Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD wrote:

> Passover mensch wrote:
>
>>To "Count the Omer" is not the same as the unit of dry weight. Like a
>>modern "peck or bushel," on omer is a unit of dry volume.
>>
>>Here is a little about "Count the Omer"
>>
>>During the time of the Beis Hamikdosh [2nd Temple], there was a mitzvah
>>on the second night of Pesach(Passover) to harvest a measurement of
>>three sa'ah of barley. The following day, (the second day of Pesach),
>>there was a mitzvah (Blessing or ggood deed) to bring a portion of this
>>harvest, the size of an omer [about 3.3 dry liters], to the Beis
>>Hamikdosh. On the fiftieth day, after the forty-nine days of counting,
>>there was a mitzvah to bring the first offering of the year from new
>>wheat. Nowadays, since we do not have a Beis Hamikdash, the Omer is
>>neither harvested nor offered. Nevertheless, there is still a mitzvah
>>to count the Omer.
>>
>>The count goes for 49 days. The 50th night begins the holiday of
>>Shavuos; Shavuos means "weeks," referring to these 7 weeks of counting.
>>Shavuos is the day G-d gave the Torah, and thus the entire counting
>>period becomes one of continuous elevation and preparation - from the
>>status of an Egyptian slave to one ready to receive the Torah.
>>
>>The mitzvah is to count both days and weeks. Therefore, on the eighth
>>day, we say, "today is eight days, which are one week and one day in
>>the omer." The Omer may be counted in any language, as long as it is
>>understood by the counter.
>>
>>The Jewish days begin at sundown, and we wait until full dark to count
>>the Omer.
>>
>>Each day, one says the blessing:
>>
>> Blessed are You, A-d-noy, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has
>>sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the
>>counting of the Omer.
>>
>>Then one says (for the first six days):
>>
>> Today is ___ day[s] of the Omer.
>>
>>After 6 days, one includes the weeks:
>>
>> Today is ___ days, which are ___ week[s] [and ___ day[s]], of the
>>Omer.
>>
>>For example: Today is 22 days, which are 3 weeks and 1 day of the Omer.
>>
>>Then one concludes:
>>
>> The Merciful One, may He return to us the service of the Temple to
>>its place, speedily in our days. Amen, Selah!
>>
>>Many say additional prayers as found in most any Siddur (prayer book).
>>
>>One must count in a language which he or she understands - thus I have
>>offered the English here, while the Hebrew can again be found in a
>>Siddur.
>>
>>If one forgets to count on any evening, one may count during the
>>daylight hours of the following day without a blessing, and then resume
>>counting with a blessing that evening. However, if one forgets to count
>>during an entire day (until sundown the following day), then one may
>>not say a blessing again, but must count the Omer without a blessing.
>>Thus remembering to count the Omer is very important!
>
>
> The omer is important for the entirety of mankind because it represents
> the "right" amount of food (manna) that should be eaten daily by the
> Lord's design. Blessed are the people of Israel who were first to learn
> this lesson in their walk with Him during their 40 years in the desert
> where the Lord provided both freedom (releasing them from Egyptian
> slavery) and food (manna).
>
> From Deuteronomy 8:
>
> 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these
> forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in
> your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled
> you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which
> neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not
> live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the
> LORD . 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell
> during these forty years.
>
> May the Lord bless the writing of His Word here on Usenet, in Jesus'
> holy name.
>
> Amen.
>
> Writing as a cardiologist, the "your feet did not swell" would indicate
> the absence of any vascular disease as a consequence of eating an omer
> of food (manna) daily per the Lord's command as described by Exodus
> 16:16.
>
> At His service,
>
> Andrew
>
> --
> Andrew B. Chung, MD/PhD
> Board-Certified Cardiologist
>
> **
> Suggested Reading:
> (1) http://makeashorterlink.com/?G1D5217EA
> (2) http://makeashorterlink.com/?U2A821CEA
> (3) http://makeashorterlink.com/?X1C62661A
> (4) http://makeashorterlink.com/?U1E13130A
> (5) http://makeashorterlink.com/?K6F72510A
> (6) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I24E5151A
> (7) http://makeashorterlink.com/?I22222129


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