…Count Up to Shavuos, Instead of Counting Down?
Great question! Shavuos has no date in the Torah. It’s all based on counting from Pesach. I would think we should count from 49 days left to 48 days left, eventually to 3, 2, 1 day left! Can you imagine the excitement!? Unless… we are doing something different here.
Sefiras Ha’omer is teaching us how to grow as Yidden. A Yid once asked the Chofetz Chaim how to become a Gadol. He replied, “It only takes 5 minutes. 5 minutes here and 5 minutes there eventually add up to a whole lot of learning!” Famously, Rabbi Akiva saw water dripping onto a rock, and the hole the water made. What did Rabbi Akiva see at the rock? He saw that if he had poured gallons of water at once on the rock… nothing would have happened. But one drop at a time, plus another, drop by drop, made a hole. THAT is how Yidden grow.
During Sefirah, we count each day. Instead of looking at how far we still have to travel, we look at the small steps we’ve already taken. One day, two days, etc. And day by day, we become a little greater! That is the secret to becoming great in Torah, and even closer to Hashem. Sefirah teaches us not to worry how long the road is. Try your hardest and appreciate the derech!
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 34 Komarna Yahrtzeit Edition.
