Counting the Omer

Counting the Omer: Week of Chesed

On the second night of Passover we begin the process of “ counting the omer.” This 49 day period is what I’ve called before our, “trek in the desert.” It is the time of purification and growth between leaving Mitzrayim and receiving the revelation at Sinai on Shavuot. I’ve posted resources in past years, as I’ve tried to increase my observance of this practice. This year I hope you’ll join me in an exploration of the omer each week. I’ll be posting on the theme of the week and providing some resources. I hope you’ll engage in an exploration of the main “sephira” of the week with me.

A quick explanation of the practice is well summarized by the folks at RitualWell.org:

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.


Chesed, as envisioned by Angela Raincatcher

Each week there is a “lead” sephira” and each of the others is put “within” that lead. You’ll see it phrased as Chesed within Chesed (חסד שבחסד) or Gevirah within Chesed (גברה שבחסד). If you read Hebrew, you can use this template I created a couple of years ago to follow along ( PeelaPom Omer Calendar PDF). It starts at the top right and moves to the left. When you finish a row, you return the first square on the right on the row below.

This week in counting the omer we begin with Chesed, or “loving kindness.” It was this concept that made me want to engage others in conversation about this whole process. How amazing is it that after 400 years of slavery and an Exodus from Miztrayim, the first thing we are asked to explore is loving-kindness!

The first week, which explores Chesed (loving-kindness), looks like this:

Loving-kindness within Loving-kindness
Strength within Loving-kindness
Compassion (Beauty) within Loving-kindness
Endurance within Loving-kindness
Glory within Loving-kindness
Connection within Loving-kindness
Majesty within Loving-kindness

I don’t know yet what this will mean, but I hope that by adding this to my daily prayers for this week I’ll experience something new. I think I might add this to my evening prayers, which usually take about 10 seconds before I fall asleep. Since I’ll be doing it at night, I guess I should say the traditional blessing first. I think by doing this at night, it will provide an opportunity for my unconscious mind to explore the idea in my dreams.

DAYS TO 50: 350