making days count

Counting Days?
After the first day of Pesach at night we begin the period of counting the Omer. This commemorates the barley harvest festivities that took place in the Holy Temple during the Pesach Holiday. Forty Nine days were counted after the Barley Harvest Sacrifice . On the Fiftieth day
We celebrated Shavuot, also known as Pentecost.
The Shavuot Holiday had its’ own harvest Sacrifice - the two loaves
Made of wheat. These were leavened or Chometz. This is most unusual, as in all of the services of the temple no chometz was allowed upon the Altar!
So why during the Holiday that represents the giving of the Torah is chometz not only permitted ,it is a required sacrifice? The Torah is G-d’s communication with man. Through the Torah we have a conversation with G-d. this discussion has lasted now 3319 years . In a dialogue each side must feel the strength of one’s position . This requires self-confidence, especially when you question G-d ! the chometz represents self importance. When it is merely arrogance ,then it must be limited . When one needs to have self-confidence in the correctness of one’s convictions-then it’s a must t be forceful and determined.
In order to prepare for the Shavuot Holiday we were supposed to count the days in between the barley and the wheat harvest. During the barley period we are to eat only matzo because there is nothing as destructive as a man who behaves like an animal eating barley. Wheat is the food of the true human being created in G-d’s
Image. Such a person needs self-confidence in order to prevail. Therefore the ritual focuses on the leavened wheat. This represents Torah studied with the full authority of G-d behind it.
The counting of the days were really opportunities for self-improvement. Each day allowed us to concentrate on a different aspect of our lives.
For example, the first week represents the week of chessed or love.
The focus of our work here is to examine where our love is. Is it in the wrong place? How much do we cherish goodness and kindness?
How much of our fascination are with things that have no goodness,
Only glitz and glitter? Are the people we like kind and courteous? Do we emulate their good qualities? This is our homework assignment for the next seven weeks. What turns us on and what attitudes and feelings we need to correct.
The reason this is so critical before the celebration of the giving of the Torah is that if I am an emotional cripple I will distort what I learn is truth. Hence the sefira period-counting days , counting the ways we react . Only then are we ready for The Big One- The Torah and our dialogue with Him!
Counting the days of the Omer is considered a Mitzva by Rambam.
In that case why do we have a blessing for the Mitzva of counting the Omer but not a Shehechyonu which is always said for Mitzvos that come from time to time? After all the Omer counting comes from time to time?
After considering several options, I feel that the most correct explanation lies in the fact that the counting of these days are only a preparation for another Mitzva , namely. the fixing of the date of the Shavuot Holiday which commemorates the giving of the Torah. A preparation for another Mitzva isn’t given its own special status to praise G-d with a Shehechyonu . We don’t give praise for the opportunity of getting ourselves ready for Shavuot.
Nonetheless, the Torah says it’s important to count the days before Shavuot. This is to teach us an important lesson. The study of any wisdom , especially the Torah , requires many years to master it .in order to prepare properly for Torah study one must become efficient with one’s time. Every day is a challenge and an opportunity to grow.
By counting days we learn to appreciate the blessing of time well spent.
By counting days we learn TO MAKE EVERY DAY COUNT! --Posted By Rabbi Chaim Moshe to Weekly thoughts at 4/06/2007 02:47:00 PM