Rabbi Howard Morrison

Dear Congregational Family,

This season of the year is all about counting. We are in the last week of counting the seven weeks of the Omer, leading up to Shavuot this coming Sunday night. The book of Vayikra concluded with the counting of every seven years, leading up to a Sabbath for the land in Israel. It also concluded with the ancient counting of seven cycles of seven years, leading up to a Jubilee every fiftieth year.

This week, we begin to read the book of B'Midbar. It is called "Numbers" in English. This book of the Torah begins with a counting of the Israelites and the Leviim for the purposes of a census and of draft registration. Throughout the book of Numbers, we read a variety of countings. Rashi comments that God keeps counting the people of Israel because of the divine love for them.

We too count all kinds things that are precious to us. Most importantly, are the people who are near and dear to us. Others of us count things, hobby items, that are meaningful to us. 

In our liturgy, we count each day of the week, anticipating its closeness to Shabbat. In our tradition, we count the requisite number for a Minyan, without which we cannot read the Torah with Aliyot or recite certain prayers in the service.

While this season of the year has us ponder the things we count, we should also ask ourselves, do we count on ourselves as well? Can we be counted upon by others at times of need?

Shavuot, the holiday which depends on our counting toward it, is upon us. Let us ask and positively answer the ultimate questions about counting.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Howard Morrison