Omer

makomisrael.org

Sermon Spark

Omer

makomisrael.org

Yom Ha’atzmaut, Yom Yerushalayim, Yom HaShoah, Yom Hazikaron, all fall during the

Omer period. These days represent the most significant events that have happened to

the people and land of Israel in the 20th century. It is an auspicious time of joy and

sadness, victory and defeat.

A time of sadness: "Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of students...and all of them died in one

period of time because they did not conduct themselves with respect towards one

another...they all died between Pesach and Shavuot… and they all died a terrible death. -

Yevamot 62b

The practice is not to get married between Passover and Shavuot – until Lag B'Omer, because

during this time the students of Rabbi Akiva perished. (Shulchan Aruch, 493:1)

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, Aruch HaShulchan 493:1 - [Paraphrased] - The tragedy of Rabbi Akiva

and his students is connected with the crusades, pogroms, blood libels, and other

persecutions that Jews have faced throughout history.

...The catastrophe which recently befell the Jewish people - the massacre of millions of Jews in

Europe - was another clear demonstration of the urgency of solving the problem of its

homelessness by re-establishing in Eretz-Israel the Jewish State, which would open the gates

of the homeland wide to every Jew and confer upon the Jewish people the status of a fully

privileged member of the comity of nations….

Declaration of the State of Israel: PLACING OUR TRUST IN THE "ROCK OF ISRAEL", WE AFFIX OUR

SIGNATURES TO THIS PROCLAMATION AT THIS SESSION OF THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL OF STATE,

ON THE SOIL OF THE HOMELAND, IN THE CITY OF TEL-AVIV, ON THIS SABBATH EVE, THE 5TH DAY

OF IYAR, 5708 (20th day of the Omer).

Sermon Spark : Omer represents the process of Jewish history unfolding. It is a time

we journeyed as a people from slavery, to freedom, and to being in covenant with God. But

the Omer journey didn't just happen in the Torah: important events in our history and of

Israel happen during this auspicious time. It is a time of appreciating that journey, and

looking forward to the next step.

Framing:

Key Texts:

Sermon Spark Omer 2

makomisrael.org

Yom Hazikaron in Israel

Yom Hashoah

Yom Haatzmaut in Israel

Yom Yerushalayim

Modern Application to Israel

Supplementary Text:

Rav Kook: Mamarey HaReaya A. (p-67)

Building up a country and agriculture are the main foundation of life. For all other nations

these elements are just a simple necessity, but Am Israel’s entire life is Holiness, and its

country and its language and all of its values are holy, and this nation fills all of humanity

with holiness and as result its agriculture is also absorbed with holiness. This idea is

expressed by the bringing the Omer sacrifice that we celebrate with the first produce that is

brought to the temple, the first connection between heaven and earth.

Sermon Spark Omer 3