From the second day of Pesach (Passover) onwards, we count 49 days, until Shavuous, which commemorates our receiving of the Torah from G-d at Mount Sinai. This period is referred to as the Counting of the Omer, because historically, the Omer (harvest) sacrifice was brought to the Beis Hamikdash (Temple) during this time period. Up until the 33rd day (Lag B'Omer), it is somewhat a period of mourning as it was during this time that Rabbi Akiva's students died at the hands of the plague. (Amongst his students was the saintly Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, who compiled the Zohar, the best known work of Kabbalah. He actually died on Lag B'Omer, however his exceptional level encourages us to nevertheless celebrate on this day, as it is a well known tradition that Tzaddikim are able to reveal and accomplish more in this world after they have passed on.) We therefore do not attend or organize simchas (celebrations) during this time, we refrain also from listening to music and we do not cut our hair (cutting hair in Hebrew is sapar, which comes from the same root as counting: sopher, however this is a discussion for another time). This is the historical basis and practical applicability of the counting of the Omer. Now what does it all mean? Everything that is revealed in this world is manifest through the seven emotive attributes by which G-d constricted Himself. (Namely: Chesed, Gevurah, Tiferet, Netzach, Hod, Yesod and Malchut) Torah teaches us that in reality, G-d's constriction (or tzimtum) resulted in 10 attributes, however the other 3, which are the intellectual ones, are not manifest in the physical tangible world. This idea of all physical things being made up of these seven attributes (or midos as they are called), can best be understood in terms of the physical phenomenon, that in order for anything in the world to exist tangibly, it must have 3 dimensions. Let us then examine a cube which is known to be the "perfect" such shape and thus is convenient to work with, in addition to being representative of all other physical objects. The 3 dimensions of any cube allow it to manifest 6 sides: Front, back, right, left, up, down, and then an essential 7th, which is the center which holds the other 6 together, without which the other 6 would fall apart. There are also 7 days of the week, the 7th being Shabbos, Malchut, which tangibly has no being or creative powers of herself, however it is absolutely necessary to sustain the other 6. There are also 7 basic colors (as seen in the rainbow), 7 musical notes in a scale (except in some Eastern Arabic music where the 10 note scale is used, thus producing a completely different sort of sound that does not appeal to the body the way Western music does, but rather to a much higher spiritual source which most of us are as of yet unable to tap into. In the time of the Moshiach (Messiah) by the way, it is written that we will listen to music that has a 10 note scale, because those 3 hidden attributes mentioned above, will be revealed (These are, by the way: Keter, Chochma and Binah (or else Chochma, Binahi and Da'at - Chabad, depending on which way one chooses to look at it))). These are just a few examples. Every seven in Torah and in the physical world parallels these attributes. Thus - if in order for anything to be manifest in this physical world it must be clothed (Midos in addition to referring to these 7 emotive attributes also means clothing by the way) in these 7 midos, then it follows that in the revelation of these 7 midos themselves, each one can be manifest only through these 7. Therefore we now have not 7 midos, but in fact 7X7, which is 49. Actually this idea must go on into infinity, as each new revealed midah that follows must manifest through the other 7, however stopping at the number 49 is sufficient as this is enough to demonstrate this idea of continuity. So there are 49 midos, each of which corresponds to a level of holiness. Mirroring these however, are their counterparts in the sitra achra (other side). A simple example: Gevurah - Strength, discipline. One may be very disciplined and well organized and thus accomplish much. On the other hand, one may direct these disciplinary tendencies in a negative way towards others, disciplining in excess, and without rationale, perhaps even leading to psychological abuse. There is a 50th level, however, of both holiness and impurity. This 50th level surpasses all of the midos or physical manifestations and actions. It is the source of all of the midos, it is the being, the essential self. When one reaches the 50th level of holiness, one has perfected every aspect of him/herself, to such a point that his/her entire being is filled and comprised of nothing but holiness. On the other hand, on the side of impurity, the 50th level is the ultimate corruption of every aspect of the person, to such a point that their entire being is low beyond all point of return. Up until the 50th level of impurity there is hope, as the problem is only a matter of redirecting the energies which the midosmanifest, even at the 49th level. However at the 50th level, it is not a matter of correcting or relearning behavior, as it is the actual essential self which has become corrupt. Why do we eat matzah on Pesach? We all know the story that we left Egypt in a hurry so we did not have time to wait for the bread to rise, so we could only bake the dough for 18 minutes which produced what we know today to be matzah. However something about this does not entirely make sense. Why is it that we were in such a hurry to leave? At this point, after all of the plagues, especially that of the firstborn son, Pharaoh and the Egyptians were begging us to leave. There was no logical reason at this point that we should have feared they would change they're minds. Also, we knew about the exile that was going to take place days before, and thus had much time to pack and get ready to leave and bake our bread before we left. We left in a hurry not in order to escape the Egyptians, but to escape from ourselves, or from what G-d was scared would become of us if we would have remained in Egypt just a split second longer. While in Egypt, the Jews had reached this 49th level of impurity which we talked about. They were slaves not only to the physical Egyptians, but to the hedonistic Egyptian culture as well. The brink between the 49th level and the 50th is a very fragile one indeed, and thus the Jews were in severe danger of sinking to the 50th level, the point of no return. In fact, 80% of them did, and died during the plague of darkness. The other 20%, G-d pulled out. It had nothing to do with us or our own merit. This is why, right after we left Egypt (the second day of Pesach on our calender), we began a process of rectification of each of these 49 levels. The first day is Chesed sh'b'Chesed(Compassion in Compassion), the second Gevurah sh'b'Chesed (Discipline in Compassion), and so forth. Today, those who are serious about counting the Omer work on these aspects of the daily corresponding aspects of their personality as well. The final redemption of the world will involve the transformation of evil into good. We ourselves will be meritous to transform our Yetzer Harahs (evil inclinations). However, the Egyptian exile was a different form of exile (a necessary, and in fact higher form in a certain sense, which is why it says in the Haggadah that it will be an obligation to remember the miracles of the exodus from Egypt even in the time of the Messiah, however this is a bit off topic and thus will G-d willing be addressed another time), which involved not the transformation, but rather the suppression of the Yetzer Harah. Which is why we eat matzah specifically, which must be made out of flour which has the potential to become edible Chametz (i.e leavened bread, what we are not allowed to eat on Passover). Chametz represents the ego, as it rises and rises, where as matzah, which is restrained from rising represents the ultimate bittul (or self nullification). This state of self-nullification was necessary as well in order for us to have the proper mind set when we were to receive to Torah. When one goes to hear a lecture about a revolutionary idea in Physics, for example, such as the Big Bang theory or the like, one must attend with a completely open mind, that is "blank" in a certain sense, pushing away all previous conceptions or notions about Physics. How much more so is this true when preparing to receive the Torah which was completely unlike anything else that had been revealed in the universe at that time. After the Yetzer Harah, or ego has been suppressed in such a manner, through the progressive rectifications of the 49 emotions, Shavuous arrives, and we receive the Torah. And on this day specifically, it is an obligation to eat Chametz. Ego, or self-awareness, is in and of itself is not a bad thing. It is a creation of G-d, and thus must have a positive outlet. After we have suppressed our ego completely, and have thus merited the proper receiving of the Torah, we allow to ego to return. It is in fact essential that the ego return at this point so that each person's individuality can in turn provide his/her own input into Torah and the Divine Plan. It is not too late to begin counting the Omer this year if you have not done so up until this point. Just be sure not to say the beracha (blessing) if you have not been counting. The Omer is counted at night, and if forgotten, may be counted until the next day. To find out what day is to be counted, always remember to ask what day was last night (as opposed to what day do we count tonight?)? If you ask what day do we count tonight and the person answers you correctly, he/she has then fulfilled his/her obligation to count and may not do so later with the blessing.
