A story is told of a rabbi who lay on his deathbed, smiling.  “Why” his students asked, “just moments away from death, are you smiling?”

“Because,” the rabbi replied, “For the first time, I understand the words of Vahavta: You shall love the Eternal with all your heart, all your mind and all your soul.  Now on my deathbed, I see that when all else is stripped away, what’s left is love.”

The Song of Songs, the biblical scroll traditionally read on Passover, teaches: “Love is as strong as death” (8:6).

In our counting of the omer during this week focused on loving-kindness, may try to strip away ego, distraction, all else but love.

Baruch Ata Adonai, Elohenu Melech ha-olam asher kidishanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha’omer.  Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Ruler of the universe, who makes us holy with sacred actions and enjoins us to count the omer.

Hayom shiva yamim, shehem shavuah echad, la-omer.  Today is seven days which is one week of the Omer.

Wishing you a meaningful omer– Your RS Clergy