Last night we ended the holiday of Shavuot, a holiday that celebrates the revelation at Mount
Sinai when God gives the Torah to the Jewish people. It is a holiday of celebrating the connection of Jews to God, to Torah, to the guidance and wisdom our tradition has for leading a good life.
In the lead up to Shavuot, we count the omer. For 49 days (from the 2nd night of Pesach) until Shavuot, we mark each additional day with a formula. We make a blessing for the mitzvah of counting, then we count the number of days, from 1 to 49, reciting the day and the number of weeks and days. In a 1 in 100 chance, it turned out that the number day of the omer coincided with the count of the number of days Israeli hostages have been held in Gaza. So, when it was the 5th day of the Omer, it was the 205th day hostages were held. On the 40th day of the Omer (5 weeks and 5 days,) it was the 240th day. And as we neared Shavuot, I wondered if we might be able to stop counting both numbers at the same time.
Unfortunately, the counting of the omer has ened, but the counting of the days hostages are held continues. We are now at day 252. When will these dear ones be returned?
Each day (not on Shabbat or Chag) I add a piece of tape to my shirt with the number of days hostages have been held. It doesn't have a formula or additional ritual. It doesn't feel like there should be a blessing to this counting. But there certainly is a purpose, a drive, a feeling that it means for at least that moment I am fully concentrated on those who may feel very alone. And when it grabs someone's attention and they ask me about it, it gives me a chance to make sure they focus on those who need help too. Perhaps that's the moment that needs a blessing - Thank God I am in a position that I can do at least a little something to advocate for those who have no voice right now.
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