During the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuot we count the Omer. With its connection to the land, this is also a great time to increase our connection with and commitment to the planet. Here's how it works.

Several years ago, Canfei Nesharim created materials to help us make the connection to the environment during the period of counting the Omer. These resources are still fully appropriate for learning today! I encourage you to take a look at the materials and use them during this special time of the Jewish year!

Torah Learning

Goats, Grapes and Greenbelts: Sustainability and Settling the Land

The period of the Omer and the festival of Shavuot are opportune times to explore our connection and relationship to the land. The grain offerings of the Omer (barley) and Two Loaves (wheat) had to come from the choicest grain of the land of Israel, thus offering to G-d the best of Jewish agriculture in Israel.

Omer and Shavuot Text Learning and Discussion Guide

Explore texts related to Goats, Grapes, and Greenbelts and teach them to your community. Great for Tikkun Leyl Shavuot!

Learn Torah each week of the Omer with the Eitz Chayim Hee Parsha Series.

There are seven Torah portions during the seven weeks of the Omer (Kedoshim, Emor, Behar, Bechukotai, Bamidbar, and Nasso), many of which contain important lessons to help us understand our Jewish responsibility to protect the environment.

For Children and Studenets

Where Does Bread Come From? Sefirat HaOmer and the Connection to the Land

The aim of the following program is to help children better understand the connection to the land during Sefirat HaOmer and our responsibility to take care of our Earth, especially the Land of Israel. Geared towards grades 3-7.

Our Relationship to the Land: Meaning of the Omer

A series of three lessons on the Omer and our connection to the land. Includes Teacher's Guide and student booklet! Geared towards upper-elementary and middle school students.

Counting the Omer

Counting the Omer, Refining Ourselves

“Counting the Omer” offers an opportunity for strengthening and refining our character. As we will explore, this process also contains within it meaningful ways to address, from a spiritual place, some of the pressing issues of our time.

Counting the Omer: A Tool for Nature Consciousness

In addition to our historical understanding of Pesach as our Exodus from Egypt, the holiday also signified the start of the grain harvest. Thus, scripture portrays the Omer season as a time for awaiting the wheat harvest.

The Jew and the Omer: An Ecological Synthesis

Once we grow as spiritual beings, we can again refer back to our dimensions of space and time, in order that our souls contribute to the healing of the world.