Counting the Omer – Day 7
Counting the Omer – Feeding the Land, not the Landfill
Animals rely on soil to survive because without soil there would be no food. Compost helps to create healthy soil. Sometimes, deer eat fruit and vegetable scraps from compost bins. So the deer approve of humans who do composting! And we humans help beautiful deer to survive, especially during the winter.
Composting – a way to express our Jewish values
- Jews value preservation and repair of the natural world (tikkun olam), and composting enables us to better achieve this goal.
- Humans take a lot of nutrients out of soils to feed their families, so composting is one way humans can give something back.
- Home composting is a great opportunity to teach your children about recycling and about the natural cycle of life. It’s fun. By composting, we can teach children to respect and value their environment.
- When you compost, it feels like you are feeding the earth. You are doing your part to help the planet.
- Composting is a way to practice the Jewish value of Tza-ar ba-a-lei cha-yim (kindness to animals).
- Noah was a composter
Counting the Omer: The Basics of the Jewish Ritual
Blessing for Day Seven
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר.
Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha-omer.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes us holy with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer.
הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד לָעֹֽמֶר.
Hayom shivah yamim shehem shavua echad la-omer.
Today is seven days which is one week of the Omer.
