Misva #302: The Omer Sacrifice on the 16th of Nissan

T he Torah commands in Parashat Emor (Vayikra 23:11-12) that on the second day of Pesach – the 16 th of Nissan – a special offering must be brought, called the Korban Ha’omer. This offering consisted of the season’s first harvested Omer of barley, as well as a sheep. This sacrifice was brought in addition to the Musaf offering which is brought on each of the seven days of Pesach. The barley for this offering was cut on the previous night, the night after the first day of Pesach, even if this was Friday night. It was cut in a field near Jerusalem, and the people from the nearby towns would gather to witness the cutting, so that it would be accompanied by great fanfare. Three Se’a of barley would be harvested and ground. It would then be sifted in thirteen different sieves in order to produce exceptionally fine flour. By the time the sifting process was completed, only a single Isaron of flour remained. This flour was mixed with a Log of olive oil, and then a Kometz (handful) of Lebona (frankincense) was added. The Kohen would take the flour to the eastern side of the altar, where he would perform Tenufa (waving), waving it back and forth, and up and down. He would then bring it up to the southeastern corner of the altar, and offer a handful of the sacrifice on the fire on the altar. The rest would be eaten by the Kohanim. The Sefer Ha’hinuch writes that the Torah commanded the offering of this sacrifice as an expression of gratitude for G-d’s providing a new, fresh crop of grain in the springtime. We give a portion back to G-d, as it were, to show our appreciation. This is done on the second day of Pesach, and not on the first day, because on the first day we are to focus our attention on the miracle of the Exodus from Egypt. In the Sefer Ha’hinuch’s words, we are not to “combine one joy with another,” and so on the first day we focus exclusively on the miracle of Yesiat Misrayim, and only on the second day do we turn our attention to the annual miracle of the rejuvenation of nature and the new crop. This Misva applies only in the times of the Bet Ha’mikdash, and primarily to the Kohanim, who are the ones responsible for bringing the Omer sacrifice. Nevertheless, the Sefer Ha’hinuch writes, as this Misva is assigned to the entire nation collectively, non-Kohanim who are in a position to ensure that the offering is brought, but fail to do so, are guilty of neglecting this affirmative command.