The Omer is the 49-day period beginning the second day of Passover and ending the day before Shavuot. It is the countdown (really the count-up) to receiving the Torah on Shavuot. We count the days and weeks of this period, from 1 to 49. The counting is done the night before each day, beginning the night of April 23, 2024 and ending the night of June 10. In preparation for Shavuot, when we received the Torah as a united nation, many people use the Omer to improve their character traits and their sense of unity. It is likewise an appropriate time to study the 48 Ways required for achievement in Torah study. Part of the Omer period is a time of mourning for the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva who died during this time. This mourning is lifted on the joyous day of Lag B'Omer, which is also the anniversary of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's passing.
 

Tragedy in Meron

Daily Omer Meditation

A practical guide to becoming great in 49 days.

What is the Omer?

The significance, customs and mechanics of counting the Omer.

Why Rabbi Akiva is My Hero

10 life lessons from an accessible giant.

What Is Lag B'Omer?

Lag B'Omer marks the date of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai's death. So why is it such a celebration?

 

Counting to Shavuot: Achieving the Impossible

Counting Up, One Step at a Time.

Counting the Omer: 49-Day Program for Change

Every small step we take to become better has an effect on everyone around us.

Rabbi Akiva’s Secret to Success

Rabbi Akiva’s life story destroys common misconceptions about what it takes to succeed.

 

Lag B'Omer and the Tragic Mann Gulch Fire

The famous story of Wag Dodge and the importance of living with passion and igniting our own fire.

Lag B'Omer and the Power to Recreate

Rabbi Akiva's timely post-corona message.

Making Time Count: The Message of Counting the Omer

Counting means forging a conscious, mindful relationship with time and its moments.

 

Seasons of the Moon: Sivan - Hearing is Believing

Why do we say, "Hear O Israel!" rather than "See O Israel"?

 

Seasons of the Moon: Iyar – The Power of Connectivity

A mystical look at the meaning of this Jewish month.

Life as a Wedding: The Meaning of Lag B'Omer

The finite as a portal to the Infinite.

The Sirens of Rabbi Akiva: Corona and Sefirat HaOmer

The death of Rabbi Akiva’s disciples that has an eerie resonance of the pandemic we face today.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech

Lag B’Omer: Seizing Your Life’s Mission

Lag B’Omer is a remarkable enigma.

 

Why the Omer?: The Secret to Spiritual Growth

The deeper connection between counting the omer and the manna from heaven.

Hockey Heroics and the Omer

Preparing for the big moment is the key to victory.

The Life of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai

A glimpse into the greatness of this towering scholar whose yahrzeit is commemorated on Lag B’Omer.

7 Keys to Mastering Your Life’s Mission

Using your unique gifts to transform the world around you.

Understanding Lag B'Omer

What lies behind this enigmatic festival? And why the bonfires?

 

Lag B'Omer and the Fiery Power of Purpose

Every Jew is irreplaceable.

Rabbi Benjamin Blech

Lag B’Omer: Better than Love

How do we understand the deaths of Rabbi Akiva’s students?

Whispering Flames: The Fire of Lag B'Omer

Tapping into the fiery, spiritual energy that is embedded in every iota of creation.

Lag B’Omer: The Beauty in Every Jew

This Lag B’Omer, take a moment to identify with another’s inner Godliness.

Who Knows 50?

The distinguished number of transcendence.

Tony Robbin's Secret to Happiness

And the connection to Lag B'Omer.

Kabbalah and Lag B'Omer

Forget the red string. What exactly is Kabbalah?

Rebbe Akiva's 24,000 Students

A scholarly, mystical look at the Omer mourning period.

The Mystery of Lag B'Omer

Puzzling questions surround the holiday of Lag B'Omer, the 33rd day of counting the Omer.

Sefira Beards and Beacons

Rabbi Yaakov Weinberg's insights on the mourning period for Rebbe Akiva's students.

Counting with the 48 Ways

Change your life with the 48 Ways -- A Way a Day!

Mind Over Matter

The mitzvah of counting the Omer holds the key to understanding the proper balance between thoughts and feelings.

Make the Omer Count

Instead of counting "down" toward the big day, we count "up" from one to 50. Why?

The Commandment of Counting

Counting the Omer teaches us mindfulness, and opens our hearts to the power of stories.

A Family Spiritual Countdown

Infusing your children with the essence of the Omer.

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