JERUSALEM—Across Israel this week, Jews mark the fifth day of the Omer, a sacred period in the Hebrew calendar that underscores the nation’s cohesion and enduring faith amid heightened security challenges and deep national trauma. Set between Passover and Shavuot, the 49-day Counting of the Omer ceremony, rooted in ancient biblical command, remains an integral part of Jewish spiritual life in the modern State of Israel—as well as a source of comfort and resolve during the ongoing war with Iranian-backed terror groups such as Hamas.
The Omer, referenced in Leviticus 23:15–16, originally called for the counting of days from the barley offering in the Temple to the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Today, while the ritual is maintained within homes, synagogues, military bases, and schools, it carries added resonance as Israeli society continues to grapple with the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 massacre—described by officials and historians as the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust. Hamas terrorists, heavily supported by the Iranian regime, invaded Israeli communities, killing and abducting civilians in an attack that left the entire nation reeling.
In the shadow of this tragedy and amid continued rocket attacks, drone incursions, and persistent threats from the broader Iranian-backed proxy network—including Hezbollah in Lebanon, militias in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen—Israelis find unity in faith. The prayer recited each night—’Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kidshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu al sefirat haomer’—expresses not only religious devotion but also a yearning for renewed security, justice, and the restoration of peace, as encapsulated in the concluding plea for the rebuilding of the Temple.
The significance of the Omer this year is magnified by the national mood of mourning for slain civilians, anxiety for hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, and unwavering determination to defend Israel’s borders. The unity fostered by the Omer ritual transcends sectarian or political divides—joining secular and religious Jews, soldiers and civilians, survivors and bereaved families, in a collective reaffirmation of collective destiny and values.
STRUCTURAL AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT
While the rituals of sacrifice at the Temple cannot be performed today, Israel’s leaders highlight the historical thread running from biblical times to the present day, in which Jewish perseverance is tested and renewed generation after generation.
Israel’s Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have emphasized in public statements that the current campaign against Hamas in Gaza and Iranian proxies elsewhere is both a military necessity and a moral imperative. Repeatedly, Israeli officials clarify that ongoing military operations remain acts of self-defense, in accordance with international law, intended to protect civilians and recover innocent hostages abducted on October 7. The distinction is maintained between Israel’s efforts to safeguard its population and the deliberate targeting of noncombatants by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and affiliated groups.
DAILY RITUAL IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY
Throughout Israeli society, the Omer is counted nightly, including on the front lines where soldiers, reservists, and security personnel turn ritual into a source of moral strength. Military chaplains report a marked rise in demand for religious services at bases and outposts along both the northern and southern borders, where troops are stationed against potential incursions or escalation. For families separated by mobilization, the act of counting the Omer during evening phone calls forms a bridge across distance and apprehension.
The education sector has also highlighted the Omer period this year by teaching students about the values of resilience, responsibility, and hope drawn from this tradition. Many teachers, referencing the current security situation, use the days leading up to Shavuot to reinforce messages of empathy and unity, inviting eyewitnesses and survivors to share their experiences with children and teenagers.
CIVIL SOCIETY AND INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
The current Omer period coincides with increased community activism and charity across Israel, as civil organizations coordinate support for families displaced from border communities, for the wounded, and for those still awaiting word of abducted loved ones. National and local authorities have organized Omer-themed events and memorials, emphasizing not just Jewish continuity, but Israel’s unbroken commitment to justice and mutual aid, even under fire.
Internationally, the Counting of the Omer serves to reconnect Israel with the Jewish diaspora, whose expressions of solidarity have intensified since October 7. Israeli emissaries in North America, Europe, and Australia have coordinated synchronized counting events and digital campaigns, reminding communities abroad of the spiritual and moral resilience underpinning Israel’s struggle for survival and hostages’ return.
LOOKING AHEAD
As the Omer count approaches its midpoint, Israelis anticipate both solemn commemorations—such as Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Victims of Terror)—and national celebrations on Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day). The journey from slavery to freedom recounted each year in the Omer has direct resonance for a society still contending with existential threats yet determined to realize the promise of renewed life and hope in its ancestral homeland.
Every night, as prayers for the restitution of the Temple and restoration of peace are recited, the dual themes of memory and resolve are unmistakable: Israel remains steadfast, shielded by its faith, its people, and a just cause.
