The Omer, a 49-day period where we meticulously count each day, occurs between the major pilgrimage and agricultural holidays of Pesach and Shavuot. In ancient times Passover marked the barley harvest, while Shavuot marked the wheat. In each of these harvest periods Jews would present their bikkurim, or first fruits, as a sacrifice to God at the temple (Bamidbar 28:26).
You might assume that we count these 49 days because that’s how long it takes to grow wheat, but from personal experience that’s closer to the growing period of a cherry bell radish. Wheat takes over 100 days to grow. So why the 49-day counting?
In ancient times, barley was a popular grain but was widely considered inferior to wheat and was designated as animal food (Sotah 14a). Barley can be made into bread (the first matzah likely was), but it cannot rise the way a wheat bread can, due to low gluten content. So, for these 49 days, the Jews would eagerly count, waiting for the day where they’d finally get to bite into a satisfying hunk of bread.
The agricultural grain journey mirrors a deeper spiritual one and aligns closely with the themes of our spring holidays. Passover represents freedom, while Shavuot represents revelation. When the Israelites were freed from Mitzrayim, they relied entirely on God for sustenance; God’s magical manna was their main food, and, according to Torah commentators, water appeared through the prophet Miriam’s mystical well. In many ways, the Israelites were in a “barley stage”: they had gained freedom and basic nourishment, yet they were still wandering in the desert, uncertain of their identity and unable to sustain themselves independently.
Shavuot, by contrast, marks the receiving of the Torah, the “wheat phase” of our story. This is the moment when the Israelites begin to move from freedom toward cultural formation. They receive guidance, are called into responsibility, and start to imagine who they want to become as a free people.
But transformation doesn’t end with harvest, and wheat does not become bread on its own; it requires human partnerships. Bread emerges through the process of fermentation. Until the mid-19th century, nearly all bread was made using a sourdough starter: humans turning wheat into flour, combining flour and water, and then nurturing that living culture day by day.
Shavuot reminds us that reaching our most free and revelatory state requires intentional partnerships: with each other, with our tradition, and with the natural world.
During this Omer period I’ve witnessed transformation all around. I’ve watched the natural magnificence of the magnolia trees as they blossom and as the petals begin to fall, and I’ve watched the tulips pop out of the ground. I’ve also contributed to transformation as part of the Adamah NY Hub. Each day in our work we show up in relationship to our local ecology, as we educate, advocate and empower others to join our Jewish climate work. We might not see a transformation every day, but when we take the time to look at the bigger picture, it becomes clear.
In just the 49 days of the Omer, here are some of the transformations that have occurred:
- Over 60 Jewish professionals participated in our Climate Action Summit during Earth Day, deepening their awareness of Climate Resilience in NY
- 9 organizations were awarded our Climate Action Fund grants—which will reduce emissions and energy costs
- Adamah on Campus students in New York finished their school year strong, deepening their leadership skills and their Jewish environmentalist communities
- 50 7th graders from Ramaz School tended to street trees that they’ll walk by each day, watching them better soak up water runoff and grow tall and strong
- Our first B’Mitzvah cohort has begun in Brooklyn, with teens planning environmental B’Mitzvah projects, exploring direct service opportunities, and beginning their climate journeys
- Henry Levin from Forest Hills Jewish Center became a bar mitzvah and raised over $2,400 for Adamah NY—mazel tov, Henry!
- We are continuing to build relationships with day schools, Hebrew schools, synagogues, and JCCs—planting seeds for expanded Jewish environmental education in the months ahead
The completion of the Omer and the celebration of Shavuot remind us that transformation is not a moment, but a process—one we cultivate through daily partnership with nature, tradition, and each other.
We celebrated the receiving of the Torah, and now we are called to translate it into our everyday lives.
As we move forward, Adamah NY will continue to turn learning into action—growing community, deepening environmental stewardship, and building a more sustainable Jewish future.
— Hannah Kahn Glass, Education and Community Engagement Coordinator
