Adat Shalom is a congregation of believers, both Jews and Gentiles, who have joined together for the main purpose of reaching out to the Jewish community with the good news of the Jewish Messiah.

The Counting of the Omer (Sefirat Ha'Omer) occurs between Passover and the Feast of Shavuot.  In biblical times it started on the Feast of First Fruits.  According to Jewish tradition, on the second day of Passover (16^th of Nisan) the “omer” was brought to the temple.  The omer is a measure and during temple times it was the first cutting of the barley harvest.  Leviticus 23:14 says the Israelites were not to eat bread, roasted grain, or new growth until the prescribed offering was made.  From the day that the omer offering was offered, seven Sabbaths were counted (49 days) and then the 50^th day is Shavuot (Leviticus 23:15-16). This was the time of the wheat harvest when a wheat offering was offered.

In New Testament the Feast of First Fruits is tied to Yeshua’s resurrection. A different kind of harvest is in mind.  In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul says that Yeshua is the first fruits of those who are asleep.  For Yeshua’s disciples, the counting of the omer would lead up to a special Shavuot (Pentecost in the New Testament).  It was at this time that the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) was poured out on believers.  The harvest was great on that day as 3,000 souls were added (Acts 2:41).

References: The Stone Edition, The Chumash

Friday, May 25th, 7:30pm
HaShem said, “you must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the Lord” (Lev 23:16 JPS).  This Counting of the Omer leads up to the feast of Shavuot.  Shavuot is called the Feast of Weeks in the Tanakh. It was celebrated by bringing the first fruits of the wheat harvest to HaShem (Ex 34:22).  Also two loaves of bread were offered.  It is one of the rare times that leavened bread was part of an offering.  Other offerings were required as well (Lev. 23:17-19). It is the last of the spring feasts and was one of three feasts that required all males to appear before HaShem in the place He chose (Deut. 16:16).

The giving of the Law is celebrated during Shavuot.  One modern way of observing Shavuot is by staying up all night and studying Torah.  Acts 2 in the New Testament Scriptures tells how the Holy Spirit was given at Shavuot/Pentecost (from the Greek word for fiftieth).  Many Jewish people were gathered at Jerusalem from all over and witnessed the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s message about Yeshua.  During Shavuot 3000 Jewish souls were added as first fruits to HaShem (Acts 2:41).

Some other traditions of Shavu'ot are the eating of dairy foods (referring to the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey), to stay up all night and read the Torah, and to read the Book of Ruth (harvest time).