Q. Why is Sefirat Haomer mentioned in the parsha of the Moadim when it is not a Yom Tov?
A. Although the days of Sefirah do not carry the sanctity of Yom Tov or even Chol Hamoed, they are permitted in work and do not have any special daily sacrifices or tefilos, still they are attached and joined both to Pesach and Shavuos. The Ridvaz (4: 1327) explains that we do not recite Shehecheyanu on counting Sefira since it constitutes the days of preparation and groundwork for Kabalat Hatorah on Shavuos and we do recite that brocho then. It is also remarkable that the Torah does not mention the reason or historical background for Shavuos as it does with the other Chagim. However, it does name this Yom Tov “Shavuos”, presumably because the essence of the festivity lays in the preparation and “Hachonos” for the Yom Tov done during the weeks of the Omer. As the pasuk reads “Veasisa Chag Hashevuos”, the Yom Tov requires “making” and all that is done during the weeks of Sefirah.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
