Parashat Emor Leviticus 21:1-24:23 As we stand in the midst of Sefirat Ha-Omer, the period of counting 49 days from Pesach to , we read the that has the instructions for this count. Parashat Emor teaches: "From the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering – the day after the Sabbath – you shall count off seven weeks. They must be complete: you must count until the day after the seventh week – fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord" (Lev. 23:15). Traditionally, each night of the Omer before the ritual counting, this selection from Parashat Emor is recited. While however, the biblical text is explicit about our need to count, the reason for counting is a mystery. The of the understood this period as a countdown to Matan , God's gift of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The connection between the biblical pilgrimage festivals (, Shavuot and ) and the sacred events of Jewish history introduces a conceptual frame for understanding Jewish theology. Franz Rosenzweig argues that these three festivals map out the linear path of redemptive history. Passover corresponds to Creation–a time of renewal and rebirth in nature and the story of the birth of our free Jewish nation. Shavuot corresponds to Revelation–the moment God's will transmitted to the Jewish people and a covenant established through Torah. Sukkot corresponds to Redemption–a time in which we live under the sheltering embrace of God's Presence and enjoy the full bounty of God's blessings. Creation, Revelation and Redemption are the three pivotal benchmarks in our sacred history. This progression of sacred history can map in another way to reflect our developing relationship with God. The rabbis and especially the mystics of our tradition understood our relationship with God through the analogy of a passionate love affair. From this perspective, our map of "Creation-Revelation-Redemption" can articulate as the three-stage process of a marriage. Betrothal / Wedding / Union is another beautiful conceptual frame for understanding the holiday cycle. Pesach represents our betrothal to God, who took us out of Egypt and set us apart to become God's holy nation. Shavuot represents our wedding day – standing under the chuppah of Sinai and receiving the Torah, our ketubah. Finally, Sukkot represents "yichud" – our union with God as we dwell together with God in the . We count from Passover to Shavuot to show our gratitude for Torah and God's presence in our lives. Counting down heightens our excitement and anticipation, just like we count days till our birthdays or until summer vacation. Counting reminds us that we should count our blessings. Counting days teaches us to make each day count.

Shabbat Shalom Silvia Eilath