JERUSALEM — Each spring, from Passover to Shavuot, the Jewish tradition of Counting the Omer takes place across Israel, uniting citizens in a nightly act of remembrance, faith, and national longing. In 2024, with the country facing escalating security threats from Iranian-backed terror networks and in the wake of last year’s deadly assault from Gaza, the Omer’s themes of endurance and hope are more resonant than ever.
The practice, rooted in biblical commandments from Leviticus, involves the sequential counting of forty-nine days between the exodus celebration of Passover and the festival of Shavuot, when the Torah was given at Sinai. The observance has transformed from its agricultural origins—once marking the grain harvest and the offering of a barley sheaf at the Temple—into a period of spiritual elevation and a time for national reflection.
The Ritual and Its Rules
Every night, Jews around the world recite the 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.” According to Halacha (Jewish law), if one forgets to count a day, subsequent counts are made without the blessing. This precision, as detailed in rabbinic sources, underscores the seriousness with which this practice is observed, even in times of national trial.
Modern National Resonance
The Omer weeks are characterized by semi-mourning, prohibiting celebrations and joyous events, and recalling historical tragedies. This year, Israel’s collective sorrow is fresh: the scars of the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas terrorists remain vivid. The attack, the gravest atrocity against Jews since the Holocaust, claimed the lives of over a thousand civilians, with unspeakable acts of violence and the abduction of innocents into Gaza. The country continues to await the return of hostages, whose plight is ever-present in prayers and daily discourse, especially during the Omer’s somber days.
As the ongoing war against Iranian-backed Hamas and other proxies of Tehran intensifies in Gaza and along Israel’s northern border with Hezbollah, the symbolism of the Omer—counting forward through adversity toward the hope of deliverance—mirrors national life. Each day counted is a testament to Israel’s spiritual and physical resilience.
The Prayer for Restoration
Integral to nightly Omer observance is the plea: “May the Merciful One restore for us the service of the Temple to its place, speedily in our days.” This prayer, while referencing the historic Temple in Jerusalem, is today imbued with yearning for security, restoration, and the peace for which generations of Jews have hoped. Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, have invoked these themes, emphasizing that Israel’s struggle is not merely territorial but for the preservation of a people and their right to self-determination.
Living Tradition Under Threat
Across Israel, Omer observance bridges secular and religious divides. Schools and community organizations incorporate the counting into educational and cultural programs, teaching its relevance in Israel’s ongoing national revival. In places often under rocket threat, such as communities bordering Gaza and in northern Galilee, the nightly ritual is observed even in bomb shelters, underscoring communal endurance.
The continuation of tradition under threat is itself a form of quiet defiance against those who seek to destroy the Jewish state. Security precautions surround public religious gatherings, particularly as the Omer coincides with heightened tensions during Ramadan—a season exploited by Iranian-backed entities for incitement and violence.
Hostages and Hope
A unique facet of the current Omer observance is its adoption by the campaign for the return of hostages held by Hamas. Vigils and special prayers have been added to the traditional count, merging the ancient plea for redemption with urgent calls for the release of captive Israeli civilians. Synagogues, families, and advocacy groups recite the Omer, remembering each hostage by name and drawing a direct line between spiritual tradition and the practical imperative of national solidarity.
International Ramifications
The Counting of the Omer also takes on broader significance against the backdrop of rising antisemitism, especially in Europe and the United States. Since the October 7th massacre, Jewish communities worldwide have revived and publicized Omer observance as an affirmation of heritage and unity with Israel.
Israeli officials, while focusing militarily on defending against Iran’s proxies—Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and allied Iraqi and Syrian militias—also cite the Omer’s message as an answer to global delegitimization and renewed campaigns of antisemitic incitement. They emphasize that Israel’s response is rooted in self-defense against existential threats, a reality the world witnessed in stark relief last October.
No Moral Symmetry
Israeli military and diplomatic spokespeople are consistent: there can be no moral equivalence between Israel, a sovereign democracy, and the terror organizations it faces. The October 7th massacre, involving systematic executions, rape, mutilation, and abduction of innocents, contrasts sharply with Israeli efforts to minimize civilian harm in defense operations—even as Iranian-supported groups intentionally endanger civilians on all sides. These stark realities are woven into Omer educational initiatives and commemoration events across the country.
Omer in Public Life
From Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, the Omer count features in public ceremonies, educational campaigns, and artistic projects. Museums mount exhibitions tracing its biblical origins and modern significance, while cultural institutions use the period for programming on Jewish perseverance and hope. Public service announcements reference the Omer as a symbol of national renewal, often linking it with the memory of fallen soldiers and terror attack victims.
Conclusion: A Counting That Endures
Tonight, as Jews in Israel and worldwide count the 22nd day of the Omer, the ritual serves as both an anchor to heritage and a beacon toward the future. Israel’s survival—upheld through ancient prayers, contemporary sacrifice, and the determination not to be cowed by violence—finds quiet expression in this nightly practice. As threats persist, the country draws on the Omer’s message: each day remembered and counted is another day of endurance, another step toward a better, safer future.
In an era defined by war, loss, and uncertainty, the ancient count remains a living thread binding the Jewish people together—from the fields of ancient Judea, through exile and Holocaust, to today’s resilient Israel fighting for its very survival.
