By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin

The Midrash relates an inspiring lesson from Rabbi Akiva, one of the great Talmudic sages. Once, while in the midst of teaching a group of students, he noticed their eyelids drooping, their heads nodding off. Quickly, he snapped his fingers and challenged them with a question. Why did Queen Esther merit to rule over one hundred twenty-seven provinces? After getting his students’ attention, Rabbi Akiva proceeded to give an answer. He explained that Esther was a descendant of Sora Imeinu.

The Chumash tells us “The life of Sora was one hundred years, twenty years and seven years, the years of Sora’s life”. (Bereishis 23:1) To Sora, every day was accounted for, each hour, each minute, every second precious. She appreciated the gift of time, and lived a meaningful, purposeful life. Even in death, it was “The life of Sora”. In that merit, centuries later, her “granddaughter”, Queen Esther, merited to rule over one hundred twenty-seven provinces.

This was no coincidence, but a meaningful message. Rabbi Akiva’s words to his students was their wake-up call. Time well-spent has the power to span generations. Our actions can have long-lasting effects.

It is now the period of Sefira, counting the days from the second night of Pesach, the Exodus until Shavuos, the time the Jewish nation received the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Seven weeks. Forty-nine days. Each day bringing with it an opportunity for spiritual growth and elevation.

Bnei Yisroel left Egypt experiencing the miraculous hand of HaShem. They witnessed the ten plagues, the splitting of the sea. There was yet another miracle, the transformation of a people.

Due to their enslavement, they were on a very low spiritual level. The Zohar teaches that they sunk to the forty-ninth level of impurity, and had they remained in Egypt any longer, they would have hit rock bottom, the fiftieth level.

The Jewish people made a commitment. They did a total turn-around, and rose to the forty-ninth level of purity, ready to stand at Sinai, ready to accept the Torah with the words “Na’aseh v’nishma, We will do and we will listen”.

How were they able to make this major change in just forty-nine days?

They worked on themselves. Not always an easy task. But they did it. Day by day. Mitzva by mitzva. One day at a time, which made it achievable.

We count Sefira with a bracha using HaShem’s name, reminding us that each day is a G-d-given gift.

Each day, if we will it, HaShem is there to help us grow. We count with the goal of becoming a person worthy of renewing our connection to the Torah on Shavuos.

Sefira is our prep time.

The Sefira count is a “count up”. One day to the Omer… four days… a week… In contrast to a “count down”… Ten…nine…eight…seven… By counting up, each day builds on the previous one. Each day comes with new opportunities for self-betterment.

“U’sfartem lachem, And you shall count for yourself.” (Vayikra 23:15) Sefira has the power to be a transformative experience. Ramban teaches that during these days HaShem gives us opportunities for doing additional mitzvos. We just have to keep our eyes open and be mindful.

Dovid HaMelech teaches us “From all my students, I have learned.” (Tehillim 119:99). I taught a class about Sefira. After learning about the mitzva, Susan made a commitment to count every night. She religiously stuck to it, and even added on her own personal prayer after saying the count. “HaShem, please place before me new opportunities to keep mitzvos each and every day of Sefira.”

And so it was. Each day, unexpected opportunities came knocking on her door. From friends who needed help with errands, to being asked to volunteer visiting the sick, to giving charity to new organizations that she had not been familiar with previously.

One story stood out. That year, Hineni joined a mission to Washington to demonstrate support for Eretz Yisroel. It was an oppressively hot day. Susan and I went to get ice and cold drinks for the group. As we were returning to the group, there on the lawn, Susan spotted a woman lying under a tree, appearing pale. She just didn’t look well. Susan ran over, and the woman said she felt faint. Susan immediately offered a cold drink, and placed some ice under her head. Within a few moments, the woman felt revived, and some natural color returned to her face.

That day happened to be the eighteenth day of the Omer. Susan looked at me and remarked, “Today is eighteen… Chai for life… I feel that HaShem gave me the opportunity to bring ‘life’ back to a person who was obviously struggling”. Another day, another occasion to do a kindness.

In the prayer following the counting of the Sefira, we beseech HaShem “U’l’kadsheinu bik’dushascha ha’elyona, To be sanctified with Your exalted holiness…” At times, we feel so far away from where we wants to be, thinking we will never get there. As we count Sefira, we realize that yes, it is doable, we can make life changes, day by day. If we set our goal, make a plan, and stick to it, we can accomplish great things.

In his lectures, the noted Magid, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, shared a teaching of Rabbi Shlomo Freifeld zt”l. He wrote that in order to make a life change, one should follow the “4-D” formula: Desire, Determination, Dedication, Devotion.

Desire – To really want to make change.

Determination – To put the desire into action.

Dedication – To stick to it.

Devotion – To see it through to the end.

I was in my son’s home, and saw a fifth “D”, a poster hanging on the wall that read “Discipline. Every. Day.”

Necessary traits for meaningful change to happen.

The word Sefira, meaning counting, shares a root with the Hebrew word “sapir”, meaning sapphire, a crystal. Sefira is a time of introspection, to crystalize our goals, and realize our mission in life.

Sefira is also similar to sipur, story, and sefer, book. As we count each day, we are writing our own story, creating the book of our life. By making each day count, we can make that book a good read.

Wishing all a Good Shabbos!

Chaya Sora

Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]

This article was written L’zecher Nishmas/In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l