The Counting of the Omer & the Human Project

Week 4

Today marks the fourth week of the Omer, and this week we focus on the notion of truth. In upcoming weeks, expect our rabbis’ reflections on other aspects of the Human Project: Purpose, Community, and Hope.

Our intention is that these weekly emails will foster an introspective period for our community, enhancing the Omer’s relevance, and leading us towards a deeper understanding of the Human Project — an essential component of Temple Micah's Roadmap.

Today's Reflection: Truth

• In the Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides writes, "Truth does not become more true by virtue of the fact that the entire world agrees with it, nor less so even if the whole world disagrees with it.” 

• "Truth springs up from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven" (Psalms 85:11). The Psalmists understood that truth grounds the immutable principles and fundamental laws of earth. And yet, they also understood that truth transcends factual accuracy, living at the crossroad between evident and profound. It exists independently from beliefs, interpretations, and observations and can therefore be communicated through art, literature, or music– any medium that attempts to engage with the mystery of existence. 

• The Hebrew word for truth, "emet" (אֱמֶת), is composed of the first, middle, and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Aleph (א), the first, represents the beginning and primacy; Mem (מ), the middle, continuity and duration; and Tav (ת), the final letter, completeness and perfection. Together, these three letters form "emet," conveying the idea of truth as foundational, enduring, and all-encompassing.

Question for Reflection

Can you recall a moment when you encountered and embraced truth? In what ways was the experience foundational, enduring, and all-encompassing?

About the Counting of the Omer

The Omer is a period of counting that spans the 49 days (7 weeks) between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot. The name – Omer – refers to an ancient measure of grain which was brought as an offering to the Temple in Jerusalem on the second day of Passover.

After the destruction of the Temple, the counting of the Omer was reinterpreted as time of introspection leading up to the holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah. While there are different ways to approach introspection, this year we are choosing to reflect on the Human Project, an essential component of Temple Micah's Roadmap.

Exploring Temple Micah's Roadmap: the Human Project

For this year’s counting, Temple Micah's rabbis will send out a special, weekly email highlighting a different aspect of the the Human Project for us to ponder throughout the week.

In the simplest of explanations, the Human Project is a set of ideas that focus on our shared humanity and what it means to be a good person. It asks us to look inwards at ourselves, acknowledging our own dignity, and to spread this awareness outwards to our communities and the world. We look forward to sharing our reflections with you.

**IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT UNSUBSCRIBING**

All Temple Micah members will automatically be opted into the weekly Omer emails. If you do not wish to receive these weekly emails, please contact the office.

DO NOT click the "unsubscribe" link. Clicking "unsubscribe" will remove you from ALL Temple Micah email lists.

Temple Micah | Contact Us