Did you know that the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot have their own special significance in Jewish tradition? These 49 days are known as the Omer period, representing the sacrificial grain offerings that were once brought to the Temple during this time.

Traditionally, Jews track each of these days as part of a practice called Counting the Omer. Public celebrations and festivals were once put on pause in order for people to more fully engage with the reflective nature of the Omer count.

Each week of the Omer is associated with a particular aspect of Divinity. The count begins this year at the close of the second Passover Seder and Shabbat on Saturday, April 16th, with the sephira, or Divine aspect, of Chesed (Lovingkindness). 

The sephirot (plural of sephira) in the weeks following Chesed are, in order, Gevurah (Boundaries), Tiferet (Balance), Netzach (Endurance), Hod (Surrender), Yesod (Foundation), and Malchut/Shekhinah (Sovereignty). 

Counting the Omer is an ancient ritual, but it’s also one that can still be relevant to us today when we reframe it as a mindfulness practice. 

Here are some simple ritual ideas to calm your mind and soothe your soul!


haggadah Section: Introduction