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    Sefirat HaOmer — Counting the Omer

    The 49-day spiritual journey from Passover to Shavuot

    Sefirat HaOmer (סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר) — the Counting of the Omer — is a sacred practice of counting 49 days from the second night of Passover (16 Nisan) until the holiday of Shavuot (6 Sivan). This period bridges the physical liberation of the Exodus with the spiritual revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai. Each night after sundown, Jews recite a blessing and state the count, transforming each day into a step of inner refinement and spiritual growth.

    Who

    All Jews who have reached the age of Bar/Bat Mitzvah are obligated to count the Omer. Many communities encourage children to participate as well to learn the practice.

    What

    Sefirat HaOmer is the counting of 49 days (7 weeks × 7 days) from the offering of the Omer barley sacrifice on 16 Nisan to the wheat offering on Shavuot. Each day has a unique spiritual quality combining two of the seven Kabbalistic Sefirot.

    When

    The count begins on the second night of Passover (night of April 2, 2026 / 16 Nisan 5786) and concludes on the eve of Shavuot (May 21, 2026 / 5 Sivan 5786). The blessing and count are recited each night after sunset.

    Where

    The Omer is counted wherever one finds oneself — at home, in synagogue, or anywhere in the world. In Temple times, the barley Omer offering was brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

    Why

    The counting connects the freedom of Passover (physical liberation) to Shavuot (spiritual liberation through Torah). It is a biblical commandment (Leviticus 23:15–16) and a time of personal character refinement, working through the seven emotional attributes (Sefirot).

    How

    Each evening after nightfall, one recites the blessing: "Baruch Atah Adonai… asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al Sefirat HaOmer" and then states the day count. If one forgets an entire day, they continue counting without a blessing.

    The Blessing for Counting the Omer

    בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה׳ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר

    Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al Sefirat HaOmer.

    "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us concerning the counting of the Omer."

    After the blessing, state the count. For example, on day 1: "Today is one day of the Omer." On day 8: "Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the Omer."

    Complete 49-Day Omer Calendar — 2026 / 5786

    The Omer begins the night of April 2, 2026 (16 Nisan 5786) and concludes the eve of Shavuot, May 21, 2026 (5 Sivan 5786).

    DaySecular DateHebrew Dateתאריך עבריWeek SefirahDay Sefirah
    1April 2, 202616 Nisan 5786ט״ז נִיסָןChesedChesed
    2April 3, 202617 Nisan 5786י״ז נִיסָןChesedGevurah
    3April 4, 202618 Nisan 5786י״ח נִיסָןChesedTiferet
    4April 5, 202619 Nisan 5786י״ט נִיסָןChesedNetzach
    5April 6, 202620 Nisan 5786כ׳ נִיסָןChesedHod
    6April 7, 202621 Nisan 5786כ״א נִיסָןChesedYesod
    7April 8, 202622 Nisan 5786כ״ב נִיסָןChesedMalchut
    8April 9, 202623 Nisan 5786כ״ג נִיסָןGevurahChesed
    9April 10, 202624 Nisan 5786כ״ד נִיסָןGevurahGevurah
    10April 11, 202625 Nisan 5786כ״ה נִיסָןGevurahTiferet
    11April 12, 202626 Nisan 5786כ״ו נִיסָןGevurahNetzach
    12April 13, 202627 Nisan 5786כ״ז נִיסָןGevurahHod
    13April 14, 202628 Nisan 5786כ״ח נִיסָןGevurahYesod
    14April 15, 202629 Nisan 5786כ״ט נִיסָןGevurahMalchut
    15April 16, 202630 Nisan 5786ל׳ נִיסָןTiferetChesed
    16April 17, 20261 Iyar 5786א׳ אִיָּרTiferetGevurah
    17April 18, 20262 Iyar 5786ב׳ אִיָּרTiferetTiferet
    18April 19, 20263 Iyar 5786ג׳ אִיָּרTiferetNetzach
    19April 20, 20264 Iyar 5786ד׳ אִיָּרTiferetHod
    20April 21, 20265 Iyar 5786ה׳ אִיָּרTiferetYesod
    21April 22, 20266 Iyar 5786ו׳ אִיָּרTiferetMalchut
    22April 23, 20267 Iyar 5786ז׳ אִיָּרNetzachChesed
    23April 24, 20268 Iyar 5786ח׳ אִיָּרNetzachGevurah
    24April 25, 20269 Iyar 5786ט׳ אִיָּרNetzachTiferet
    25April 26, 202610 Iyar 5786י׳ אִיָּרNetzachNetzach
    26April 27, 202611 Iyar 5786י״א אִיָּרNetzachHod
    27April 28, 202612 Iyar 5786י״ב אִיָּרNetzachYesod
    28April 29, 202613 Iyar 5786י״ג אִיָּרNetzachMalchut
    29April 30, 202614 Iyar 5786י״ד אִיָּרHodChesed
    30May 1, 202615 Iyar 5786ט״ו אִיָּרHodGevurah
    31May 2, 202616 Iyar 5786ט״ז אִיָּרHodTiferet
    32May 3, 202617 Iyar 5786י״ז אִיָּרHodNetzach
    33May 4, 202618 Iyar 5786י״ח אִיָּרHodHod Lag BaOmer!
    34May 5, 202619 Iyar 5786י״ט אִיָּרHodYesod
    35May 6, 202620 Iyar 5786כ׳ אִיָּרHodMalchut
    36May 7, 202621 Iyar 5786כ״א אִיָּרYesodChesed
    37May 8, 202622 Iyar 5786כ״ב אִיָּרYesodGevurah
    38May 9, 202623 Iyar 5786כ״ג אִיָּרYesodTiferet
    39May 10, 202624 Iyar 5786כ״ד אִיָּרYesodNetzach
    40May 11, 202625 Iyar 5786כ״ה אִיָּרYesodHod
    41May 12, 202626 Iyar 5786כ״ו אִיָּרYesodYesod
    42May 13, 202627 Iyar 5786כ״ז אִיָּרYesodMalchut
    43May 14, 202628 Iyar 5786כ״ח אִיָּרMalchutChesed
    44May 15, 202629 Iyar 5786כ״ט אִיָּרMalchutGevurah
    45May 16, 20261 Sivan 5786א׳ סִיוָןMalchutTiferet
    46May 17, 20262 Sivan 5786ב׳ סִיוָןMalchutNetzach
    47May 18, 20263 Sivan 5786ג׳ סִיוָןMalchutHod
    48May 19, 20264 Sivan 5786ד׳ סִיוָןMalchutYesod
    49May 20, 20265 Sivan 5786ה׳ סִיוָןMalchutMalchut

    The Seven Weeks & Sefirot

    Each of the seven weeks focuses on a primary Sefirah (spiritual attribute), and each day within the week refines a sub-attribute, creating a 7×7 matrix of inner growth.

    Week
    Chesed
    Lovingkindness
    Gevurah
    Discipline/Strength
    Tiferet
    Harmony/Beauty
    Netzach
    Endurance/Victory
    Hod
    Humility/Splendor
    Yesod
    Foundation/Bonding
    Malchut
    Sovereignty/Leadership
    Chesed
    חֶסֶד
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    Gevurah
    גְּבוּרָה
    8
    9
    10
    11
    12
    13
    14
    Tiferet
    תִּפְאֶרֶת
    15
    16
    17
    18
    19
    20
    21
    Netzach
    נֶצַח
    22
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    Hod
    הוֹד
    29
    30
    31
    32
    33
    34
    35
    Yesod
    יְסוֹד
    36
    37
    38
    39
    40
    41
    42
    Malchut
    מַלְכוּת
    43
    44
    45
    46
    47
    48
    49

    Lag BaOmer — The 33rd Day of the Omer

    Lag BaOmer (ל״ג בָּעֹמֶר) falls on the 33rd day of the Omer count — 18 Iyar 5786 (May 4, 2026). The name "Lag" comes from the Hebrew letters Lamed (ל = 30) and Gimel (ג = 3), totaling 33.

    Historical Significance

    According to the Talmud (Yevamot 62b), a plague among the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva ceased on this day. The students perished because they did not treat each other with proper respect — making Lag BaOmer a day that emphasizes the importance of mutual respect and loving one's fellow.

    Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai (Rashbi)

    Lag BaOmer is also the yahrzeit (anniversary of passing) of the great Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar, the foundational work of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism). Before his passing, Rabbi Shimon revealed the deepest secrets of the Torah, and he requested that the day be celebrated with joy rather than mourning. Hundreds of thousands of people visit his tomb on Mount Meron in Israel each year.

    Customs & Celebrations

    • Bonfires: Lit throughout Israel and the world, symbolizing the spiritual light Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai brought to the world through the Zohar.
    • Haircuts: During the Omer mourning period, haircuts are customarily avoided. Lag BaOmer is a popular day for first haircuts (upsherin/chalake) for three-year-old boys.
    • Weddings & Music: The mourning customs of the Omer are suspended — weddings, live music, and celebrations are permitted.
    • Bows & Arrows: Children play with toy bows and arrows, recalling that no rainbow appeared during Rabbi Shimon's lifetime (a rainbow is a sign of God's displeasure; Rabbi Shimon's merit protected the generation).
    • Outings & Picnics: Many families and schools organize outdoor trips and parades.
    • Mount Meron: The largest annual pilgrimage in Israel takes place at Rabbi Shimon's tomb, with singing, dancing, and bonfires.

    Mourning Customs of the Omer

    The 49 days of the Omer are traditionally a period of semi-mourning. Customs include refraining from haircuts, shaving, listening to live music, and holding weddings. Different communities observe the mourning during different portions of the Omer — some from Passover to Lag BaOmer, others from Rosh Chodesh Iyar to Shavuot, and others follow additional variations. Lag BaOmer is universally recognized as a day when these restrictions are lifted.

    The Destination: Shavuot (Shavuos)

    The 49-day count culminates in Shavuot — the Festival of Weeks — celebrated on 6 Sivan 5786 (May 22, 2026). Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, completing the journey from physical freedom (Passover) to spiritual purpose (Torah).

    Just as a bride counts the days to her wedding, the Jewish people count from the Exodus toward receiving the Torah — the ultimate expression of the covenant between God and Israel.

    Customs of Shavuot include staying up all night studying Torah (Tikkun Leil Shavuot), eating dairy foods, reading the Book of Ruth, and decorating homes and synagogues with greenery and flowers.

    For more information about Shavuot, please visit: The Destination: Shavuot (Shavuos)

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