Thursday May 11, 2023 21 Iyar 5783 Thirty-sixth Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר

"Sports is a key component of my life outside of work and family.  This time of year usually (and hopefully) involves two counts for me.  One is a countdown of the number of days until my fantasy baseball draft which is traditionally the Sunday morning before Opening Day.  Then there is a mini countdown from the draft until we hear ""Play Ball!""  The second count ""up"" is the count of the number of games left in the NHL regular season until the start of the ""second season""-the playoffs.  This year my New Jersey Devils have finally turned the corner on a ten year rebuild and are one of the better teams in the league.  It should be exciting  on both sports fronts but the counting for each is paramount at this time of year.

-Jeff Jacob (Devils and Mets fan)"

Friday May 12, 2023 22 Iyar 5783 Thirty-seventh Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר

I count the number of years since I became an "oleh" (immigrant) and made aliyah. On August 10th, 2006, I landed at Ben-Gurion Airport in Israel, beginning the newest and craziest chapter of my life. Every year on this same date, I mark my "aliyahversary". Maybe not with the same celebrations as in my initial years, but at the very least, with a fun Facebook post so my friends and fellow "olim" can celebrate with me (like with the attached photo which I recreated when flying back to Israel from the States on August 10th, 2021). I've been counting for 16 years and can't imagine a time where I won't be very conscious of this day. Why? I am asked how long I've been in Israel far more frequently than how old I am. I didn't choose my birthday. I didn't even do anything to be born! But making aliyah and choosing to start a new life in Israel was the most conscious and intentional of decisions and one that remains a challenge to this day. Life, and aliyah, aren't supposed to be easy so overcoming their challenges are worth appreciating. I may kvetch about Israeli society here and there but on August 10th (and on Yom Haatzmaut, Independence Day), I remember the reasons I love this country and why I chose to create a life in it. 

~Benji Lovitt, Famous Israeli Comedian Author of Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land, regular SPS guest

Saturday May 13, 2023 23 Iyar 5783 Thirty-eighth Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר

Early on in my career, I counted my first vacation, when I would be vested (back then it was 10 years).  Once vested, I could decide to switch jobs/careers.  I counted milestone anniversary years and days to my retirement.

I count family and close friend's birthdays every year, bar mitzvahs, weddings, anniversaries (particularly 10, 25,50, 60).  I count days for myself and loved ones before a major surgery. 

 Counting allows me put order in my life.  Counting reminds me how valuable family and friends are.

Last but not least, as I write this, I reflect on the number of years I have studied Torah and how once I started, it made me into a better person."

~Anonymous

Sunday May 14, 2023 24  Iyar 5783 Thirty-ninth Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁהּ שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר

l COUNT on my immediate family. to be there for me -always. l count the years that have gone by so quickly and l count on my religion to offer much comfort. There are countless things that we count both physically and emotionally. This gives me much to think about.

~Marion Salzman

Monday May 15, 2023 25 Iyar 5783 Fortieth Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר

"Counting toes On my not yet born granddaughter’s feet,

I count the feet, the women who walked before this, her moment so full of possibility and love.

May she add her own steps.  May she dance with joy.  

May she have ten toes."

~Carrie Harris

Tuesday May 16, 2023 26 Iyar 5783 Forty-first Night of the Omer  הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר

"I count things in 3 ways: 1 I count down things, 2.  I chunk information together and 3 I look for representing patterns in nature and architecture.

1.  When driving long trips. I always break down the mileage and minutes and calculate how far it will take to get up the thruway for example at a safe, but swift speed.

2.  I chunk information when I study new things. For example, when I studied my parsha for Men's Club shabbat, I looked for repeating patterns and intonations and phrases and broke down the section in many ways in order to memorize the portion.

3.  I've always looked at leaves and trees and neurons and found the patterns fascinating.  I noticed leaves free in certain angles and groupings and had certain numbers of points on their leaves.  I used to try to count the wires on the Verrazano bridge and wondered why each one was as long as it is."

~Daniel Gross

Wednesday May 17, 2023 27 Iyar 5783 Forty-second Night of the Omer הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר

I count the pills I take each morning & each evening. The majority of them are vitamins, and as I count them, I feel that I am taking care of myself and following the direction of those taking care of me so that I can thank God each morning when I open my eyes to another day.

Each week I count the aliyot & honors on the sheet I prepare for the clergy for Shabbat morning services. I make phone calls to men & women who are observing a yahrzeit, birthday, or anniversary saying SPS wishes to honor them on the following Saturday morning. People are kind, but many refuse because they do not plan to be at services. It saddens me because they do not realize the honor they are being offered and the beautiful spiritual opportunity they are missing by not attending Shabbat services and getting to know their fellow members. But I persevere and count the names I type in each week and hope that the following there will be at least one more.

~Harriet Janover, SPS Director of Special Projects