Guide to the Jewish Year
or to Lazer's
Talmud Torah
On the second day of Pesach (Passover) the Torah commands us to bring a special offering of barley grain to the Beis HaMikdash (the Holy Temple).This offering is called the Omer. Since the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed we are not presently able to fulfill this mitzva.
From the day of the Omer offering we are required to count forty-nine days. The day after this counting is complete, the fiftieth day, is the holiday of Shavuos, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah to the Jews. The counting is done out loud at night with a brocha (blessing). If one forgot to count by night but remembered by day he should count immediately but he should not make the brocha. If a person missed an entire day he must still count the remaining days but he may not make a brocha.
Because the twenty-four thousand students of Rabbi Akiva (a Sage of the Talmud) died in a thirty-three day period during the time of the counting of the Omer we are required to follow certain practices of mourning for a thirty-three day period during this time. Thus we may not cut our hair, perform weddings, or listen to music during this period. There are a few different customs as to when this period of mourning begins and ends, one should follow the custom of his family and community.
© Eliezer C. Abrahamson