discharge and, once the bleeding stops, counts seven days before immersing in the mikveh. Over time, Jewish women accepted upon themselves the practice that after any sight of blood, even a drop as small as a mustard seed, they count seven clean days before purification.

Beyond the similarity in language, what is the deeper connection between these two commandments?

In the section of the Zohar known as Ra’aya Meheimna, it is written regarding the counting of the Omer: Just as a woman who emerges from impurity begins counting seven days, so too when Israel left Egypt they emerged from impurity. After celebrating the Passover sacrifice and sitting at their Father’s table, they began to count in order to draw close again, like a woman returning to her husband.

From Impurity to Purity

In every generation, during the days between Passover and Shavuot, we undergo a spiritual process of moving from impurity to purity.

In Egypt the Jewish people had sunk into forty nine levels of impurity. The prophet describes this state with the words, “I saw you wallowing in your blood” (Yechezkel 16:6). This condition began to change when we left Egypt, but the process was not yet complete.

Seven weeks are required to verify that we are truly cleansed of impurity. Each personal trait must be examined so that we know it shines clearly like a sapphire.

At the same time, the counting expresses our longing, desire, and yearning to reach the awaited day when we can once again fully cleave to God.

The Spiritual Wedding at Sinai

Only after these weeks are we ready for what the sages describe as “the day of His wedding,” referring to the giving of the Torah.

On that day we reunite with God, fulfilling the teaching that Israel, the Torah, and the Holy One are ultimately one.

Rabbi Tzadok HaKohen explains that it is especially fitting that on this day a “new offering” is brought in the Temple. This offering symbolizes the renewal of our relationship with God after a period of distance, like a woman renewing her bond with her husband.

The closeness to God that we strive for can sometimes feel abstract. However, the comparison between “you shall count for yourselves” and “she shall count for herself” provides a beautiful example of how we can deepen our connection with God through experiences we understand in our own lives.

Feelings such as longing for marriage, anticipation of returning to a spouse, and the hope for harmony in a relationship can help us understand the yearning to reconnect with God and strengthen our courage to draw closer to Him.

Lag BaOmer: A Special Day for Children

During the counting period, the festival of Lag BaOmer occurs. There is something unique about the excitement children feel for this day.

Few other days in the Jewish calendar seem to inspire children with such enthusiasm. Many of the customs of the day revolve around them. Children go out to the fields with bows and arrows, participate in parades through the streets, and celebrate the traditional haircut ceremony known as the chalakah.

It is told about the Mitteler Rebbe that on Lag BaOmer many miracles were witnessed, and most of them involved the blessing of children for childless couples.

The Secret of Children

What is the special quality of children that connects them to this day?

Children possess a special charm that is difficult to define. Every child is an entire world, most of which is still hidden and waiting to unfold.

On Lag BaOmer, the day when the hidden secrets of the Torah began to be revealed, it is natural to turn to these pure souls. In their innocence, purity, and freshness, children connect us to something deep and inner within ourselves, something that has not yet been dimmed by the more visible layers of reality.