Sefiras ha Omer, seven weeks filled with kedusha, one long Chol ha Moed between Pesach and Shavuos!Everything now is elevated. We are climbing on a daily basis from the downtrodden existence of Mitzraim to the exalted level of Har Sinai. Just as Am Yisroel did this on a national level during these days, so each of us individually has an opportunity to participate in this ascent, reaching a higher madreiga with each passing day.
“Master of the universe, You have commanded us … to count the Omer in order to cleanse us from our encrustations of evil and contamination.... May it correct our lives, spirits and souls from all sediment and blemish….” This amazing! Who would not want to connect with this incredible daily program of elevating our neshomas?
With this in mind, I had a thought about how the structure of Shemoneh Esreh might also point to an ascending program of kedusha. In fact, it seems to me that we can see in the Shemoneh Esreh a possible foreshadowing of the way which the Final Redemption will unfold, based on the teshuva process of each Jew and spreading from there to encompass the entire world. Here is what I mean ….
Bracha One/Avos: In this bracha, we understand that the basis of everything is to find Hashem, just as Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov did. “The beginning of wisdom is the fear of Hashem.” (Mishlei 9:10)Everything starts here.
Bracha Two/Gevurah, G-d’s infinite power: Once you recognize the Existence of Hashem, then death has lost its grip. Fear no longer controls us. Our existence is eternal.
Bracha Three/Kedusha: With Hashem in our lives, we enter the world of kedusha, which is entirely pure. “I will say of Hashem, He is my refuge and my fortress.” (Tehillim 91)
Bracha Four/Daas: Then we will see life through the lens of Torah. We can view everything with clarity and not feel victimized by the events of life.
Bracha Five/Teshuva: Then we will be on the level of teshuva, repentance. Our life will be transformed because our thoughts and actions will be under the direction of Hashem’s ratzon, the way He wants us to live.
Bracha Six/Selicha: Then we can escape from the prison of guilt. Hashem will unlock the shackles of past sins. “Children of man, who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, shackled in affliction and iron. He removed them from darkness and the shadow of death and broke open their shackles.” (Tehillim 107:10ff)
Bracha Seven/Geula: You are free! You no longer have to be enslaved by the yetzer hara! The Torah frees us on a personal and national level from subjugation to dark forces which would otherwise control us.
Bracha Eight/Refuah: Sickness will no longer terrify us. We will realize that whatever happens is “l’tova,” for good, and we will thank Hashem for everything, even what seems bad.
Bracha Nine/The Year and the Land: The earth will become a place of blessing. The Holy Land will be healed, its inherent kedusha obvious to all. “The heavens declare the glory of G-d and the expanse of the sky tells of His handiwork.” (Tehillim 19)
Bracha Ten/Shofar: Now that we have reached this madreiga, the world is ready for Shofar Gadol. The exiles will return from the Four Corners of the Earth.
Bracha Eleven/Din: The rule of Torah law will prevail. Evil will be seen as evil and good as good.
Bracha Twelve/Against Heretics: Evildoers will not be able to stand before the Presence of the Great Judge. “Arise Oh G-d! Judge the earth, for You allot the heritage among all the nations.” (Tehillim 82)
Bracha Thirteen/Tzaddikim: Righteous people will rule the world in the Name of Hashem and His Torah.
Bracha Fourteen/Yerushalayim: Then Yerushalayim -- and the Bais Hamikdosh within it
-- will be rebuilt as the eternal holy City, without any trace of impurity.
Bracha Fifteen/Bais Dovid: The Kingdom of Dovid will be reinstated. Moshiach ben Dovid will rule Israel, and Israel will lead the world, all according to the Word of Hashem.
Bracha Sixteen/Tefilla: There will be no more wall between us and Hashem. Our prayer will go up directly as if through an umbilical cord between us and Him.
Bracha Seventeen/Avoda: The avoda will return to the Bais Hamikdosh and Hashem will rest His Presence there once again, this time forever. “Ki mi Tzion … from Zion will come forth Torah and the Word of G-d from Yerushalayim.” (Yeshiah 2:3)
Bracha Eighteen/Modim: For all this we thank Hashem! Everything is from Him. There is no end to our gratitude! “How can I repay Hashem for all His kindness to me? I will raise the cup of salvations and invoke the Name of Hashem.” (Tehillim 116)
Bracha Nineteen/Shalom: The world will be at peace. “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning knives. Nation will not lift sword against nation nor will they learn war anymore. They will sit, each man under his vine and under his fig tree, and none will make them afraid. For the mouth of Hashem, Master of Legions has spoken!” (Micah 4:3ff)
May we see it soon in our days!
GLOSSARY
Am Yisroel: The Nation of Israel
Bais Hamikdosh: The Holy Temple
Chol ha Moed: The intermediate days of Passover and Sukkos
Daas: Mental clarity
Har Sinai: Mount Sinai
Kedusha: Holiness, sanctity
Madreiga: Spiritual level
Mitzraim: Ancient Egypt
Neshoma: Soul
Ratzon: The Will of G-d
Sefiras ha Omer: The 7-week count from Passover to Shavuos
Shofar Gadol: The Great Shofar which will announce the Final Redemption
Tefilla: Prayer
Yerushalayim: Jerusalem
Yetzer Hara: The Evil Inclination
