Please do not say the phrase Day (Number) out loud, until you have completed the ritual below. If you say this phrase it is considered that you have "counted the Omer" without the appropriate Blessing and ritual and you lesson the energy involved.
Starting on the second day of Pesach which is the evening of the 16th day of Nissan begins the counting of the Omer. This ritual is part of the process of earning the Light of Shavuot, which is the Light of the Revelation of the Torah. This ritual helps you build your vessel in order to reveal the Light of the Torah.
Night of May 8 2023 which is 18th Iyar in the year תשׁפג
Please say all of the below (if unable to read the Hebrew scan the Hebrew letters prior to saying the transliteration) while standing and facing East towards Jerusalem or the Rising of the Sun.
The traditional steps of the ritual are delineated as "traditional," prior to that step. The additional steps are delineated as additional, also prior to that step. It is recommended that you do all of the steps both traditional and additional each day. If time considerations are an issue then please do the traditional steps while doing the additional steps later when you do have the time.
It is best to do the ritual as close right after sundown (in the evening - when you can see three stars in the night sky) as possible. If one has forgotten to do one day and remembers to do so during the day then one should not say the Blessing which is step 3, but do the rest of the ritual. If one has forgotten to do one of the days, the Halacha says there is no way to make it up. I suggest that one make up the missed count without the Blessing (step 3) and then proceed to continue the count with the appropriate count and Blessing. It is better to do the Mitzvah even partially then to stop doing it altogether.
We stand during this process of performing the ritual so that we can be available to draw the Light of Cleansing. When ever we sit in a process of prayer we are manifesting the energy of that particular prayer. An example of this is the saying of the Shema Israel. This draws the energy of Healing and thus we sit when saying this so that we may manifest that Light of Healing.
Traditional
1. This step will cause your soul to knowingly do this Mitzvah with the proper Kavenah (intention).
Please say the following:
Transliteration
Leshem Yechud Kudsha Berich Hu VeShekintay (יאהדונהי) Bidchilu Urchimu (יאההויהה) Urchimu Udchilu (איההיוהה) Leyachda Shem Yood Hay and Vav Hay Beyachuda Shalaim (יהוה) BeShem Kol Israel Henay Anachnu Ba'Aim Lekayaim Mitzvat Sephirat HaOmer. LaAsot Nachat Ruach LeYotzranu VeLaAsot Ratzon Boranu. Vayhi Noam Adonai Elohainu Alainu UmaAsay Yadainu Connah Alainu Yamaseh Yadainu Conanaihu.
Translation
For the sake of unification between the Holy Blessed One and His Shechinah, with fear and love and with Love and Fear, in order to unify the Name Yood Hay and Vav Hay in perfect unity, and in the Name of all Israel, we have hereby come to fulfill the commandment of the Counting of the Omer. In order to give pleasure to our Maker and to fulfill the wish of our Creator. May the pleasantness of HaShem, our God, be upon us and may He establish the work of our hands for us and may the work of our hands establish Him.
Step 2. Here are some additional Verses to say or scan.
Traditional
תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 138:8
Transliteration
Adonai Yigmor BeAdi Adonai Chasdecha LeOlam MaAsay Yadicha El Teref.
Translation
The LORD will accomplish that which concerneth me; Thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever; forsake not the work of Thine own hands.
תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 57:3
Transliteration
Ehkrah LaiElohim Elyon LaEil Gomair Alai:
Translation
I will cry unto God Most high; unto God that accomplisheth it for me.
יחזקאל YeHeZKeL Ezekiel 16:6
Transliteration
VaEhEhVor AhLaYiech VaEhrAich MitBoSehSeht BeDaMaYich VayOmar Lach BeDaMaYich ChaYi VaOMaR Lach BeDaMaYich ChaYai:
Translation
And when I passed by thee, and saw thee wallowing in thy blood, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live; yea, I said unto thee: In thy blood, live;
תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 104:1
Transliteration
Barki Nafshi Et Adonai Elohim Elohai Gadalta Meod Hod Vehadar LaVashta:
Translation
Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, Thou art very great; Thou art clothed with glory and majesty.
תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 104:2
Transliteration
Oteh Ohr Kasalma NoTeh Shamayim KaiRiAh:
Translation
Who coverest Thyself with light as with a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain;
Step 3. Say this Blessing which activates Surrounding Light or Ohr Makif.
Traditional - review the discussion above regarding when not to say this Blessing.
This link (below) teaches the Kavenah for all Blessings. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with this Kavenah and do this with every Blessing that you say. It will enhance your connection to the Creator.
Transliteration
Baruch Ata Adonai (יוד הא ואו הא)Ehlohainu Melech HaOLam Asher KidShanu BeMitzvotav Vetzivanu Al Sephirat HaOmer:
Translation
Blessed are You HaShem Our God, King of the Universe, Who set us aside in order to sanctify us with his Mitzvot and instructed us to Count the Omer (at this time).
Specific Kavenah to this Blessing.
Large Hebrew Letters above have a Gematria of 65 which is the same as Adonai, a Name of God relating to Malchut or manifestation. Malchut is our physical world.
Step 4. Saying the next Hebrew Statement is the actual "Counting of the Omer"
Traditional
The purpose of Counting the Omer is to climb the Tree of Life Sephira by Sephira, as well as to count up to the Day of Shavuot with anticipation. We actually count in three different ways. One is to count days. One is to count days of weeks and the third way is to count the Sephirot.
Transliteration
HaYom Sheloshah VeSheloshim Yom LaOmer SheHaim ArbaAh Shavuot VeChamisha Yamim
Translation
Today is Day Thirty Three of the Omer which is Four Weeks and Five Days.
Step 5. Ohr Penimi - Inner Light
Traditional
Transliteration
HaRachaman Hu YaChazeir Ahvodat Bait Hamikdash Limkomah Bimharah BeYamanu AMEN:
Translation
The Merciful One, He will return the Service of the Holy Temple to its place, speedily, in our days. And we all say Amen.
Step 6. Per the ARI (Rabbi Isaac Luria) we utilize Psalm 67 in 2 specific ways to cleanse specific attributes of our character in order to elevate a specific Sephira. This Psalm is unique in that it has 7 verses with 49 words and the middle verse has 49 Letters. We will utilize a word each day (Large Bold Letters) during the counting and also a Letter (Large Bold Italic Letter) within the middle verse for spiritual cleansing. The more one learns about each Letter and Word the stronger, more thorough their cleansing will be. The cleansing of a specific character trait allows one to move higher (closer) to HaShem. This is called Building Your Vessel in Kabbalah.
Traditional
תהלים TeHiLiM Psalms 67
Transliteration
Translation
Verse 1: For the Leader; with string-music. A Psalm, a Song.
Kavenah
This first verse does not count as one of the 7 verses as it is describing the type of Psalm:
Verse 2
Transliteration
EloHim YaChaNanu VeVarkanu YaAir Panav ETanu Selah:
Translation
God be gracious unto us, and bless us; may He cause His face to shine toward us; Selah
Verse 3
Transliteration
LadaAt BaAretz Darkehcha Bekal Goyim YeShuAhTecha
Translation
That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy salvation among all nations.
Verse 4
Kavenah
Transliteration
Yoducha Ahmim Elohim Yoducha Ahmim KuLam:
Translation
Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God; let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.
Verse 5
Transliteration
Yismechu Verannu LeUMiM Ki TeshPot AhMiM MiShor Ulumim BaAretz Tanchaim SELAH:
Translation
O let the nations be glad and sing for joy; for Thou wilt judge the peoples with equity, and lead the nations upon earth. Selah
Kavanah
There are actually only 48 Letters in this verse not 49 as the ARI teaches. He adds one Italic Vav to equal a total of 49 Letters. This s quite a common technique since the vowel itself is the Vav only the word is spelled incompletely and will change when the Mashiach arrives.
The Vav is a connecting tool. Evaluate yourself - where do you need connection improvement - HaShem? Family? Neighbors? Friends? or all of them?
Verse 6
Transliteration
Yoducha Ahmim Elohim Yoducha Ahmim KuLam:
Translation
Let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, O God; let the peoples give thanks unto Thee, all of them.
Elohim is the Name of God dealing in the frame of Judgment. This same name is used to describe judges in the physical world. Are you following God's plan or are you using Elohim as a man made judge? What do you need to do to change Elohim into HaShem?
Verse 7
Transliteration
Ehretz Natnah Yevulah Yevarkanu Elohim Ehlohainu:
Translation
The earth hath yielded her increase; may God, our own God, bless us.
Verse 8
Transliteration
Yevarkanu Elohim VeYeru Oto Kal Afsai Aretz:
Translation
May God bless us; and let all the ends of the earth fear Him.
Step 7: It is now time to say the Ana Bekoach which has 42 words (actually 49 - the seventh word in each verse is the word with all of the first letters of the other six words - they are printed at the end of the verse). This is the 4th cleansing tool that we will utilize tonight. The Letter that we will use tonight will be large and bolded. Stop and meditate on that Letter using the Kavenah written below the verse.
Traditional
Verse 1
Kavenah on First Verse
Meditation while saying the first verse of the Ana Bekoach is "unconditional Love". As well as removing the negative aspect of the physical world as well as the Power of Redemption.
Transliteration
Tzerurah Tatir Yemincha Gedulat BeCoach Ana
7th word is pronounced Aleph Bet Gimmel Yood Tav Tzadi
Translation
Please - with Power - Greatness - Your Right Side - Releasing - Knot
Verse 2
Kavenah on Second Verse
Meditation while saying the second verse of the Ana Bekoach is "Tearing Up Satan" and "Guarding our Gates". Our gates (eyes, ear, nose, and mouth) are the entry point for the negative system.
Transliteration
Norah Taharenu Sagvenu Amcha Rinat Kabel
7th word is pronounced Koof Reish Ayin Sin Tet Nun
Translation
Awesome - Purified - Our Praise - Your People - Rejoicing - Receive
Verse 3
Kavenah on Third Verse
Meditation while saying the third verse of the Ana Bekoach is Parnassus and Sustenance and returning the energy that we gave away.
Transliteration
Shamraim Cevavat YeChudecha Dorshai Gibor Na
7th word is pronounced Nun Gimmel Dalet Yood Caf Shin
Translation
Observe - Like a Letter Bet - Your uniqueness - Demand - Strengthen - Please
Verse 4
Kavenah on fourth Verse
Meditation while saying the fourth verse of the Ana Bekoach is Eternal Victory and Acknowledgment
Transliteration
Gamlaim Tamid Tzidkatecha Rachamai Tacharaim Barchaim
7th word is pronouncedBet Tet Reish Tzadi Tav Gimmel
Translation
Grant Them - Eternal - Righteous - Compassion - Purify Them - Bless Them
Verse 5
Kavenah on fifth Verse
Meditation while saying the fifth verse of the Ana Bekoach is Appreciation and Thankfulness
Transliteration
Adatecha Nahail Toovcha Barchaim Kadosh Chasin
7th word is pronouncedChet Koof Bet Tet Nun Ayin
Translation
Your People - Govern - Goodness - Abundance - Holy - Invincible Your
The letter Nun has two shapes. One is a final letter. One form is called bent and the other straight. How can you be more straight and less bent in your life?
Verse 6
Kavenah on sixth Verse
Meditation while saying the sixth verse of the Ana Bekoach is "spreading the wisdom of Kabbalah"
Transliteration
Kedushatecha Zochrai Penai Le-Amcha Ga-eh Yachid
7th word is pronouncedYood Gimmel Lamed Pey Zion Koof
Translation
Your Holiness - Remember - Turn - Your People - Proud - Unity
Verse 7
Kavenah on seventh Verse
Meditation while saying the seventh verse of the Ana Bekoach is "completion and perfection through / with Loving Kindness"
Transliteration
Ta-Alumot Yodaya Tziakatanu Ooshmah Kabel Shavatanu
7th word is pronouncedShin Koof Vav Tzadi Yood Tav
Translation
Hidden - You Know - Our Wail - And Hear - Receive - Our Cry
Verse 8
This Verse is said "silently" in a whisper
Kavenah
This verse grounds any excess energy
Transliteration
Va-Ed Le-Olam Malchuto Kevod Shem Baruch
Translation
Forever World Your Kingdom Honor Name Blessing
Step 8: The Baal Shem Tov teaches that the 42 stops that the Children of Israel made while in the desert for 40 years is a metaphor for the Stages of our Life and can also be used for the steps of any process. Here is the teaching by Rabbi Simon Jacobson expanding the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov by using modern psychology.
Additional
Thirty Third Journey: They left Etzyon Gever and camped in Kadesh, in the Tzin Desert
Tzin and Kadesh are so called because here the people “were commanded” (tzin form the words tzav, command) and here they “were sanctified” (Talmud, Shabbos 89a). Kadesh is an eventful location: In this place Miriam passed away (Numbers 20:1), and the incident of the “Waters of Strife” happened (ibid 20:2-13): After the water from Miriam’s well ceased flowing (due to her death) and the Jews complained that they had no water, Moses fatefully struck the rock instead of speaking to it, which brought upon the sad decree that Moses and Aaron would not enter the Promised Land. This is another reason that this location was called Kadesh, because G-d was sanctified in this place (Bamidbar Rabbah 19:14; Tanchuma Numbers 11). What this means in our life journey is a challenge to our commitment. There will be consequential times – due to excessive circumstances (a death, a major change, a transition) when everything we believe in will be on the line. We then have the choice: Will we sanctify G-d’s name or not?
Meditation
At this location Moshe was given the people an opportunity to grow spiritually. He chose not to give them the opportunity. Are there people or situations where you are not giving people and opportunity to grow spiritually. Perhaps because you think that their perceptions or dreams are not truly "practical".
Step 9: We will now count the Sephirot as part of the "Counting of the Omer".
Please say the following in which ever language you prefer. Hebrew is recommended, due to the energy that it generates:
Transliteration
Ribono Shel Olam, Ata Tzivitanu All Ydi Moshe Avdecha LiSPor Sepherot HaOMeR KeDai LetaHaRaiNu MiklePoTaNu UMTuMATaiNu KiMo ShKaTaVTa BeToRaTach: USPaRTaM LaChem MimCHaRaT HaSHaBaT MeYoM HaVeAhCHeM ET OMeR HaTeNuFah SheVa SheBaToT TeMiMoT Te'YeNa: MiMaCHaRaT HaSHaBaT HaSHVeIT TeSaFRU CHaMiSHiM YoM KeDai SHeYeTaHaRu NaFSHoT AhMCHa YiSRaEL MeZoHaMaTaM: UVCHaiN YeHi RaTZoN MilFaNeCHa HaShem ELoHaNu ELoHai AVoTaNu SheBiZKuT SeFiRudT HaOMeR SHeSeFaRTi HaYoM YeTuKaN Ma SHePaGaMTe BeSePHeRa
Translation
Master of the World, You have Commanded us through Moshe Your Servant to enumerate the counting of the Omer, in order to purify us from the Klipot and our defilements. This is as it is written in Your Torah: And you shall count for yourselves, from the day following the Shabbat, from the day on which you bring the portion of your wave offering, there shall be 7 complete weeks, until the day following the seventh week. You shall count 50 days so that the spirits of your Nation Israel shall be purified from their defilements (Leviticus 23:15-16): Therefore may it be pleasing before you HaShem our God and the God of our Forefathers, that by virtue of the Counting of the Omer, that i have counted today, the flow that i have caused in the Sefirah of
Kavenah and Actual Counting
Transliteration
Hod Shebe Hod
Translation
Splendor, Praise, Submission, Humbleness, and Potential Manifestation
Instruction and Kavenah for meditation
After saying the above phrase, (which is the actual counting of the Sephira) STOP and meditate on what is the meaning of this phrase. Here are some attributes that will help you. Realize that this list is not complete.
Eternal Victory over Death, Acknowledgement
Hod is Splendor, Praise, Submission, Humbleness, and Potential Manifestation
This week is in the frame of Hod
Continue to finish the paragraph as follows:
Transliteration
VeTaHaiR VeETKaDeSH BeKDuSHa SHeL MaALa Amein SeLah:
Translation
will be corrected and i shall be purified and sanctified with supernal sanctity, AMEN SELAH:
You have now finished the Traditional Counting of the Omer. Please continue as the additional sections will help you to build your vessel to receive the Light of the Torah which is revealed on Shavuot.
Step 10: Each day of the year there are Tzadikim (Righteous People) who have chosen to leave this world on a particular day. There is a connection between these souls and this day. They ask us to utilize their connection to HaShem, to strengthen our own connection to HaShem, and to our spiritual actions during this day.
The more one learns about a particular Tzadik, the better is ones connection to their channel ability. All these actions are bringing us closer to HaShem.
Historically Birthdays have not been celebrated by the Jewish World until the last 200 - 300 years. Kabbalah teaches that the Birthdate represent the Keter or potential of the Soul while the Death Anniversary or Hilula represents the actual accomplishments of the Soul. While the Hilula is the stronger of the two from our perspective we can also utilize the Birth Date of a Tzadik to assist us in our spiritual connection.
Step 11: Rabbi Chaim Drizin (zoharialev@aol.com) teaches that there is a correlation between the Sephira we just counted and the 55 Prophets from the Book of Prophets in the Tanach. By studying the verses that were channeled to US through these male and female Prophets we enhance our connection to the Sephira and continue to build our vessel.
Rabbi Drizin teaches that the Prophet associated with Hod Shebe Hod is Isaiah HaNavi.
Below are a few verseds and it is our intention to add more verses as time permits.
Second Kings Chapter 19 Verse 2
Transliteration
to be done later
Translation
And he sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, unto Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz.
There is a modern commentary that connects 49 WOMEN mentioned in the Tanach to the 49 Days of the Omer. The woman connected to Hod Shebe Hod is Chuldah (II Kings 22; II Chron. 34:14-28)
A righteous king of Judah, named Josiah, discovers that the high priest has discovered a sacred scroll in the Temple. But Josiah does not know if the scroll is authentically the word of God. He asks a delegation of his royal officers to go to Chuldah, a prophetess who lives in Jerusalem, and find out from her whether he should govern according to the words of the mysterious scroll. Chuldah delivers her verdict: the scroll is authentic. Chuldah, a woman, is the first person in the Bible ever to canonize a text. Hod, glory, can refer to prophecy, and Chuldah represents hod shebe'hod, prophecy within prophecy, for her prophecy allows Israel to experience the prophetic voice in a new way.
The Thirty Third day of the Omer is also Lag B’Omer. Lag B’Omer is a minor holiday frequently celebrated with bonfires and with the cutting of the hair of young boys. It is a holiday concerned with mystical revelations, marking the yahrtzeit (death date) of the mystic Shimon bar Yochai and the day manna fell from heaven. It is appropriate that Chuldah be remembered on a day that celebrates prophecy.
Additional
Step 12: Here are some additional insights into the consciousness of Hod She BeHod from Rabbi Drizin, as well as some additional thoughts from Chanoch
Kevenah about Hod Shebe Hod
Reading these will help to grow your vessel. Meditation using these letters of הוד שבהוד after reading the Kavenah will also be beneficial.
Gematria
Hod SheBe Hod has an external gematria of 332. 332 is equal to 72 + 260. This connects to the potential energy of "the wisdom of HaShem".
Step 13: The Pirkei Avot teaches 48 ways to ACQUIRE TORAH
The Thirty Third method to Acquire the Torah taught in the Pirke Avot Chapter 6 is by Ohev Es Misharim - Loving the Righteous Path
The Bais HaLevi once told a dazzling Chiddush during his Shiur in the hallowed halls of the Volozhin Yeshiva. Afterwards one of his favorite talmidim went over to him and apologetically told him that he enjoyed the Shiur very much but out of Kavod for his Rebbi he wanted to inform him that he had seen the same "Chiddush" in one of the Rishonim.
"Why do you need to apologize", asked the Bais HaLevi with a glowing smile? "You just told me great news that gives me a great deal of satisfaction. Think about it, he said. If you go on a nice straight paved road you will bump into many people along the way. Not so if you take a windy dirt road through the forest. Then you are alone and won't meet a soul."
A well thought out logical Svara is the product of many great minds. If its yours alone, it is probably a thorny mess (Toras Chaim). If you seek to dazzle others with adventurous tales, you'll take the forest route that is fraught with obstacles and you may not make it out alive. To be koneh Torah you need to seek the truth, the straight path which is often a wide open public highway.
Step 14 - The 49 letters of Shema Israel
The Caf as a word means Palm and represented the vessel to hold things. What are you holding that you need to let go?
The Sha’ar Hakavanot (collection of Kabbalistic teachings) writes that after one counts the Omer – meaning, after reciting the Beracha and then counting that day’s number – one should offer a prayer for the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash. The text of this prayer is, “Harahaman Hu Yahazir Abodat Bet Hamikdash Limkomah Bimhera Beyamenu Amen” (“The Merciful One shall restore the service of the Temple to its place, speedily and in our days, Amen”).
The reason for this practice is that according to most Halachic authorities, the Mitzvah of counting the Omer applies nowadays Mi’de’rabbanan – by force of Rabbinic enactment – as opposed to Torah law. The Torah obligation of Sefirat Ha’omer applied only in the times of the Bet Hamikdash, when we offered the special Omer sacrifice, whereas nowadays, in the absence of Bet Hamikdash, when we cannot bring this offering, our counting is only commemorative. Therefore, after we count the Omer each night, we pray to God to rebuild the Bet Hamikdash so we can offer the Korban Ha’omer, and then we will be able to count in fulfillment of the actual Mitzvah. And even according to those authorities (such as the Rambam) who maintained that Sefirat Ha’omer is required by Torah law nowadays, we offer a prayer that the Temple will be rebuilt so we can offer the Korban Ha’omer.
This also answers the question addressed by the Halachic authorities as to why we do not recite the Beracha of “Shehehiyanu” the first time we count the Omer each year. As we know, whenever we perform a Mitzva that presents itself on infrequent occasions, we recite the Beracha of “Shehehiyanu.” Seemingly, this should apply to Sefirat Ha’omer, as well, yet Halacha does not require reciting this Beracha before the counting of the Omer. The reason is that when we count the Omer, we are mindful of the fact that we count only as a commemoration of the actual Mitzvah, which we cannot fulfill in its true form due to the absence of the Bet Hamikdash. The counting of the Omer thus evokes a degree of sorrow, and does not warrant the recitation of the festive “Shehehiyanu” blessing.
This page is still under construction and will be added to each year as preparation for the Omer period.
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