Counting the Omer is a Devotional Practice
Each year we step from the second night of Pesach into the Omer journey. For 49 nights we count the Omer, marking the beginning and passing of each day, giving thanks for earth’s abundance and engaging in a practice of awareness, reflection and action for the sake of healing and shalom.
Go to Blessings for Counting the Omer
Counting the Omer 5785
Count along with the A Way In Jewish Mindfulness community guided by Rabbi Yael's classic book on the subject, Journey Through the Wilderness: A Mindfulness Approach to the Ancient Jewish Practice of Counting the Omer.
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Counting the Omer Together
In 2025/5785 A Way In is offering the opportunity for us to count together one night a week on Zoom, guided live on video by Rabbi Yael Levy. Every Wednesday evening at 8PM ET, beginning on April 16, 2024, Rabbi Yael will present an intention about the week and the day of the Omer, and we will stand together and count the new day. Counting together strengthens and helps inspire our experience and practice.
Every Monday at 11AM ET, Rabbi Yael also offers a teaching on the week's Torah portion. During Torah study we will explore the Divine emanations of the Omer day, reflecting in how they illuminate the teachings of the Torah.
Add Torah Study to your calendar
A Way In Jewish Mindfulness continues with the live Thursday Morning Meditation Sits guided by Rabbi Yael, every week at 8-8:30AM ET, where we will sit together in the energy of the Omer day. Please note there will be no live Sit on April 25, May 9 and 16.
These offerings also can be listened to as a podcast at any time on our Meditations page, on our Torah Study page, and on Soundcloud.
In recent years, “Counting the Omer” has been re-imagined as an invitation to Mindfulness practice: paying attention not only to each day as it passes but also to the individual spiritual qualities that were assigned to it by the 16th century Jewish mystics.
Read MoreFor the sake of the Unification of the Holy One, with presence and awareness, in awe and love to unify the name—yod-heh-vav-heh— in complete unity, in the name of all of Israel,—Hineni— Here I am—prepared and ready to perform the mitzvah of Counting the Omer.
Read MoreRabbi Yael Levy of A Way In Jewish Mindfulness Organization introduces the ancient ritual of Counting the Omer and explains how it becomes a mindfulness practice.
Read MorePASSOVER’S CALL to leave mitzrayim, the narrow place, is a call to leave the habits of mind and body that narrow our vision and distort our ability to act with love and generosity.
Read MoreTHE MOST IMPORTANT THING is to count. Just a few moments of stopping and bringing your attention to each day is rich spiritual practice.
Read More• Find a place to stand where you won’t be disturbed for a few moments.
• Take a soft, deep breath and begin with the introductory prayer.
Read MoreEach of the seven weeks and each of the 49 days has its own spiritual quality. At the beginning of each week, there are intentions and suggestions for practices to help focus your attention.
There is a teaching for each day, highlighting that day’s unique combination of qualities along with a teaching and a prayer.
Read MoreWhy count?
Why stand up each night as three stars appear in the sky and for 49 days in a row count the day that is to come?
What is the purpose, the meaning?
Read MoreIn 2017, Rabbi Yael Levy joined the "Chai Haven show" on New Haven Independent Radio to speak about the 49-day ritual.
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