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The period between Pesach and Shavuot is called the “Counting of the Omer” (sefirat ha’omer), after the ancient rite of the bringing of the first sheaf (omer) of the barley harvest to the priest (Lev. 23:9-14). This ceremony began “on the day after the shabbat” (23:11), which the rabbinic tradition understands to mean the day after the festival, that is, the second day of Pesach. Starting from that day, the Torah also instructs that “you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days” (23:15-16). The festival of Shavuot is observed on the fiftieth day. The term Omer means "barley sheaf" and refers to the offering brought to the Temple on the second day of Passover. According to the Bible (Leviticus 22:15):
You shall count for yourselves from the day after the day of rest, from the day brought the Omer of the wave offering; seven complete weeks there shall be, until the day after the seventh week shall you number fifty days...
The counting, which lasts for forty-nine days, takes place at night, commencing with the second night of Pesach. Those who "count the Omer" recite the following benediction:
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha’olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al sefirat ha’omer.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us
with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer.
The counter on this page is coordinated approximately with Eastern Daylight Saving time. Commentary courtesy of Cantor Stuart Binder, Congregation Beth Chaim, Princeton Junction, New Jersey.
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