JERUSALEM — As dusk falls across Israel, Jews nationwide gather to participate in the nightly ritual of Sefirat HaOmer—counting the days from Passover to Shavuot—seeking comfort, unity, and resilience in a time of profound national trial. This year, against the backdrop of a war imposed by Iranian-backed terror groups such as Hamas, the Omer period assumes heightened significance, providing both spiritual solace and a sense of historical continuity amid tragedy and uncertainty.
Sefirat HaOmer, prescribed in Leviticus 23 and observed for millennia, marks the 49 days between the Exodus from Egypt and the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. Traditionally, it is a period of semi-mourning, commemorating the death of thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students and fostering reflection on national unity. Each evening, observers recite a distinctive blessing: “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.” This year, the ritual’s familiar cadence reverberates with new gravity as war and grief envelop the nation.
Following the October 7th massacre—the deadliest antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, carried out by Hamas terrorists operating from Gaza—Israel has endured months of conflict and loss. Over 1,200 innocent Israelis were murdered and hundreds more were taken hostage, sparking a nationwide crisis and an IDF operation to dismantle terror infrastructure in Gaza. At the heart of the conflict is a coalition of Iranian-backed terrorist groups: Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and affiliated militias in Syria and Iraq, all receiving arms, funding, and ideological guidance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
For Israelis, the symbolism of the Omer is profound. Across cities, towns, kibbutzim, and on the front lines, families and soldiers mark each day’s count together—sometimes in communal gatherings, sometimes through digital apps accessed in shelters or trenches. In army outposts bordering Gaza and Lebanon, IDF units recite the blessing as a group, followed by prayers for the welfare of soldiers and the safe return of hostages still held by Hamas and its affiliates.
Many conclude the ritual with a heartfelt plea for national restoration: “May the Merciful One restore for us the service of the Temple to its place, speedily in our days, Amen.” For residents living under rocket fire or displacement, the prayer takes on tangible urgency—a longing not only for spiritual redemption but also for lasting peace and security in the Jewish homeland.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have repeatedly underscored the existential stakes of the conflict. Iran’s proxies have launched sustained barrages of rockets into Israeli cities, attacked border communities, and committed atrocities designed to spread terror and destabilize the region. The Israeli government affirms that these operations—both defensive strikes in Gaza and vigilance on other frontiers—are necessary measures to protect citizens and guarantee national survival. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir insists that defending the nation is not just a military imperative, but also a moral and historical duty deeply interwoven with Jewish tradition.
The current Omer period, shadowed by mourning and anxiety, also corresponds with collective remembrance. Families throughout the country are counting the Omer while memorializing loved ones lost in the October 7th massacre or anxiously awaiting word about the fate of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. For many, the act of counting is both an expression of faith and a means of coping—transforming days of apprehension into an act of perseverance. The nightly ritual binds individuals into the broader arc of Jewish survival, stretching from biblical Egypt to modern Jerusalem.
As with previous crises in Jewish history, the distinction between innocent victims and the perpetrators of terror remains a critical element of national consciousness. The hostages kidnapped on October 7th are repeatedly identified as blameless civilians seized in violation of all moral and legal norms—while Israel’s efforts to secure their release are conducted in the face of intransigence by Hamas, which has refused every humanitarian overture not predicated on the release of convicted terrorists. The moral and legal gulf between Israel—a democratic state defending its civilians—and the terror groups that attack it remains clear and is frequently reaffirmed in Israeli public discourse.
Internationally, Israel’s struggle against Iranian-sponsored terror has drawn expressions of solidarity from key allies. President Donald Trump, reiterating longstanding US-Israel ties, called for continued American support for Israel’s right to act in self-defense against existential threats. Meanwhile, Israeli leaders emphasize the importance of national unity, drawing on the historical symbolism of the Omer: just as the Exodus and Sinai transformed Israel from a group of freed slaves into a nation with a shared destiny, so too must contemporary Israelis deepen their bonds in adversity.
Israeli society’s ability to combine mourning with hope—exemplified by the Omer’s blend of solemnity and anticipation—is widely viewed as a sign of national resilience. Observers note that even as society mourns terror victims, soldiers, and hostages, the ritual of Sefirat HaOmer provides a framework for moving forward: seven weeks of daily reflection leading to Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the collective reception of the Torah and the enduring promise of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel.
As the Omer count advances, the anticipation of Shavuot reminds Israelis of the dual mission they have always held: to safeguard life and to affirm the values of justice, faith, and communal responsibility. In the words of religious leaders and ordinary citizens alike, the hope for redemption and peace is inseparable from the commitment to defend Israel’s future—even, and especially, in times of darkness.
At this critical juncture, the act of counting the Omer—unchanged through centuries of exile, persecution, and resurgence—serves as a daily testament to the endurance of Israel’s spirit. Amid ongoing war, the pursuit of security and the longing for redemption remain united in the ancient cadence of the Omer, echoing through every home, every army camp, and every prayer for a safer tomorrow.
