Weekly D'var Torah

The seven week count between Passover, when we were freed from Egypt, and Shavuot, when we received the Torah on Sinai, is known as the Omer.  An Omer is a measure of grain and that, I believe is the key to understanding the meaning of the period of counting.  Passover marks the beginning of the barley harvest, while Shavuot marks the beginning of the wheat harvest.
 
Barley is known as a simple, hearty grain, which is mostly used to feed animals.  Wheat, on the other hand, is the basic ingredient of bread which the Torah calls “the staff of life”- human sustenance.  At Passover, we were granted physical freedom, release from the burden of slavery, of having our physical labor exploited.  At Shavuot, we were granted spiritual freedom and given the Mitzvot of the Torah that empower us to achieve our human potential for good.
 
Physical freedom is the first step to a higher freedom - a freedom to transcend our physical selves and achieve the greatness implanted within us.  On Shavuot, we all stand at Jacob’s ladder.  We are all given the opportunity to ascend.  Let us rise up together.