Machshavot HaLev - Yeshivat Lev HaTorah

145
Emor
Sefirat Ha-Omer – Days of Independence
Rav Boaz Mori
P arshat Emor is most famous for its presentation of the moadim, the holidays of
the Torah. Each mo’ed has its own unique quality and is an ‘appointed time’ imbued
with a specific avoda appropriate for that time. Almost hidden among the moadim is
a section which uncharacteristically highlights an entire period of time, seven weeks
from Pesach to Shavuot, the period in which we count the Omer, known tersely as
‘sefira’.
What is the nature of this period of time that we call Sefirat Ha-Omer?
Today, when people think about ‘sefira’, thoughts of sefira beards, no music and
anticipation for a Lag Ba-Omer hiatus after a long abstention from celebration may
come to mind. These minhagei aveilut are codified in the Shulchan Aruch (OC 493)
and attributed to the death of Rabbi Akiva’s talmidim who died during this period
between Pesach and Shavuot (Yevamot 62b).
However, the Ramban in his commentary on Parshat Emor views the whole sefira
period as one long chol ha-mo’ed. The weeks are ‘yemei simcha,’ days of great celebration
linking two of the shalosh regalim together!
So what is ‘sefira’, a time of joy or a period of mourning?
Perhaps the answer can be found in defining Pesach and Shavuot, the two moadim
which contain the seven weeks. Both holidays embody cherut, freedom.