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What is an Omer?

In ancient times between Passover and Shavuot, daily measurements of barley called Omer were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem.

According to Wikipedia, omer was roughly equivalent to 2.3 liters or between between 1.560 kg. to 1.770 kg in dry weight. The word, omer, is sometimes translated as “sheaves.” 

Beginning on the second night of Passover, Jews are commanded (Leviticus 23:15-16) to count the 49 days of offering between Passover and Shavuot. This is called Sefirat HaOmer—Counting the Omer.

What is The Omer Project?

The Omer Project Meditation Card Deck is a set of 49 illustrated counting cards with texts to inspire introspection and meditation along a personal, spiritual journey through the 7 weeks of Sefirat HaOmer. A card containing the blessing recited before each day of the count is also included.

This Kabalistic journey of the soul is a circular practice, which is why we make this introspective pilgrimage each year with the goal of improving ourselves and our world, building on lessons learned in previous years and adding observations from our current vantage points.

The Omer Project Meditation Card Deck
The Lower Sferot
Day 47 Hod in Malchut

The Card Deck

The Omer Project Meditation Card Deck is inspired by a combination of Mussar teachings and Kabbalistic tradition. Each week, represented by one of the seven lower sefirot of the Tree of Life, is assigned a primary symbol image as well as a secondary gesture to indicate the action within another’s week. The final week, Malchut, is a little special—its emphasis is on the gesture, and the symbol itself is secondary.

I’ve listed the the symbols below, but will leave you to contemplate the gestures.

Week 1 – Chesed – Loving-kindness 
Symbolized by the cups and water

Week 2 – Gevurah – Discipline, Strength
Symbolized by the standing stones

Week 3 – Tiferet – Harmony, balance
Symbolized by flowering trees

Week 4 – Netzach – Endurance, Perseverance
Symbolized by fireballs

Week 5 – Hod – Humility, Splendor
Symbolized by crates defining the space inside them and out.

Week 6 – Yesod – Bonding, Foundation
Symbolized by rings and links

Week 7 – Malchut – Sovereignty
Represented in the letter, shin, influenced by Sefer Yetzirah

Each day we count the Omer, we contemplate how the sefirot interact with each other, manifest in ourselves, and the ways we address our relationships and the world around us.

Count With Me

The Omer count for this year is done.

Join me starting just after next Pesach in 2023 where I’ll be sending an email every day of the Omer via MailerLite with the images and text from my Omer Meditation Card Deck.

Sign up here to have the daily count delivered to your inbox.

How to Count

Each day we count, we recite the blessing:

Hebrew blessing for counting the omer.
Hebrew blessing for counting the omer.

Baruch atah A-donai E-loheinu Melekh Ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav

v’tzivanu al S’firat Ha-omer

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.

And then we give the number for the day.

For more detailed information on counting, I refer you to the Chabad website.

Join The Omer Project Mailing List

Join The Omer Project mailing list for updates and to have the daily Omer count delivered to your inbox.

Order The Omer Meditation Card Deck