We count the days, but how do we make them count?

Rabbi Weiman is a speaker, teaches Jewish history at Esther Miller Bais Yaakov, and is author of the new book, “48 Things, 49 Days,” (Targum Press) as well as “A Simple Guide to Happiness,” “A Map of the Universe,” and “the Everything Learning Hebrew Book.”

BY RABBI MAX WEIMAN

The Torah, in the Book of Leviticus, instructs us to count the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot. This is one of the oddest commandments. The sages set the calendar and tell us when Shavuot will fall out. Even before funeral homes sent out Hebrew calendars, we always knew when Shavuot would be. We have no real need to count these days at all. God certainly doesn’t need us to count for Him. The sages don’t need us to count for them. We don’t need to count for ourselves, so why do we do it?

One of the ominous statements of the sages is that the Israelites, while enslaved in Egypt, had reached the bottom rung of spirituality. We were not redeemed because we were so holy. We were redeemed because it was our last chance. We reached, as they say, the 49th level of spiritual degradation. In other words, we had assimilated into the idolatrous society of Egypt.

Ever since then this cycle repeats itself. We need to count these days in order to climb out of our descent into materialism. When we count each day we are trying to make one small elevation of our spiritual status, making one practical step towards God. Every day in some small way we can always improve our character. On the fiftieth day the Torah was given to us as a sign of our now being worthy, after 50 days of spiritual growth, to receive the Almighty’s instructions for living. How to be holy, successful, and happy.

It is in the nature of the world to both help and hinder our relationship with the Infinite. Life is a challenge from all sides. Our soul yearns for meaning, spirituality, and purpose, but our body and the material world lead us into desires and physicality, greed, envy, and status-seeking.

Each day between Passover and Shavuot is a day to affirm your values, strengthen your commitments to whatever causes or you think are important, and reconnect with your relationship with God.

Our sages told us that these fifty days hold the key to the entire year. What you accomplish during this time will last until next Passover.

The Almighty gave us this time. Don’t pass over the opportunity.

Rabbi Max Weiman is Director of Kabbalah Made Easy and author of ‘A Simple Guide to Happiness,’ available on Amazon.com. More of his articles are found online at www.kabbalahmadeeasy.com. Rabbi Max Weiman will be giving a talk on the opportunity of these days at Aish Hatorah in Chesterfield on April 18th 8 p.m. Call 314-862-2474 to RSVP.