Guest Authors
Counting the Omer the old fashioned (electronic) way...
When I was a child I used to use a pencil and piece of paper. That seems old fashioned now that I have a computer and printer. When I was a child I use to ride a bicycle with training wheels. Now that I have a "big boy" bike the training wheels seem so old fashioned. When I was a child I can remember having to look at a map. Now with GPS technology maps seem so old fashioned.
It seems like every time we encounter something it is new and exciting. But eventually something happens that changes our understanding and makes it different. Whether it be microchips, removing the training wheels, or having the satelite direct you, it seems that the "new things" makes everything else look old fashioned.
A few years ago I did not know an Omer from a bundle of grain. Oh wait, bad analogy (since an Omer is a bundle of grain). I mean I did not know an Omer from a hole in the wall. But, I was taught about the Omer and the counting of the Omer from Passover to Pentecost. And since then I have really come to enjoy and rely on this time. Each year I seem to learn something new that opens up this time of year even more for me.
For the past two years we have been counting the Omer together on the Torah Club Online Forum. This has been a fun and exciting way to mark this time. What we have been doing during the counting of the Omer is studying each day one of the means by which Torah is acquired. These can be found in the Pirke Avot 6:6. Since it is customary to study the Pirke Avot between Passover and Rosh Hashannah we liked the tradition of counting the Omer in this way.
Since I do not have a full-fledged Torah community as many of us would like, I love the opportunity to study with people if even electronically. But, one day I may be a part of a Torah community and perhaps one day we will be together in the kingdom and we will look back and think that counting the Omer in this way was so old fashioned. But, we always remember that when the Messiah returns he will make all things new and then everything will be old fashioned...except his love for us.
If you are currently a Torah Club member than you are a part of the Torah Club Online Forum. If you would like to become a part of the forum you can join by signing up for Torah Club. Information can be found here.
Shalom,
Bill
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