We prepare to receive "The Great Gift"
We are in the time of the Omer, also known as the "Counting the Omer" (Which are the seven weeks that occur between Pesach and Shavuot).
A very important period that greatly influences our lives... Can this period affect us or benefit us?
"The Omer" besides being a period of affliction and a time of Teshuva, we can say that it is a time of investment!
The Omer is Yamim shel Teshuva, (days of repentance and return) where the objective is to reach: "Matan Torah" through Teshuva and Ahavat Israel: the true love of our people, unity and the power of gratitude.
The Prophet Yermiyahu (Jeremiah) says: They did not say in their hearts: "Let us now fear HaShem our Elohim, who sends the early and latter rain in due season, who watches over for us the appointed weeks of harvest. Your sins have put them all aside, and your iniquities have prevented good from you." (Yermiyahu 5:24,25)
He who gives the rain, both early and late, also has the power to withhold it. Shouldn't we fear Him and refrain from arousing His wrath? Even after HaShem saturated the soil with the early rain and caused the latter rain to fall on the dry, chaff-filled fields… as long as the seven weeks of harvest between Pesah and Shavuot have not passed, the world continues to need and expect Him.
"Who takes care of the fixed weeks of the harvest for us" from the previous dews and the dangerous winds of the strong gusts, from the harmful worm, should we not fear it and refrain from provoking it?
During this period of seven weeks our livelihood is at stake, it can be blessed with abundance or cursed with famine, as the sages show us: If we seek Teshuva, we have a true Havat Israel ¨Love for our neighbor¨ By preserving unity and applying the power of gratitude, we will reach our goal: Matan Torah! The treasures of life, blessings and abundance are opened... the Shefaj! But if we lack Teshuva, pure Love, unity in our people and faithful gratitude, then we must truly fear that HaShem's wrath will be kindled during this period.
"It will be seven complete weeks" (Vaikra-Leviticus 23:16)
'Vaikra Raba 28' tells us: When are they complete? That is, without setbacks or catastrophes? When the People of Israel fulfill the will of HaShem!
Since this is a long period of a 50-day trial, the suffering of anxiety that can be experienced is immense, because we wish for it to pass successfully, without incidents or tragedies, therefore we learn that it is essential to maintain appropriate behavior towards our fellow men during these days, with harmony and peace, in addition to maximum gratitude to Ha Kadosh Baruch HU, because trials lie in wait for us at any moment.
We can remember in our history how many catastrophes occurred during this time:
-As in the case of the talmidim of Rabbi Akiba, In the Talmud in "Yevamot 62A" it tells about the 24 thousand disciples of Rabbi Akiba "from Guevat to Antipras, and they all died at the same time because they did not treat each other with respect" in this Baraita we learn that they all died between Pesah and Shavuot and it tells us about the lack of unity, lack of Hava, true love between them.
-In Germany during this period of the Omer, It was repeated in a great way, in 1096 during the first crusade, entire communities were destroyed, adults, children were massacred and many scholars were burned at the stake.
Rabbi David HaLevi in his writing Turei Zahav specifically mentions the events surrounding the First Crusade as a reason for observing the Omer period as a time of mourning, as well as Rabbi Yeruham and the Baal HaTurim, writing in the name of Rabbi Hai Ha Gaon about certain prohibitions for the Omer period.
-In Poland and Russia in 1648-1649 by Bodgan Chmielnicki "May their memory and name be erased," the riots began before Pesah, accusing us Jews of ritual murder, they continued throughout the Omer period, communities were devastated, rivers of blood of martyred Jews flowed through the streets.
-And now just a few days ago we remember "Yom Ha Shoa" The Holocaust, the terrible tragedy that our people experienced in 1941 and late 1942 when they tried to annihilate the entire Jewish population in Europe.
Despite so many misfortunes like some of the ones already mentioned, many of us may perhaps understand the difficulty that this time manifests until now in our days.
In our town, even today, many prepare themselves arduously to have a true teshuvah. "Yamim shel Teshuva" as well as maintaining a state of gratitude in the face of any test, since we know that every test is part of a purification within that teshuva, "and everything is for our good" to ultimately achieve the kadosha "a greater level of holiness in our lives" and being able to reach Matan Torah! "Shavuot" HaShem allows it!
Our wise men say about the way we should adopt, it is very important to maintain in these days is the true Love for our fellow men, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" and within this great Mitzvah there are attitudes that we must take care of meticulously, such as Lashon Haraha "gossip and slander", verbal exploitation, also envy, how harmful it is and is found deep in the hearts of many people, and we know that sometimes this is the initiator of lashon hara, so we must change these bad attitudes for an attitude of "Total Gratitude" and "elevating Chesed" (Charity, Kindness) comfort the grieving, visit the sick, In short, as the great Sage Hillel said: "Do not do to others what you would not have done to you, this is the whole Torah."
Thunder and lightning were heard over Har Sinai and called by Rabbeinu Moishe!...
The groom is waiting for the bride to arrive at the chuppah!
Let us prepare during this time if we want to receive the Good of "The Torah"!
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