What's, How's, and Why's of Omer

What is the Omer?

In the days of the Beit Hamikdash, the Jewish people would bring a barley offering on the second day of Passover (Leviticus 23:10). This was called the "Omer" ("sheaf") and it would allow people to eat of their recently-harvested grains.

Starting on the second day of Passover, the Torah (Leviticus 23:15) says it is a mitzvah every day to "count the Omer" -- the 50 days leading up to Shavuot. This is an important period of growth in preparation for the holiday of Shavuot, which arrives 50 days later.

Shavuot is the day that the Jewish people stood at Har Sinai to receive the Torah, and they required a seven-week preparation period. The commentators say that we were freed from Egypt only in order to receive the Torah and to fulfill it. Therefore, we were commanded to count from the second day of Pesach until the day that the Torah was given in order to show how greatly we desire the Torah.

How to Count the Omer

The Omer is counted every evening after nightfall, which is the start of the Jewish 'day.' If a person neglected to count the Omer one evening, he should count the following daytime, but without a blessing.

To properly count the Omer, you must say both the number of days and the weeks. For example:

On days 1 through 6, we say only the number of days. For example:
"Today is 4 days of the Omer."

On days which are complete weeks -- for example: day 7, day 14, and 21 -- we say as follows, for example:
"Today is 21 days, which is 3 weeks of the Omer."

On all other days, we say, for example:
"Today is 33 days, which is 4 weeks and 5 days of the Omer."
(Since you must recite the blessing before you count, don't mention the count for that night beforehand.)

Before counting, stand and say the following blessing:
“Baruch ata Hashem, Elokeinu melech ha-olam, asher ki’dee'shanu be'mitzvo'tav ve-tzivanu al sefirat ha'omer.”

“Blessed are You, G-d, King of the Universe, Who made us holy with His commandments, and commanded us on the counting of the Omer.”

The Omer may be counted with a blessing only if both of the following conditions have been met:
1) you count the Omer during the evening, and
2) you have not missed counting any of the days so far
This means to say that if a person forgot to count the Omer for an entire day and did not remember until the following evening, he should continue counting on the following days -- but without a blessing.

Why can't you continue counting with a blessing?
The reason is because regarding the Omer, the Torah writes: "Seven weeks, they shall be complete" (Leviticus 23:15). Thus according to many authorities, if one missed counting any day, the 7-week period can no longer be considered 'complete'.

Restrictions During the Omer

The Talmud tells us that Rabbi Akiva had 24,000 students who tragically died during the Omer period because they did not treat each other with enough respect. Therefore, for the 33 days from Passover until Lag B'Omer, we observe these signs of mourning:
1) no weddings
2) not listening to instrumental music, either live or recorded (vocal music is permitted)
3) no haircuts or shaving, unless for business purposes

During these days, we should try to grow spiritually as much as we can. These days we should try to improve our relationships with anyone and everyone we know.