Shavuos

We start counting sefira from the second night of Pesach, and continue until Shavuos for a total of seven weeks, equaling forty-nine days. The Sefer HaChinuch writes that the korban offered on the second day of Pesach is called the “korban haOmer” and was brought from barley. The korban offered on Shavuos is called the “shtei halechem” and was brought from wheat. This hints that we start from the level of an animal which eats barley, and ascend to the level of an adam who eats wheat for his main sustenance.

The Yom Tov that we celebrate receiving the Torah is called Shavuos, which means weeks. This seems to hint at the counting of the seven weeks. What is the celebration of weeks? Rav Shternbach explains that before Matan Torah, Bnei Yisrael were given the mitzvah of Shabbos, in Marah. Because of that, the seventh day of the week is Shabbos which became a special day. The rest of the days of the week however, were still totally chol. This was until Hashem gave us the Torah on the sixth day of Sivan which states the 613 mitzvos, and it changed our everyday lives. Wherever we go there are mitzvos to fulfill: inside in our homes, outside in the fields, and anywhere that we are there is an opportunity for connection to Hashem! Shavous got its name “weeks” to hint at this point. Now that we received the Torah, there are constantly mitzvos for us to perform and become connected to Hashem. For now, that we have the Torah and mitzvos, we are connected to Hashem throughout the whole week.

Sefiras HaOmer connects Pesach to Shavuos. In truth, this is actually connecting the emunah with the Yom Tov Pesach to the Torah with the Yom Tov of Shavuos.  First, we need to believe in Hashem, realize He is One and Only, pays attention to the world, punishes and rewards, and then flowing from that emunah we must follow to fulfill His Torah and mitzvos.

May we reaccept the Torah with the awareness that now we are able to perform His mitzvos throughout the entire week!