Rabbi's Blog

Transitioning from old school to new school is easier said than done. As people grow older, the ability to adapt to constantly-evolving technological developments in our fast-paced world becomes increasingly more difficult. creating  I am no exception to this situation.  As I get older and technology advances, I find myself slipping behind, losing awareness  of new apps and electronic conveniences that life offers. I only use about eighty percent of what my smart phone is capable of. Either I have lost interest in pursuing more and more into the cloud, or I am just getting older and losing the mental capacity for learning new technology. I am comfortable with certain advances that I adapted to but am now beginning to become reluctant to learning how to make use of newer changes.

Many of the advances in technology have eroded the personal touch and human-to-human interaction. We barely need to see anyone face to face anymore because we can communicate instantaneously at any time, any place in the world, by pushing or stroking a few keys. There ae fewer toll road collectors thanks to ez-pass and electronic toll roads that track every vehicle, allowing users to pay on line. Then there is on-line banking. While I do a limited amount of banking on line,  I’m now old enough to still prefer walking into the bank and speaking with a teller or my personal banker. Certainly, on-line banking saves considerable physical time, but unfortunately, we lose out on the emotional time.

Speaking of banking, another lost procedure in banking is the counting of money. Today, whether it’s a deposit or a withdrawal of money, a machine counts all the bills. No longer does the teller count out the money in front of you when you withdraw money. In fact, I am so old school I ask the teller to count out the money, even though it came out of the automated machine and afterwards went through the counter. There is something definitive about counting out bills one by one. An impression is made as the money adds up (it is interesting to observe the different methods tellers have in counting out the money) to the sum. We see the value of counting from the fact the fourth book of the Torah is called Sefer HaPekudim, the book of Numbers, where Hashem displays His love for his children through conducting a census.

In a two-way relationship, there is a giver and a receiver. Sometimes the giver gets more from his giving;  at times the receiver gets more than the giver.  With respect to Hashem counting and numbering His favored nation, we sometimes ask ourselves, “who benefits more, the person counting or the one being counted?” God doesn’t really need to count us for His sake; He counts us for ours, making us feel special for being so singled out.  So too, when it comes to Mitzvos that seemingly are performed for the benefit of someone Most often the Mitzvos are given not only tous but for us. An example of this is found in this week’s Torah portion Parshas Emor Vayikra 21:15 which states: “Usfartem Lachem MiMacharas HaShabbos MiYom HaViachem Es Omer HaTenufa, Sheva Shabbasos Temimos TiHiyena” - “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after that Sabbath, from the day of your bringing the wave offering of the Omer; it shall be seven complete Sabbaths”.

 Before explaining the significance of counting, the Maharal explains that there is a remez (hint) as to why we count forty-nine days from the offering of the Omer until the day of Kabbalas HaTorah, which is on Shavuos. The Omer, which is brought from barley, can be made into flour and ultimately into bread. In Pirkei Avos 3:21 the Mishna teaches ‘Im Ein Kemach Ein Torah’ - ’If there is no flour (bread) there is no Torah’.

The Ksav Sofer explains why the word ‘Lachem’ - for yourselves -  is not superfluous. The word ‘Lachem’ is used to teach that the counting of the seven weeks is not only about the number of days counted. Rather, the primary intent of counting is to recognize the quality of a person’s behavior and conduct. Each and every part of every single action a person does makes a difference. A person improves and becomes a better Jew when his actions are qualitative in nature, which clearly benefits him. This understanding of ‘Lachem’ is similar to the interpretation of when Hashem spoke to Avraham saying to him: “Lech L’cha Mei’Artzecha”. Rashi explains the L’cha - to you - as for your good;  for your benefit. Every time the word L’Cha is used it is for the individual’s gain. The counting of the Omer is no different. Counting the Omer is a benefit for the soul of man, assisting in sanctifying and purifying the individual.

With each passing day we count  toward the perfection needed to receive the Torah that was given on Har Sinai. Counting creates accountability;  the person thinks and sees what is different today from yesterday. Every new day should begin by trying to build upon the accomplishments of the day before. As every bill is counted by the teller, it adds up to the total sum. Each dollar is independent and at the same time compounded to the previous bill. Not only do I have single bills, but I have a much greater amount altogether that I can do much more with. So too every day of the Sefira that a person counts he should try to purify and sanctify himself a little more than the previous day and to build upon it. In the process of these seven weeks, we should try to decrease and remove desires that drag us down, preventing us from growing spiritually. It goes without saying (but I must say it) the improvement that we need to work on is not only in the spiritual sense - between me and Hashem - but also in the middos between man and man.

The counting of the Omer and the mourning period for the students of Rabbi Akiva coincide. I suggest that this is  no coincidence. Life is precious;  we know how every minute counts. If every minute of life builds upon the previous minute, one will live a very full life. One must remember this applies to both the physical and spiritual worlds between Hashem and my neighbor. Let us manually count the cash and the deeds. Let us appreciate the count and our value will appreciate as well.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky

Rabbi Bogopulsky’s new book “Developing A Torah Personality” is available for purchase directly from him or Amazon

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