Counting the Omer

Person marking tally marks on a weathered concrete wall.

The period between Passover and Shavuot marks two kinds of movement through time: the passage of the seven weeks between the barley offering and the first wheat offering at the ancient Temple during these spring festivals, and the transition from slavery to true liberation. On Passover, we leave Egypt, but on Shavuot we receive the Torah, which gives us our purpose as a people, answering the question of the ultimate goal of our collective freedom. For many people, the “counting of the Omer”—these 49 days—provides a time for reflection and growth, often using the seven “lower” emanations of God in the kabbalistic system as spiritual themes for each day and week. Another extraordinary approach offers the opportunity to meditate each day on a biblical woman whose life reflects the mystical qualities associated with that day.

Latest Rituals

A song praising the Shekhinah

a person stands on a beach with arms open wide

The desire to create requires discipline

A woman in a floral dress stands outdoors with arms outstretched, enjoying the sunrise over lush greenery.

Thankfulness practices for Omer day 7

A person sits at the front of a boat, gazing at a sunset over a calm sea, with hills in the distance.

Power grounds kindness like a spool and thread

Person outdoors draping a colorful shawl over their head, set against a green, leafy background.

A meditation on power and family relations

a person hugs another person who is crying

Grounding kindness in community

A group of smiling people, mostly women, with hands raised in celebration, indoors.

Finding the beauty in acts of kindness during the Omer

A woman with a headscarf and a younger woman hug and smile warmly at each other.

Exploring the Omer theme of the day through art

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Meditations and song for counting the Omer day 1

A person sitting cross-legged on grass, smiling and looking up, with sunlight filtering through the trees in the background.

A fun, spirited song to get you in the mood to count the Omer!

Group of girls in white dresses dancing with baskets in a field.

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