home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
AOL File Library: 11,000 to 11,999
/
11000.zip
/
AOLDLs
/
Spirituality and Torah
/
L W M - S'firat Ha'omer Guide
/
Lwm-Omer.txt
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
2014-12-21
|
18KB
|
473 lines
LIVING WITH MOSHIACH, S'firat Ha'omer Guide
B"H
LIVING WITH MOSHIACH
Weekly Digest About Moshiach
YOUR S'FIRAT HA'OMER GUIDE
Nissan 15 - Sivan 5, 5760
April 20 - June 8, 2000
***********************************************************
* Please pray for the immediate and complete recovery of *
* Horav Chaim Yehuda Kalman Ben Rochel Marlow Shlita, *
* head of the Bet-Din (Rabbinical Court) of Crown Heights *
***********************************************************
Published Weekly By
Lubavitch Shluchim Conferences On The Moshiach Campaign,
Committee For The Blind
* * *
5760
*********************************************
* VISIT US ON THE WEB, AT: *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind *
*===========================================*
* TO RECEIVE THIS PUBLICATION VIA INTERNET: *
* See below *
*===========================================*
* FOR CHABAD-LUBAVITCH IN CYBERSPACE: *
* E-Mail: info@chabad.org *
*===========================================*
* OPERATION REFUAH *
* http://www.operationrefuah.org *
*********************************************
THIS PUBLICATION IS DEDICATED TO THE REBBE,
RABBI MENACHEM M. SCHNEERSON
OF LUBAVITCH
In honor of his 98th birthday,
11 Nissan, 5760
"I BELIEVE WITH COMPLETE FAITH IN THE ARRIVAL OF THE MOSHIACH.
"AND THOUGH HE MAY TARRY, I SHALL WAIT EACH DAY, ANTICIPATING
HIS ARRIVAL." Maimonides, Principles of the Faith, No. 12
*********************
* TABLE OF CONTENTS *
*********************
* Introduction
* Moshiach Matters
* The Rebbe's Prophecy
* The Story of the Omer
* S'firat Ha'omer
* Laws of S'firat Ha'omer
* S'firat Ha'omer Blessing
* The S'firat Ha'omer Calendar
* Moshiach Information Hotlines
* Moshiach In The Air - Electronic Media
* Jewish Children:
Get Your Own Letter in a Sefer Torah!
Join Tzivos Hashem (The Army of G-D)
* Subscription Information for this Weekly Magazine:
Living With Moshiach
****************
* INTRODUCTION *
****************
We are pleased to present, to the visually impaired and the
blind, our weekly publication, Living With Moshiach.
*
In this issue, we focus on the laws of S'firat Ha'omer, the
counting of the Omer.
Therefore, we present here "Your S'firat Ha'omer Guide" and
other related material about counting the Omer.
*
This Jewish year, is the year 5760 since Creation. The Hebrew
letters are Hei-Tav-Shin-Samech. Over a decade ago, in the year
5742, the Rebbe stated that the Hebrew letters for that year were
an acronym for "This should be the year of the coming of Moshiach."
Since that time, the Rebbe has publicized a phrase describing
the year according to the acrostic of its Hebrew letters. This year
has been designated by the Rebbe's followers as "Hoyo T'hei Shnas
Segulah," meaning "It will surely be an auspicious year."
*
Our sincere appreciation to L'Chaim weekly publication,
published by the Lubavitch Youth Organization, for allowing us to
use their material.
Also, many thanks to our copy editor, Reb Mordechai Staiman, for
his tireless efforts.
*
It is our fervent hope that our learning about Moshiach and the
Redemption will hasten the coming of Moshiach, NOW!
Rabbi Yosef Y. Shagalov
Administrator
Committee for the Blind
E-Mail: yys@dorsai.org
Erev Pesach, 5760
Brooklyn, New York
********************
* MOSHIACH MATTERS *
********************
"What more can I do to motivate the whole world to cry out and
demand the Redemption?... I have done all I can; now you must do
whatever you can. May it be G-d's will that there will be one, two,
or three among you who will appreciate what needs to be done and
how it needs to be done, and may you actually be successful and
bring about the complete Redemption, immediately!"
(The Rebbe, 28 Nissan, 5751/1991)
************************
* THE REBBE'S PROPHECY *
************************
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of Lubavitch, issued
a call that "THE TIME OF OUR REDEMPTION HAS ARRIVED!" and
"MOSHIACH IS ON HIS WAY!"
The Rebbe stressed that he is saying this AS A PROPHECY, and
asks us all to prepare ourselves for the Redemption, through
increasing acts of goodness and kindness.
LET US ALL HEED THE REBBE'S CALL.
_______________
See "Living With Moshiach" Vol 181:
http://www.moshiach.net/blind/lwm-5759/181.htm
*********************************************
* IN LOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR GRANDPARENTS, *
* *
* Reb Shmuel Pesach Ben Reb Yaakov Dovid *
* Passed away on 3 Tishrei, 5755 *
* *
* Mrs. Fraidel Chedvah Bas Reb Zev Wolf *
* Passed away on 4 Adar II, 5755 *
* Pais *
*********************************************
*************************
* THE STORY OF THE OMER *
*************************
During [1] the days of the Omer, we eagerly count the days from
Pesach until Shavuot, looking forward to receiving the Torah anew.
The Torah says, "And you shall count seven full weeks, from the
day after your festival, when you bring the Omer as a wave
offering...." (Vayikra 23:15).
What is the Omer? Why is it connected with counting these days?
Here is the answer.
In the Holy Land, barley ripens in the spring, in the month of
Nissan.
In the time of the Beis HaMikdosh, the new crop could not be
used until an amount of barley, called an "Omer," was offered on
the Great Altar in the Sanctuary. This is how it took place:
Right after the first day of Pesach, on the eve of the 16th of
Nissan, prominent Torah scholars and members of the Supreme Court
(Bet-Din) would go out into a field of barley near Jerusalem that
had been prepared before Yom Tov.
All the neighboring villagers would gather to watch the
ceremony.
Three men using three sickles would cut three measures of
barley, which they would put in three boxes.
Once it was dark, the head of the reapers would say, "Has the
sun set?"
"Yes," everyone would reply.
"Has the sun set?" he would ask again.
"Yes."
"Has the sun set?"
A third time they would answer, "Yes."
Then he would point to the sickle and ask three times, "Is this
the sickle?"
"Yes."
"Is this the sickle?"--"Yes."
"Is this the sickle?"--"Yes."
In the same way, he would ask three times, "Is this the
box?"--"Yes."
"Is this the box?"--"Yes."
"Is this the box?"--"Yes."
If it was Shabbat, he would also ask three times, "Is it Shabbat
today?"
This showed everybody that the mitzvah of cutting the Omer
pushes off the Shabbat.
Finally he would ask, "Shall I reap?"
"Yes," they would answer.
"Shall I reap?"--"Yes."
"Shall I reap?"--"Yes."
This whole ceremony was very awesome. What was it all for?
Unfortunately, there were people at that time who rebelled
against the Sages. They were called Beitusim. They tried to get
people not to listen to the teachings of the Sages.
One of their arguments was that the Omer should only be cut on a
Saturday night, after Shabbat.
In fact, in the Torah it says that the time for cutting the Omer
is "the day after Shabbat." The Beitusim said this meant the day
after Shabbat itself. But the Sages had the tradition from Mt.
Sinai, that Yom Tov is also called Shabbat, and the Omer should be
cut the day after Yom Tov!
They made a big ceremony out of it, so that it would be clear to
everyone that the Beitusim were not correct. The Omer had to be cut
the day after Yom Tov, even on Shabbat!
After the barley had been cut, it was placed in the three boxes
and brought to the Beis HaMikdosh. Since it was still green and
soft, it was dried and roasted in such a way that the fire touched
every grain. Then it was spread out in the courtyard for the wind
to blow through it. Finally it was ground up with millstones into
flour.
Of the three measures (se'ah) of barley that had been reaped in
the field, only one tenth was taken for the offering. This quantity
is called an Omer.
This Omer was then sieved thirteen times, over and over again,
until it was fine and pure.
The next day, the barley flour was burned as an offering on the
Mizbayach, the Great Altar. Before burning it, the kohen would wave
it in every direction in honor of the One to Whom the whole world
belongs. It was as if he were saying, "Thank you, G-d, for the
harvest. Thank you for the very bread we eat."
* * *
In the Midrash it says that the Omer shows us how kind G-d is to
His people. When the Jews were in the wilderness, G-d gave every
single one of them an Omer of manna every day. Now that the Jewish
people had come into the Holy Land, all G-d asked in return was a
single Omer from the whole Jewish people. Nor did they need to
bring it every day. Once a year was enough. And barley, a poor
man's grain, was all G-d required.
Our Sages also taught that Pesach is the time when the crops are
ripening. At this time, G-d judges the world in regard to food,
particularly grain.
At such a moment G-d says to us, "Bring me an Omer of barley on
Pesach, and I will bless the grain in your fields for the whole
year."
By counting these days, we remember that the world is being
judged. Will there be hunger or plenty? At this time we should
return to G-d with a complete heart, and beg Him to have mercy on
us and on all His creatures, and on the land, so that the harvest
may grow as required.
Nowadays, we do not have the Beis HaMikdosh, and we cannot bring
the Omer offering, but we pray that by doing G-d's mitzvah of
Counting the Omer with joy in our hearts, we may merit His ultimate
blessing, that He should speedily restore the Beis HaMikdosh, and
reestablish His Kingship throughout the world, with the revelation
of Moshiach, Now.
_______________
1. Adapted from "The Moshiach Times," published by "Tzivos
Hashem."
*******************
* S'FIRAT HA'OMER *
*******************
On the second night of Pesach, we begin S'firat Ha'omer,
counting forty-nine days between Pesach and Shavuot, the day when
the Torah was given to the Children of Israel. This is done every
night following the evening prayer leading up to the night before
Shavuot.
We use this time to prepare ourselves to receive the Torah, just
as our ancestors did at Mt. Sinai.
***************************
* LAWS OF S'FIRAT HA'OMER *
***************************
EDITED BY RABBI Y. K. MARLOW
(Head of Bet-Din of Crown Heights)
* We begin counting the omer on the second night of Pesach,
Thursday, April 20, 2000.
* It is most proper to count the Omer at the beginning of the
night, immediately following the evening prayer. However, it is
permissible to count the Omer throughout the night.
* If you forget to count at nightfall, but have reminded yourself
before dawn, you may count then, with the blessing.
* If you forget to count at night; you can count throughout the
next day (WITHOUT SAYING THE BLESSING). The following evening
you can count again WITH the blessing.
* If you forget to count for a whole day, you should still keep on
counting the days until Shavuot, BUT YOU DO NOT SAY THE BLESSING
ANY MORE.
* If you are in doubt whether you counted the previous night, even
though you definitely did not count during the day, you may
recite the blessing when counting on the subsequent nights.
****************************
* S'FIRAT HA'OMER BLESSING *
****************************
* Every night, after nightfall, after having recited the evening
prayer, say the following blessing, and then count the proper day:
BO-RUCH A-TOH ADO-NOI E-LO-HEI-NU ME-LECH HO-OLOM
A-SHER KI-DE-SHO-NU BE-MITZ-VO-SOV VE-TZI-VO-NU
AL SE-FI-RAS HO-OMER.
Translation:
Blessed are you, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe,
who has sanctified us with His commandments, and
commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer.
* Then we count the day, saying:
"Today is one day (or two days, or three days, etc.) of the
Omer."
********************************
* THE S'FIRAT HA'OMER CALENDAR *
********************************
Nissan 15 - Sivan 5, 5760
April 20 - June 8, 2000
* Thurs. eve., April 20 - count Omer 1.
* Fri. eve., April 21 - count Omer 2.
* Sat. eve., April 22 - count Omer 3.
* Sun. eve., April 23 - count Omer 4.
* Mon. eve., April 24 - count Omer 5.
* Tues. eve., April 25 - count Omer 6.
* Wed. eve., April 26 - count Omer 7.
* Thurs. eve., April 27 - count Omer 8.
* Fri. eve., April 28 - count Omer 9.
* Sat. eve., April 29 - count Omer 10.
* Sun. eve., April 30 - count Omer 11.
* Mon. eve., May 1 - count Omer 12.
* Tues. eve., May 2 - count Omer 13.
* Wed. eve., May 3 - count Omer 14.
* Thurs. eve., May 4 - count Omer 15.
* Fri. eve., May 5 - count Omer 16.
* Sat. eve., May 6 - count Omer 17.
* Sun. eve., May 7 - count Omer 18.
* Mon. eve., May 8 - count Omer 19.
* Tues. eve., May 9 - count Omer 20.
* Wed. eve., May 10 - count Omer 21.
* Thurs. eve., May 11 - count Omer 22.
* Fri. eve., May 12 - count Omer 23.
* Sat. eve., May 13 - count Omer 24.
* Sun. eve., May 14 - count Omer 25.
* Mon. eve., May 15 - count Omer 26.
* Tues. eve., May 16 - count Omer 27.
* Wed. eve., May 17 - count Omer 28.
* Thurs. eve., May 18 - count Omer 29.
* Fri. eve., May 19 - count Omer 30.
* Sat. eve., May 20 - count Omer 31.
* Sun. eve., May 21 - count Omer 32.
* Mon. eve., May 22 - count Omer 33.
* Tues. eve., May 23 - count Omer 34.
* Wed. eve., May 24 - count Omer 35.
* Thurs. eve., May 25 - count Omer 36.
* Fri. eve., May 26 - count Omer 37.
* Sat. eve., May 27 - count Omer 38.
* Sun. eve., May 28 - count Omer 39.
* Mon. eve., May 29 - count Omer 40.
* Tues. eve., May 30 - count Omer 41.
* Wed. eve., May 31 - count Omer 42.
* Thurs. eve., June 1 - count Omer 43.
* Fri. eve., June 2 - count Omer 44.
* Sat. eve., June 3 - count Omer 45.
* Sun. eve., June 4 - count Omer 46.
* Mon. eve., June 5 - count Omer 47.
* Tues. eve., June 6 - count Omer 48.
* Wed. eve., June 7 - count Omer 49.
********************************
* In loving memory of *
* RABBI ELYE GROSS, *
* our Developmental Consultant *
********************************
**********************************************
* MOSHIACH INFORMATION HOTLINES *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/hotlines.htm *
**********************************************
*********************************************
* MOSHIACH IN THE AIR - ELECTRONIC MEDIA *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/e-media.htm *
*********************************************
*********************************************
* JEWISH CHILDREN: *
* Get your own letter in a Sefer Torah! *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/s-torah.htm *
*********************************************
**********************************************
* Kids! We Want YOU To Join *
* Tzivos Hashem (The Army of G-D) *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/tzivos-h.htm *
**********************************************
******************************************
* SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION *
* http://www.moshiach.net/blind/subs.htm *
******************************************
==================================================================
= End of Text: Living With Moshiach, S'firat Ha'omer Guide, 5760 =
==================================================================
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>
Yosef Shagalov, Editor Virtual Jerusalem, Ltd.
Moshiach http://www.virtualjerusalem.com
yys@dorsai.org "The Jewish World from the Heart of Israel"
<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>