Day 24 of the Omer

Today we mark 24 days of counting the Omer, and we search in our hearts for the Divine Attributes of Tiferet in Netzach. Tiferet means refers to Balance and Harmony, but also can mean Beauty or Splendor, and today we think of all of these in relation to Endurance.

I envision the tiny bluish white bluets blooming in clumps in open meadows at this time of year, visible from a distance only when they occur in large numbers, like waves. I also think of the Jack-in-the-pulpits, their distinctive curved shape rather than their green color causing them stand out. And soon to come, the lady slippers - pink or yellow are the ones I've seen growing in the wild, their color a contrast to the browns and greens of the forest floor, yet it is their slipper-like shape and their rarity that make them a treasure to find.

Seeing native wildflowers on a walk through the woods and fields brings a sense of peace, of the world and the universe being in balance. They are a bright spot of color; they are a sign of ecological well-being; they are a reminder that the world is continuing into the future.

We, too, can be a bright spot, when we show to the world our native colors and shapes, our unique characteristics, to help our planet and our species stay in balance and endure into the future, with peace and  harmony and well-being.

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha'olam, asher kid-shanu b'mitzvotav, vitzivanu, al sefirat ha'omer.

Blessed are you Adonai our G!d, ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot and commands us regarding the counting of the Omer.


Today is twenty-four days which is three weeks and three days of the Omer.