Page 22 - Hamizrachi #30 USA 2021 Yom Yerushalayim - Shavuot

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Mrs. Shira Smiles

Setting the Stage

T he Sefat Emet tells us that people.” Rav Nebenzhal explains that G-d

gives wisdom only to those who have the
our entire spiritual year is
dependent on the days of
wherewithal to hold onto it, otherwise it
HaOmer.
Just
Sefirat
as
The way to guard our Torah is through
our physical sustenance is
working on our middot. That is why the
determined during this wheat harvesting is a wasted investment.
period, so our spiritual sustenance is first omer sacrifice was barley, an animal
set during these weeks. If our lives are food. It was meant to teach us to subdue
dependent on this mitzvah, shouldn’t it our animalistic desires and evil traits.
involve a lot more than just a minute or Rav Pincus says that in G-d’s lexicon, a
so of a short liturgy? Obviously more is “day” hints to yichud Hashem – oneness
hidden beneath the surface. of G-d, similar to the very First Day of
What is the power of Sefira that gives Creation, when there was no other reality
us the ability to make ourselves pure and except G-d. The 49 days of Sefira are
whole again? We find that Shavuot is the about reminding ourselves that each day
only holiday that has a Torah-mandated must be completely dedicated to yichud
period of preparation. There is something The process of Hashem, to feeling G-d’s presence at
very pivotal embedded in these weeks. every moment in our lives.
Our counting during Sefira expresses our purification and When we count each day, we must ask
yearning for Matan Torah. The actual preparation was so ourselves, “What am I doing to make this
counting leaves an imprint on our soul day different?” By counting upwards, we
and opens a pathway of desire to acquire precious, that if G-d show that each day is one of building and
the Torah in our hearts. The holiday of working towards the goal of becoming a
the giving of the Torah is called Shavuot – would not have given fitting receptacle for Torah.
weeks, because our efforts determine how us the Torah, it would Sefira is called תותבש עבש, seven
we will experience the holiday. We will Shabbatot. Shabbat is the source of
receive the Torah in a more meaningful have been enough blessing. The Sefat Emet tells us that
way only with the proper preparation. every day of Sefira carries a vestige of
In the Haggadah we read, ונברק וליא Shabbat, and G-d gives us injections of
ונייד יניס רהל, “If You had brought us close kedusha to help us come close to Him. If
to Sinai it would have been enough.” The Torah and awakening within ourselves a we are successful in arousing ourselves
Alshich and the Shelah explain that the yearning for deveikut baHashem. out of our apathy, these days become
process of purification and preparation Shavuot is the ‘Yom HaDin’ of our a model of holiness for the entire year.
was so precious, that if G-d would not ruchniyut. It is a time to take a good When we recite the beracha of Sefirat
have given us the Torah, it would have hard look at our spiritual state and ask HaOmer it should inspire us to feel more
been enough. ourselves, “Is this all I’ve achieved? What sanctity and to strive for greater heights.
Each year, in our individual and am I capable of?” It is a time to look at When we say hayom yom… we must
collective lives, we relive the experience of the disparity of who we are and what we think about committing ourselves to live
coming closer to G-d. Torah and mitzvot can be if only we desire it enough. Not that day in the best possible way.
are not just knowledge and good deeds, only is Sefirat HaOmer a time to work on
but a catalyst for transformation. It is respecting our fellow Jews; it is also a time Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after interna-
about making us into better people and to sensitize ourselves to kavod haTorah. tional lecturer, a popular seminary teacher,
bringing us nearer to His presence. The During the building of the Mishkan, and an experienced curriculum developer.
preparation of Sefira is bringing ourselves G-d said, המכח יתתנ םכח לכ בלבו, “I have
to a level of appreciating the greatness of given wisdom in the hearts of all the wise A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau
mizrachi.org/speakers

22 |