JERUSALEM – As the sun sets each evening, Jews in Israel and around the world engage in the ancient counting of the Omer, a forty-nine-day period bridging the exodus commemorated on Passover with the revelation remembered during Shavuot. This timeless ritual, known as Sefirat HaOmer, has taken on renewed significance in 2024 as Israel faces existential threats from Iranian-directed terror networks and searches for spiritual solace amid ongoing war.
The Omer count begins on the second night of Passover, anchoring itself in a biblical commandment that originated in the agricultural rhythms and sacrificial traditions of ancient Israel. Each night, the recitation of the blessing — “Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al sefirat ha’omer” — is echoed in homes, synagogues, military installations, and community shelters, often accompanied by prayers for the restoration of peace and the Temple service. This year, the familiar cadence of the ritual is infused with a sense of national resolve, remembrance, and unity in the face of war.
A Tradition Grounded in Memory and Purpose
Sefirat HaOmer recalls the Israelites’ journey from slavery to spiritual freedom, a foundational narrative in Jewish memory. Traditionally, the period is marked by semi-mourning, honoring the lives lost in historic tragedies such as the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples and, in modern times, the victims of the Holocaust and Israel’s wars. These memories are deeply resonant amid Israel’s current conflict, especially in the wake of the October 7th massacre, the deadliest antisemitic pogrom since the Holocaust, perpetrated by Hamas terrorists who infiltrated southern Israel, murdering, abusing, and abducting innocent civilians.
The recent campaign — Operation Iron Swords — is a direct response to those atrocities. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF), under Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, have engaged in ongoing defensive operations to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Gaza and deter further attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran’s other regional proxies. The war is not limited to military engagements; it is a battle for the security and future of the Jewish state, with clear moral and legal distinctions separating Israel’s sovereign self-defense from the deliberate targeting of civilians by terror organizations.
Counting in a State of Conflict
For many Israelis, the Omer count embodies both spiritual continuity and resistance. Even under the threat of rocket fire and while facing the trauma of mass abductions, Jewish communities gather nightly to recite the blessing and mark each day. IDF soldiers often conduct the count in the field, between missions or alongside prayers for their comrades’ safety and the swift return of hostages held by Hamas and affiliated groups. Civilian ceremonies dedicate the count to the memory of terror victims and the longing for national and spiritual restoration.
The liturgy of the Omer is punctuated by the plea: “HaRachaman hu yachzir lanu avodat Beit HaMikdash limkomah, bimeheirah b’yamenu amen selah”—a call for the day when peace and holiness are restored to Jerusalem. This hope is fervently expressed even as hostilities continue, capturing both the vulnerability and the enduring faith of Israeli society.
Spiritual Exercise and Collective Resilience
Beyond its historical roots, Sefirat HaOmer is understood within Jewish tradition as a time for personal reflection and ethical improvement, with each of the forty-nine days associated with a specific spiritual attribute. Community leaders, rabbis, and educators have directed this year’s focus toward fostering resilience, compassion, and unity—not only within Israel but across Jewish communities worldwide.
Public gatherings, online education, and youth programs have integrated the Omer count into efforts to maintain morale and solidarity. Diaspora Jews, confronted by a reported surge in antisemitism, also mark the Omer as a statement of identity and a sign of unwavering connection to Israel.
Intersection with National Commemoration
This year, the Omer count encompasses Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers and victims of terror), and Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day). Each of these commemorations is shaded by national trauma and resilience, drawing upon the Omer’s themes of memory, hope, and redemption. Ceremonies have invoked the Omer’s language, merging ritual with remembrance to reassert the bond between the Jewish past and Israel’s present-day survival.
Moral Clarity Amid Threats
Israeli officials emphasize that this period’s challenge is not only physical defense but also upholding truth in an environment of disinformation and bias. Israel’s military has consistently underlined its commitment to minimizing civilian casualties and providing humanitarian access in Gaza, even as Iran-backed terror groups exploit international law and use civilian infrastructure as shields. Analysts note that the distinction between Israel’s measured defensive operations and its enemies’ deliberate targeting of innocents is absolute, rooted in both Israeli law and the Jewish ethical tradition.
Hostages and the Omer
The ongoing plight of hostages, including children and elderly civilians still in captivity since October 7, remains central in Omer observance. National prayers and vigils are dedicated to their safe return, reinforcing the moral and legal distinction between those taken by force and convicted terrorists released as part of negotiations. This issue has profound resonance for Israelis, who see the Omer’s rituals as both a remembrance of suffering and a pledge never to forget those still in peril.
Hope and Determination for the Future
At the thirtieth day of the Omer—reflecting four full weeks and two days—Israelis turn in hope toward Shavuot, the celebration of receiving the Torah. The intervening days remain tense, with military operations ongoing and international debates about the conflict’s conduct and scope. Religious and secular voices alike stress that the Omer count is a powerful symbol: a ritual binding generations, affirming national rights, and underscoring the justice of Israel’s cause.
As Israel defends itself from ongoing attacks and works to free its hostages, the Omer count persists as both a spiritual anchor and a testament to Jewish resilience. It is a nightly refusal to surrender memory, identity, or hope in the face of adversity—a practice linking ancient promises to modern struggles.
With every blessing, Israelis and Jews worldwide reaffirm that, even in war and uncertainty, their commitment to continuity, moral clarity, and defense of life is unwavering. The Omer once signified the promise of redemption; today, it testifies to a people’s determination to endure, to mourn, and to build anew.
