Counting the Omer – What does it mean to us?

The Jews were commanded to bring the Omer offering on the Second Day of Pesach. The offering was brought from barley (considered inferior ) and is therefore considered to be like animal food. This is the idea of the verse, “And I was ignorant and unknowing, like beasts was I with you.” We fulfill this verse by acting with Emunah – Faith, we remove our own thoughts/intellect and make ourselves as if we were a simple animal. Now we can start to count the days and weeks from the bringing of the Omer. We can begin drawing down from the Heavenly Middos – Characteristics and acquire Holy Intellect. We bring all of this into our Emunah and therefore merit to receive the Torah on Shavuot, for only through Emunah can we receive the Torah.

Based on Reb Noson, Likutey Halachos
Translated by Yossi Katz

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