Revelations on the Omer: How Hillel Made Its Counting Count
For the past seven weeks, Hillel professionals have been connecting over WhatsApp for Sefirat haOmer, the Counting of the Omer, marking each of the 49 days from the second night of Passover to the holiday of Shavuot, the day when the Jewish people received the Torah. To help celebrate each day, Hillel educators and leaders from across the world have been sharing their reflections on the theme of revelation and answering the question, “What does it mean to experience revelation in the modern day?” Here are some of their thoughts:
Sofia Seitchik – Gallaudet Hillel
“Why revelation? What does it mean?” asked Sofia Seitchik, program director of Gallaudet Hillel. “Not only does it receive [the] Torah, but it also awakens our soul, our history, and our identity… The Omer’s purpose is to connect us to our roots and spiritual growth, [allow us to] reflect our lives by counting on each day, and, step by step, to transform.” Sofia, who was born Deaf and grew up in the former Soviet Union, compared her own journey of finding a more inclusive and welcoming community in the United States to the transition from Passover to Shavuot, a transition from slavery to freedom, then to enlightenment.
Samantha Brody – Boston University Hillel
Samantha Brody, Springboard Ezra Fellow at BU Hillel, focused on the liminal space between Passover and Shavuot. “The Counting of the Omer, while it doesn’t require the same level of preparation and all the cooking that Pesach and Shavuot do, it actually takes more time. Counting the Omer draws attention to the space between the two holidays and the journey that b’nai Yisrael [the Jewish nation] goes on from when they leave Egypt until they’re ready to receive the Torah.” She stressed the importance of the Omer taking time to count, saying, “Counting the Omer reminds us that, in revelation, and in our own learning today, there isn’t instant gratification.”
Zion Tunstall – University of California, Santa Cruz Hillel
Zion Tunstall, director of Jewish student life at Santa Cruz Hillel, took a different approach to revelation, sharing, “When we think of revelation, we often think of Sinai… We imagine that truth arrives in grand, dramatic moments, that wisdom comes from above, far away, somewhere out there. But Torah does not only arrive in spectacle. Torah can come softly.” She goes on to describe some of that Torah, saying, “Maybe, the most sacred truth of all, is that we are not only carrying our own wisdom. We are the living, breathing, revelation of every hope, every prayer, every whispered dream our ancestors carried across deserts, seas, and centuries.”
Rabbi Rob Gleisser – Penn State Hillel
When thinking about receiving revelation, Rabbi Rob Gleisser, senior Jewish educator at Penn State Hillel, took a more comedic approach and an opportunity to showcase his musical talents. He sang, “When we think about Sinai, we’re taught we were all there, that means me and you/We received the Torah – that means all the Israelites, that means all the Jews.” He goes on to imagine what it might look like for all of Am Yisrael – the Jewish people – to be at Sinai, describing, among other examples, “Your executive director was basically davening with Doja Cat. /Seinfeld was telling jokes to your first-year Springboard and Ben Platt.”
We hope you enjoyed this taste of Omer Torah that Hillel professionals have been sharing over the last several weeks. Interested in learning more about Shavuot? Check out our guide to celebrating this Torah and cheese-centered holiday!