Timeless Torah

The Jewish calendar is a wonderful thing. Sometimes, before you've even finished one holiday, the calendar reminds you to prepare for the next. Such is our case. With the taste of matzah still fresh on our palate, we begin counting 49 days in anticipation of Shavuot and the Giving of the Torah.

This counting brings to mind how God himself, had dramatically plucked the former slaves out of Egyptian bondage. Still, two hundred and ten years of merciless oppression had taken its toll. Physically and spiritually they were clearly unfit as well as unprepared to receive the Torah.

As they inched their way closer to Mt. Sinai the slow process of rejuvenation began. Each day they grew in health becoming physically stronger and spiritually more sensitive. Impatient for the Revelation, they counted each day in eager anticipation. For this reason we too count these days, recreating the emotional journey felt by our ancestors.

At first glance there seems to be no point in counting days, for there is nothing we can do about their passing. The flow of time is beyond man's control. It moves inexorably. We can neither slow its march, nor can we accelerate it. We can't change its dimensions and make an hour last more or less than sixty minutes. What then is the purpose of counting these forty-nine days?

However, upon closer reflection, not only does the sefirah (the counting) itself contain a powerful lesson, but even the way we count offers us insights into Jewish living. We do not wait until the eve of the Sh'vuos Festival and then announce, "49 days have passed". Instead we count each and every single day separately.

My friends, the message is clear. Torah does not allow us the complacency of saying "I will have time tomorrow, or the day after." Every day is a complete microcosm, a distinct world to be conquered. And what about tomorrow? It too has its own purpose and its own challenge. In fact, only through completing the challenges of today are we equipped to address the tasks of the future. Although one cannot expand nor shrink time, our influence over the clock is unlimited. For time is like a "vessel" which is highly elastic, with an infinite absorptive capacity. It has the power of expanding or contracting, depending upon how much or how little is put into the vessel. We can fill our days, hours and minutes with unlimited content or squander it completely.

A moment of kindness. A moment of sharing. And a moment of doing a mitzvah is more than just another minute. Its memory and positive effects may last a lifetime. This then is the underlying directive in the days known as Sefirah.

Don't only count each and every single day, but make each and every single day count.