Shabbat Shalom Weekly

Torah Portion:  EMOR

Counting The Omer
by Rabbi Dr. Mordechai Schiffman

When you set a goal, do you concentrate your mental energy on the means to achieve the goal or on the aspired end of attaining the goal? In the psychological literature on goal-pursuits, these two different perspectives are called process focus and outcomes focus. A process focus is more concrete, emphasizes the how, accentuates the journey. An outcomes focus is more abstract, emphasizes the why, accentuates the destination. Researchers are trying to determine which approach is more effective in goal-fulfillment. To date, studies present conflicting evidence. Some indicate that when we focus on the process it is more rewarding and less anxiety provoking. Others demonstrate that focusing on the outcome helps promote grit and perseverance. The secret may lie in striking a balance, learning when alternating between a process focus and an outcome focus will be most helpful.

The exact purpose of the counting of the Omer is ambiguous within the verses. The Torah tells us in Parshat Emor (Vayikra 23:15-16) to count seven weeks, culminating in the various sacrifices brought on the fiftieth day. The commentators offer various suggestions, many related to the chronological placement of the Omer in between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. The entire goal of leaving Egypt, writes the Rambam (Moreh Nevuchim, 3:43), was to receive the Torah. Therefore, we enhance our appreciation for the end-goal of Shavuot by counting toward it. The Ohr HaChaim, on the other hand, focuses less on the end-goal in his theory as to why we count, but on the process of purification that was necessary after leaving the impurities of Egypt.

Within the same outcome-focused approach as the Rambam, the Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 306) asks, if Sefira is about anticipation, why do we count up (Day 1, Day 2…) and not down (Day 49, Day 48…), as we often do to build excitement? He answers that if we were to start counting down with 49, we would get discouraged that we need to wait so long until we reach the goal, so we start with 1 in order to not be dissuaded. Approaching it from a process focus, Rabbi Shimshon Pinkus provides a different answer to the Sefer HaChinuch’s question. Sefira is not just an exercise in mathematical abilities, but an act of self-growth. As a consequence, counting upwards represents the fact that we should be developing and building from one day to another.

Maintaining both of these approaches during Sefira can enhance our experience. Rabbi Soloveitchik, quoted by Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, argues that these two ideas are inherent within the word sefira. In contrast to the word minyan, in which counting is only essential in the attainment of an ultimate goal, sefira represents counting towards a goal (outcome) in which every individual unit becomes a goal unto itself (process). Counting highlights both the process and the outcome. Both are important to effective goal-pursuit and knowing how to keep both in mind enhances the other aspect.

The process of self-growth will be more efficacious if the goal of Shavuot is underscored and the goal of Shavuot will be more meaningful if the process of self-growth is more successful.

 

Shabbat Reality
by Rabbi Shaul Rosenblatt

Why we rest on Shabbat.

This week’s portion speaks about the prohibition against “work” on Shabbat. People usually think of the idea of a Sabbath as an opportunity to rest so that one can be fit and strong again for the week ahead. But this is clearly not the Torah’s concept. We rest on Shabbat, the Torah says, because God rested. But God was obviously not resting in order to work better the week after. His work was already finished and he did not continue his work after Shabbat.

The reality is that Shabbat is something different entirely. The word for “work” on Shabbat is melacha. The other place in which the Torah uses a similar word is the building of the Tabernacle. The Sages determined from the Torah’s description that there were 39 creative activities involved – like lighting a fire, cooking, grinding and writing. There is one thing that all 39 have in common. They are actions that humans can do which animals cannot. All are examples of humans using their intelligence to manipulate and bend nature. Hence, by extrapolation, one can obviously not switch on a light or drive a car.

The “Shabbat rest” is not a rest from physical labor. It is a rest from our constant, though futile, effort to control our world. It is a day to sit back and allow the world to flow by without trying to change it. A day to stop ‘doing’ and start ‘being’. A day in which we do not allow our striving for a ‘better’ future to spoil our enjoyment of the here and now. When we relinquish control of our world for 24 hours, we live in a place that is a more accurate reflection of reality than when we think we are in control. It’s an opportunity to find a place of peace and humility within oneself.

And Sages brings with it great perspective. When one enters a more spiritual place within oneself, there comes a shifting of priorities. The need for more and more money seems less important. Success seems very fickle. And power seems quite irrelevant. But family, love, the pursuit of wisdom, and an appreciation of life’s inherent goodness switch from the black and white of the weekdays to full 32-bit color.

This is the purpose of Shabbat. A day to step out of the craziness of the week — and start living in the real world.

Family First
by Nesanel Yoel Safran

From This Week’s Torah Portion

Families are important and we should be willing to go out of our way for ours. In this week’s Torah portion (Lev. 21:2), we see how the Cohen-priests could do things to help their close relatives that they couldn’t to do for anyone else. So too, when it comes to our family’s needs, we should walk the extra mile.

In our story, a boy has to decide where his family fits in his life.

“What do you mean you’re not coming?” Lisa asked with a hurt look in her eyes.

“Listen, do you know how lucky I am to have gotten a ticket to the championship game?” Andy said. “I’ve got friends who’ve already offered to buy it from me for three times the price. But I told them ‘no way.’ I’m not going to miss the game for nothing and for nobody.”

“But I’m not ‘nobody’,” Lisa said. “I’m your sister – and I’m graduating tomorrow and it would mean so much to me for you to be there.”

Andy shrugged. “Sister or no sister, I’m just not giving up the game. It’s just too important to me.”

Lisa wrinkled her face and stormed upstairs from the living room, just as their mother walked in from the front door.

“Hi Mom,” Andy said. “What’s for lunch?”

“Oh, lunch time already?” she smiled. “I’ll heat up something from the freezer. Sorry about that. I’ve just been so busy shopping for Lisa’s graduation that I’ve lost track of time.”

Andy rolled his eyes. “Is it really such a big deal?”

“Of course it is,” his mother said. “Any graduation is. But especially for Lisa. She worked so hard, and is graduating with the second best grades in her whole class. She would have been the best … except for that time she missed from school last year.”

“Which time?” Andy asked.

“Don’t you remember? When you were in the hospital. It was hard for you to be alone and I was so busy at work. So Lisa got permission to take those days off from school and stay with you.”

Andy nodded as his mother went on.

“It was right before her mid-term tests and she missed a lot of important review classes that would have helped her get better grades.”

“Really?” Andy said. “I didn’t know that.”

“Uh, huh. I was actually surprised that she did it – it couldn’t have been an easy choice,” his mom said. “As you know, doing well in school is so important to her – unlike someone else we both know.” Andy blushed. “I didn’t even ask her to take the time off,” his mother added, shaking her head. “She volunteered and just said ‘family comes first.’ Anyway, what would you like me to make you for lunch – frozen pizza or … hey, where are you going?” she asked, as Andy turned and headed toward the door.

“Oh, um … I’ve just got this ticket I have to go sell to my friend,” Andy said. “Be back soon. By the way, do you happen to know where my good suit is … you know, to wear to the graduation?”

As Andy walked out the door, he realized that while he wasn’t much of a student, like his sister was – he’d just learned a big lesson from her on what’s really important in life.

Discussion Questions

Ages 3-5

Q. How did Andy feel at first about going to his sister’s graduation?
A. He wasn’t willing to give up going to a ballgame to do it.

Q. How did he feel in the end?
A. He realized that it was important to do things for his family – even when it was hard.

Ages 6-9

Q. What life-lesson do you think Andy learned that day?
A. Like all of us, he had his personal priorities — what was important to him — like going to a big sports event. But he realized, after hearing how his sister gave up one of her personal priorities in order to do something for the family, that being part of a family sometimes meant putting its needs even before one’s own.

Q. Do you think Andy made a good choice?
A. While it certainly wasn’t an easy one, by choosing to put his family first, not only did Andy improve his character, but he helped make his family stronger, and more secure, which is something valuable that lasts a lifetime.

Ages 10 and Up

Q. Do you think that family members are entitled to more priority than others? Why or why not?
A. While we should treat everyone well, we should treat our family especially well, and their needs should take precedence over those of others. It is not ‘random’ that we are part of a family. God has put us together as a support system, that if used properly can make every family member a stronger individual.

Q. Does a person with family commitments lose out on his or her personal freedom?
A. Although it’s true that being attached and committed to others means we may sometimes have to give up our own private wants, this isn’t a negative thing. A person who lives only for himself can quickly grow selfish and never experience the deep spiritual growth that only giving imparts.

 

Quote of the Week

“Once you have distanced yourself from anger, the quality of humility will enter your heart” — Nachmanides