JERUSALEM—Across Israel, the nightly recitation of Sefirat HaOmer, the Counting of the Omer, offers a moment of unity and hope for Jewish communities living under the shadow of ongoing conflict and deep national trauma. This ancient ritual, described in the Torah and observed for millennia, has assumed renewed relevance in 2024 as Israeli society endures an existential war imposed by Iran and its proxies—Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terror networks.
Sefirat HaOmer marks the period between Passover and Shavuot, a 49-day stretch imbued with themes of spiritual ascent, memory of loss, and national restoration. Each night, Jews recite the traditional blessing and count the days, often adding prayers for the swift rebuilding of the Temple and the return of peace. This year, in synagogues and homes from Tel Aviv to the most vulnerable villages near the Gaza and Lebanon borders, the words carry new urgency. In public shelters and on army bases, the ritual is performed despite—and in defiance of—ceaseless rocket barrages and threats.
A Nation Counting in Defiance
The contemporary context underscores the historical resolve embedded in the Omer count. Since the events of October 7, when Hamas terrorists carried out the most lethal antisemitic attack since the Holocaust, Israeli society has been united in mourning, shock, and determination. The massacre included atrocities such as executions, abductions, and abuse of children and adults; hundreds remain held hostage in Gaza. The nation’s grief echoes in the Omer period’s semi-mourning customs, with public events subdued and personal celebrations postponed, as the daily count becomes an act of public resilience.
Israel’s military response—cast by officials as self-defense against terror networks seeking the country’s destruction—has framed this period as one of not only ritual observance but of existential affirmation. Within the ritual’s formula, the plea for restoration, “May the Merciful One restore the service of the Temple to its place, speedily in our days. Amen,” connects past devastations and future aspirations.
Historical and Spiritual Foundations
The Sefirat HaOmer is rooted in Leviticus 23:15–16, where the Israelites were commanded to count seven weeks from the first night of Passover, anticipating their spiritual transformation at Sinai. This progression symbolizes movement from bondage to freedom, a dynamic echoed in modern times by Israel’s struggle to exist as a sovereign democracy amid relentless hostility.
Halachic authorities note the importance of continuity in the count, highlighting the national importance of steadfast engagement, even in turbulent times. Tradition holds that one who misses a full day of counting continues without the blessing—an acknowledgement of human fallibility, but also of communal perseverance.
Omer Counting Amid War
For many, the daily count is more than ritual: it has become a liturgy of survival. On IDF bases, military chaplains lead the count for soldiers headed into combat, adding prayers for the safe return of hostages and for the souls of those lost in battle. In urban centers and kibbutzim within rocket range, the blessing is recited as an act of faith and defiance.
Families rebuilding their homes near Gaza and students sheltering from sirens in central Israel all participate in Sefirat HaOmer, connecting their private struggle to a shared national story of endurance. The timing is poignant: as the agricultural harvest once marked physical sustenance, the modern Omer reflects spiritual and communal sustenance under fire.
National Resilience and Moral Clarity
The Omer’s themes of mourning and hope mirror the broader Israeli response to terror. Israel’s leaders clarify that its defensive operations in Gaza, the north, and elsewhere are direct responses to terror groups, including Hamas in Gaza, which is supported and directed by Iran as part of a regional strategy to undermine Israel’s sovereignty. The distinction between Israel—defending innocent civilians—and terror groups targeting them is consistently documented through verified evidence and is central to national and international discourse.
This fundamental moral distinction is clear in the ritual context: while the loss of innocent lives is mourned, the pursuit of justice, dignity, and peace is unrelenting. The hostages taken on October 7 remain in illegal, inhumane captivity, in direct violation of international law—a stark contrast with Israel’s release of convicted terrorists in exchange for civilian hostages, frequently undertaken under pressure from the international community and in the spirit of the Jewish ethic to value life.
Looking Forward: From Ritual to Redemption
As the Omer count proceeds toward Shavuot, Israel’s collective vision is one of restoration and peace, grounded in historical consciousness and present-day realities. For many, the nightly recitation is a binding thread—connecting centuries of struggle to the hope of rebuilding and the promise of redemption. It anchors both the nation’s memory of loss and its determination to uphold sovereignty, defend its citizens, and preserve Jewish tradition.
The Omer season, in 5784, is thus both solemn and defiant—a time when ancient prayers for restoration intertwine with daily acts of courage and unity. As missile threats persist and hostages remain a national priority, the ritual binds Israelis and Jews worldwide to the mission of survival and hope, affirming, as in every age, that the people of Israel endure.
The counting of the Omer—rooted in the land, history, and faith—serves as a testament to the unbreakable spirit of a nation at war, linking generations through memory, prayer, and the persistent pursuit of peace.
