 | Passover launches two journeys at once. In spiritual history, it's the start of our ancestral journey from enslaved hopelessness without a future toward becoming a free people heading to the Land of Promise. In Judaism's annual holiday cycle, Passover also launches a seven-week journey of the heart from "liberation" to the "revelation" we call Shavuot, when we celebrate standing together at Sinai anew. This springtime season offers a community pathway to refine our characters together. Save the dates for 15-30 minute online "Soul Stretch" boosts at 8:00pm Tuesday evenings through Shavuot. |
By Rabbi David Evan Markus
The Jewish year is a living, breathing organism: its whole is greater than the sum of its parts. By leaning into the flow of the year, we bring our Judaism and ourselves ever more to life.
Passover is the first of three "festivals." It leads to a second, Shavuot, which honors standing at Sinai again to receive Torah anew. The journey between Passover and Shavuot is exactly seven weeks, a yummy opportunity to take our newfound freedom out for a spin.
In that spirit, join me in dedicating the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot to seven character qualities that will help us deeply receive Torah anew. With special mini- teachings and online chats, we'll dedicate each week to one of our character traits so that our steps from Passover to Shavuot will count. We'll gather online for 15-30 minutes each Tuesday evening at 8:00pm starting April 30, for mini-discussions with R. David or congregant Sherrill Cropper.
What are we talking about, and why should you care?
The Jewish practice of "counting" the 49 days from Passover to Shavuot – called omer, for the sheave of wheat ripening in the agricultural space – harkens back to Leviticus 23:16-17. Torah tells us to count those days, so ancient agricultural holidays could fall in their proper climactic seasons. Onto those ancient agricultural festivals were grafted Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
In medieval days, kabbalists connected the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot with many other sevens in Jewish life, such as the Biblical seven days of creation and the seven lower sefirot (energy centers, qualities) on the Tree of Life. Over time, they evolved a system to dedicate these seven weeks to readying the soul to receive Torah anew.
In mythic-spiritual history, perhaps it makes easy sense. Had our ancestors fleeing Pharaoh reached Sinai the next day, they'd probably run right past, too scared and scrambled to receive anything. Much the same for us: it's too soon for us to receive Torah. That's why the seven-week delay from Passover on the Nile to Shavuot at Sinai makes a measure of sense.
The Jewish year is a living, breathing organism: its whole is greater than the sum of its parts. By leaning into the flow of the year, we bring our Judaism and ourselves ever more to life.
Passover is the first of three "festivals." It leads to a second, Shavuot, which honors standing at Sinai again to receive Torah anew. The journey between Passover and Shavuot is exactly seven weeks, a yummy opportunity to take our newfound freedom out for a spin.
In that spirit, join me in dedicating the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot to seven character qualities that will help us deeply receive Torah anew. With special mini- teachings and online chats, we'll dedicate each week to one of our character traits so that our steps from Passover to Shavuot will count. We'll gather online for 15-30 minutes each Tuesday evening at 8:00pm starting April 30, for mini-discussions with R. David or congregant Sherrill Cropper.
What are we talking about, and why should you care?
The Jewish practice of "counting" the 49 days from Passover to Shavuot – called omer, for the sheave of wheat ripening in the agricultural space – harkens back to Leviticus 23:16-17. Torah tells us to count those days, so ancient agricultural holidays could fall in their proper climactic seasons. Onto those ancient agricultural festivals were grafted Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.
In medieval days, kabbalists connected the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot with many other sevens in Jewish life, such as the Biblical seven days of creation and the seven lower sefirot (energy centers, qualities) on the Tree of Life. Over time, they evolved a system to dedicate these seven weeks to readying the soul to receive Torah anew.
In mythic-spiritual history, perhaps it makes easy sense. Had our ancestors fleeing Pharaoh reached Sinai the next day, they'd probably run right past, too scared and scrambled to receive anything. Much the same for us: it's too soon for us to receive Torah. That's why the seven-week delay from Passover on the Nile to Shavuot at Sinai makes a measure of sense.
 | The omer system of character development that our ancestors evolved – which "works" in all denominations but perhaps best in the liberal traditions – dedicates each week to a particular character quality, and spends the week refining and balancing that quality. (The more detailed practice has 49 character points. I tend to find that seven is a great place to start.) For instance, in the first week we dedicate to love (in Hebrew, hesed / loving kindness), we'll ask:
To keep refining our character, we'll ask these kinds of questions about the other six qualities, week by week, until we reach Shavuot. And each week, folks wanting to check in together will have that opportunity in a safe, nourishing space. |
We'll launch "love week" at the Passover seder. Stay tuned for more about counting omer and brief 8pm Tuesday check-ins. Happy spring!
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