Day 33 of the Omer

Today is Lag B'Omer - the thirty-third day of counting the Omer, and we focus on double Hod - double Humility: Humility in Humility.


The nutrients in soil are invisible to our naked eye, but they are critical for healthy plant growth. Nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, magnesium - all these nutrients, and others as well, are used by plants. Potassium keeps plants generally vigorous, sturdy, and healthy. Nitrogen stimulates leaf and stem growth. Phosphorus is important for germination and growth of seeds, and also for flower and fruit production, as well as root growth. And so it goes with all the thirteen nutrients that plants absorb along with water from the soil. All of that flourishing from something we cannot see.


What are our hidden "nutrients"? What do we give to the world to help promote healthy growth within us and around us? These are qualities that are most useful and meaningful when they remain in some sense hidden, when we allow them to come forth at the pace and in the time and place that they are needed, for what they are needed. This is our truest humility, humility in humility, when we allow our gifts, our nutrients, to be absorbed into the world naturally, in a way that brings about the germination, growth, and blossoming of "flowers" in the world.


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 thirty-three days which is four weeks and five days of the Omer.