55 Between: Day 1 (Sunday) | Counting the Omer

18 Nisan 5786 AM | 1 AVE. Day 1 of the Omer (Sadducean).

5:00 PM EDT in Albany. 

Jonathan writes:

My suggested reading for today is Leviticus 23:1-44.

My suggested wisdom for today is Ways of Counting Time: The Omer Controversy by Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.

My suggested focus verse for today is Leviticus 23:16.

Solidarity with the Jewish people is very important to me, but I am starting off this year leaning toward the Sadducean interpretation. When I have felt called to experiment with counting the Omer in prior years, I have tried both the Sadducean and the mainstream rabbinic interpretations. It will be interesting to see how my thinking evolves on the question this year.