JERUSALEM — As evening descends on Jerusalem and across Israel, Jewish communities embark on the nightly ritual of counting the Omer—a spiritual practice dating to biblical times. Rooted in the Book of Leviticus, the Omer count spans the 49 days between Passover, commemorating Jewish liberation from Egypt, and Shavuot, marking the Torah’s reception at Sinai. This age-old ritual not only anchors Israel’s present to its historic past but also reinforces national resilience and collective hope as the state confronts contemporary threats, most notably from Iranian-backed terror organizations including Hamas and Hezbollah.
The Omer ritual is guided by centuries-old instruction: each night, after nightfall, Jews worldwide recite the blessing acknowledging divine commandment and count the days and weeks since Passover. The count is accompanied by aspirations for the restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem and echoes a sense of longing for religious, national, and communal wholeness.
In the aftermath of the October 7th Hamas attacks—the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust—Israel’s engagement with these spiritual traditions has gained renewed significance. The Iron Swords War, waged by Israel in self-defense against persistent terrorism from Gaza and Lebanon, has elevated routine observance into a public expression of solidarity and memory. The Omer count, performed in homes, synagogues, and on military bases, now frequently includes prayers for the more than 100 hostages still held by Hamas and calls for the protection of Israeli soldiers and civilians.
The tradition mandates precision and constancy: a missed day disqualifies one from reciting the blessing for the remainder of the period, underscoring the discipline and endurance demanded of the Jewish people. For many Israelis, the practice is not just a private devotion, but a means to process national grief and affirm continuity in the face of adversity, with the restoration of the ancient Temple’s service symbolizing the aspiration for spiritual and national restoration.
Observance during these tension-filled weeks coincides with national commemorations—the painful solemnity of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (memorializing fallen soldiers and terror victims), and the celebrated transition to Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). The Omer serves as a bridge, not only to Israel’s biblical origins but to its modern reality of loss and redemption. In this period, communities across Israel and the Jewish Diaspora include special memorials for the victims of terror and prayers for the safe return of hostages.
For Israeli soldiers stationed from the northern border to the cities bordering Gaza, the Omer count is a part of daily routine. It symbolizes a link between generations who endured exile, adversity, and continual threat—a spiritual supply line, so to speak, for a nation under siege. Meanwhile, family members of hostages taken on October 7 persist in organizing public Omer countings, transforming ritual into protest and advocacy for their loved ones’ swift return.
Present-day challenges—the threat posed by Hamas in Gaza, persistent rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the destabilizing influence of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps—are understood by Israeli society as an extension of a historic war for Jewish survival. The moral clarity of Israel’s defensive posture is reinforced nightly in the rituals recited by millions, drawing a distinction between acts of terror and Israel’s legitimate efforts to protect its populace and sovereignty.
This period finds additional relevance among recent immigrants, Holocaust survivors, and secular Israelis. It fosters a sense of unity and purpose, with Omer-themed educational events and digital reminders expanding accessibility. The plea for Temple restoration at the close of the daily prayer is widely regarded as an aspiration for national and spiritual renewal in a period of protracted crisis.
Throughout the Diaspora, Omer observance strengthens connections to Israel and Jewish identity. Communities abroad dedicate their counts to soldiers, hostages, and terror victims, making the ritual a focal point for global Jewish solidarity. Israel’s leadership regularly emphasizes the importance of this spiritual bond in counteracting efforts by adversaries—including Iranian proxies—to derail normalization and weaken Jewish resolve.
At its core, the Omer exemplifies the interplay between ancient tradition and the ongoing Israeli narrative—a calendar of faith binding together the memory of past tribulations and the hope for a peaceful and secure future. Each evening, as Israelis count the Omer, they affirm the principle that their endurance rests not only on military strength but on a spiritual heritage both grave and uplifting, one that has sustained the Jewish people from antiquity through the present-day challenges of sovereignty and self-defense.
