“Faith Matters” is a column that features pieces written by local religious figures. I love the transitions between sacred time in the Jewish year. The spaces in-between remind us that significant moments rarely come out of a vacuum and that we can participate in the formation of holy experi ences through small, sacred tasks.  On Passover, the Jewish community recalls our ancestors’ enslavement in Egypt, as if it were our own. We say, “avadaim hayinu” — we were slaves and now we are free. Not just our ancestors, but us as well. Fifty days later, we celebrate Shavuot, a festival commemorating the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai. Again, we experience the Divine Presence, opening ourselves to the awe and wonder of revelation. How do we go from redemption to revelation? What happens in the days and weeks following our experience of liberation to prepare us for the gift of Torah? Every year, the Jewish tradition invites us to take the journey from Passover to Shavuot, from crossing the Sea of Reeds to standing at Mt. Sinai, by counting the omer. This tradition is tied to the agricultural cycle of the land of Israel and helped mark the time between the beginning of the barley harvest at Passover, to the beginning of the wheat harvest, seven weeks later on Shavuot. Today, the tradition has taken on a spiritual meaning and can be practiced by saying a blessing and counting each of the 49 days in the evening.  In the Torah, the word “omer” appears in connection with the gift of manna in the wilderness. For 40 years, on every morning except for Shabbat, a substance as fine as frost would appear on the ground. It could be baked or boiled into a bread that tasted like cakes cooked in honey. The Children of Israel called it manna. And while they might have craved fancier foods, this simple source of food sustained them in the wilderness. Each Israelite would collect as much as they needed, and when they went home and measured it out, each ended up with an omer (about two liters). It was a gift from God, and sustained them in the wilderness. There was always enough, and it was such a significant symbol of God’s love for Israel, that an omer-ful of manna was to be kept in a jar alongside the Ten Commandments for posterity. It was a reminder of God’s unending love and generosity, of the small things that we often take for granted, that truly are great miracles.  The word “omer” also appears in the Hebrew Bible in connection with two agricultural traditions in the land of Israel. We are commanded to care for the most vulnerable in society — the stranger, the orphan, and the widow by leaving the corners of one’s fields’ uncut (pe’ah) and leaving fallen grain for those in need (leket). Leaving behind an omer of grain in your field is an act of tzedakah, of righteousness, and how we care for those in our midst. The journey from freedom to true wisdom, from redemption to revelation requires us to take small, mindful steps, We are undertaking a spiritual journey, but it cannot be a journey for ourselves alone. We must remember God’s love and generosity, be grateful for what we have, and remember to share with others. God gives us gifts and it is our responsibility to keep the gifts moving. Daniel Schaefer is the rabbi at Congregation Mishkan Israel. Previous ​“Faith Matters” columns:  • Self-Restraint In The Age Of Distraction• Faith Matters: Will You Cross The Road?• Faith Matters: Jesus Remembered Immigrants• Faith Matters: 17 Steps To Self-Care• Extreme Compassion• Put A Shovel In The Ground• Start With The Foundation• True Sanctuary• Kingdom Questions• Faith Matters: Faith Over Fear• Faith Matters: Scar Glory• Faith (Still) Matters• Missions Ride on Faith• Why I’m Called To March• Faith Matters: Not Moonwalking• My Prayer For Peace Unity• Faith Matters: Belief In Action• Faith Matters: Gaza  Ramadan• Faith Matters: On Passover  Redemption• Faith Matters: Freedom Struggles  Holy Week• Faith Matters: Welcome The Stranger• Faith Matters: Beyond Neutrality• Faith Matters: The Lightened Yoke Is Love• Faith Matters: Combat Negativity With Compassion• Faith Matters: In The Middle• Faith Matters: Three Scandals• Faith Matters: The Three Hounds Of Hell• Faith Matters: In Praise Of Empathy• Faith Matters: Focus On God• Faith Matters: How To Say Goodbye• Missing Catherine• Faith Matters: Divine Light In Times Of Darkness• Jesus Islam• Faith  Famine• A Stick Of Faith• Faith Matters: For All The Saints The post From Redemption to Revelation  appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less