Counting the Omer 2021 - Day Six

Day Six

27th of Nisan 5781 – from sundown on April 8th to sundown on April 9th, 2021

Begin by reciting the following blessing:

ברוך אתה יהוה אלוהינו , מלך העולם , אשר קדשנו במצותי

וציונו עלי לספירת העומר

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha'Olam asher kid'shanu b'mitzvotav
v'tizivanu al sefirat ha'omer.

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the omer.

After the blessing, one recites the appropriate day of the count. 

היום  ששה ימים לעומר

Hayom shishah yamim la'omer

Today is six days of the omer.

Psalm 67: 4-7 (49 word Paraphrase of NKJV) 

Let the peoples praise You, God; For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern all the nations on earth. Let everyone praise You, God; Let all people praise You.  Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, shall bless us, And all the earth shall fear Him.

Psalm 67, recite Psalm 119: 41-48:      ו           Vav

Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord-- Your salvation according to Your word.  So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, for I trust in Your word.  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for I have hoped in Your ordinances.  So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever.  And I will walk at liberty, for I seek Your precepts.  I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed.  And I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I love.  My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes. 

Prayer for Day 6: 

Avinu shebah shamayim - Our Father in Heaven, we implore You, by the awesome power of Your right hand, release the captive. Accept the prayers of your people; strengthen and purify us, Awesome and Mighty King of the Universe, we beseech you, that You guard as the apple of your eye your people Israel. Bless them, cleanse them; bestow upon them forever Your merciful kindness. Powerful, Holy One, in Your abounding goodness, we humbly ask that You preserve and protect Your people who are called by your holy Name. Strengthen us! Give us courage to stand against the evil powers of this world and forces of darkness. Heal our land that has been defiled by the shedding of innocent blood and help our nation to turn back to you. Accept our supplication and hear our cry, יְהוָ֖ה  Yehovah, You who knows the secret thoughts. Blessed be the name of the glory of His kingdom forever and ever.

Almighty Sovereign of the universe, You have commanded us through Moses Your servant to count the days of the omer, in order to purify us from our evil and uncleanness so that the souls of your people may be cleansed. Therefore, may it be Your will, Lord our God and God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, that in the counting of the omer which I (we) have counted today, I (we) may be purified and sanctified with your unimaginable holiness. And through my (our) obedience to your commandments, may Your abundant bounty be bestowed upon all the world. May it rectify our soul and our spirit from every baseness and defect, and may it purify and sanctify us with all your holiness. 

Abba, father, on this, the sixth day of the counting of the omer, I (we) remember your bountiful kindnesses to your children how when they were thirsty you brought them to a place with water and declared Yourself to be Yehovah Rahfa – the Lord who heals. I (We) humbly ask that You heal us and make us whole and perfect and able to accomplish your purpose for our lives. Amen.

After reciting the prayer, continue to pray and meditate on how when they needed water the Israelites came to Marah – the place of bitter water which they could not drink. How the people grumbled but the Lord showed Moses a piece of wood which made the water sweet (potable.) Reflect on the decree the Lord made at Marah – that He is the Lord who heals - Yehovah Rahfa and that if they would obey His commandments they would be saved from any of the diseases or plagues that He had brought upon the Egyptians. Reflect on this promise made by God to the Israelites and its direct application to our situation today. Ask God to be your Yehovah Rahfa.

Suggested selections for further reading include the special readings for Passover and other related selections from the Old Testament (Tanak) and New Testament writings (B'rit Hadashah): Exodus 15:22-26; Deut 7:14-16; 2 Samuel 22:38-46; Psalm 41:1-4; Jeremiah 30:15-17; Malachi 4:2; Matt 4:23-25; Mark 1:32-34; Luke 7:20-22

Suggested reading from the weekly Torah portion: Shmini – 6th reading: Leviticus 11:1-32
Suggested reading from the Brit Hadashah and the prophets: Ezek 36:22-38; Col 2:18-23; Acts 10:9-22, 27-35

The Sefirot for Day Six is: Yesod of Chesed or the ability to bond with another through Loving-Kindness. Suggested activity for today: Pray for someone who is sick or in the midst of emotional turmoil. You may even wish to send them a note, telling them that you are praying for them.

Go to Counting the Omer 2021 - Day Seven
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