An End to Uncertainty

By Grace Schessler, WLCJ Executive Committee Appointee and Personal Conversations Co-Chair

Commencing on the evening of the second Seder, we count the days between Pesach and Shavuot, or as we know it, Counting of the Omer. These fifty days can be an opportunity for deep personal reflection. Omer, the sheaf of barley offering that took place in Biblical times, represented much more than an ordinary ritual to the Israelites who worked the land. This offering symbolized the opening of the summer season, and each day was counted until the “two loaves” that were baked from the first harvest were brought to the Temple on Shavuot. Following the destruction of the Second Temple, this period of time became associated with mourning and uncertainty.

Sadly, nowadays, the Omer isn’t the only thing that we are counting. As of this writing, I have counted 214 days* that 133 hostages have been held in captivity in Gaza. I find myself drawn to the unprecedented parallel between counting the days since October 7th and counting the Omer.

This period is a constant reminder of the loss of the Temple and the oppression that followed. Now, we focus our concern on the precarious and uncertain well-being of the hostages while mourning those we know have perished on and since October 7th. Today, we stand up against the horrifying and blatant antisemitism exploding throughout our country and the world.

On a personal level, when I hear “Counting of the Omer” I am instantly reminded of Omer Neutra, a member of my synagogue, Midway Jewish Center in Syosset, N.Y. Omer is a “lone soldier” being held by Hamas since October 7th, I count Omer’s years as he turned just 22 while in captivity.Shavuot is the culmination of the counting – a time to celebrate the end of the period of uncertainty the Israelites experienced between their freedom from bondage in Egypt and the gift of the receiving of the Torah.

Just as the Jewish people wrestled with a phase of uncertainty that ended with rejoicing at Mt. Sinai, I pray that we are soon able to rejoice in the safe return of Omer and the other 132 hostages. I pray we are soon able to celebrate their freedom with the certainty of the gift of the Torah.

Grace Schessler
WLCJ Executive Committee Appointee and Personal Conversations, Co-Chair
gschessler@wlcj.org