302. The What Now?: The obligation to offer the Omer on the second day of Passover

We refer to the period from the second day of Passover until Shavuos as “the Omer” but what does that mean? Quite simply, an omer is a dry measure equivalent to a little over two quarts or two liters. We are commanded to offer a special sacrifice on the second day of Pesach, consisting of a lamb for a burnt offering and an omer of barley. The omer is brought as a “wave offering,” i.e., the kohein passes it in a waving motion.

The process was essentially the same as for flour offerings in general. After the barley flour was finely sifted and mixed with oil and frankincense, the kohein would wave it back and forth, carrying it over the southwestern corner of the altar. A handful would be burned and the kohanim could eat the rest.

The basis of this mitzvah is to cause us to reflect on God’s generosity. Each year, He causes the crops to renew themselves so that we can have food. We draw attention to this and give a portion back to Him in gratitude. Hopefully, in the merit of this mitzvah, God will continue to give us sustenance and blessing.

This mitzvah is observed on the second day of Pesach rather than the first day because that day is already pretty full with its own celebrations. The principle is not to combine two separate types of joy, but to celebrate them separately. (See Talmud Moed Katan 8b.)

This mitzvah applied in Temple times but only to men. (Women are generally exempt from positive mitzvos that must be done at a certain time.) It is discussed in the Talmud in tractate Menachos, primarily in the chapter starting on page 63b. This mitzvah is codified in the Mishneh Torah in the seventh chapter of Hilchos Tamidin and is #44 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos.