Sefira Purifies

This week, we read פרשת אמור. A big section of the Parsha, deals with the various festivals in the Jewish calendar. Upon discussing Pesach and Shavuot, the Torah also discusses ספירת העומר. The Netivot Shalom describes how the counting of the Omer was meant to be an act of purification. He writes that ספירה comes from the word, ספיר, sapphire, a precious stone. The proof that Sefira purifies comes from the prayer that many say each night after reciting the ברכה. We say say the following: Master of the Universe, You commanded Your servant, Moshe to count Sefira in order to purify us from our Klipa (shell), and impurity, as Sefira’s intention is to purify עם ישראל from its pollution. We pray that we be cleansed from our own impurities, and will merit receiving the שפע, abundance from above. The goal of the purification process is to prepare us for receiving the Torah on Shavuot. Clearly, Sefira is meant to elevate and purify.