Counting the Omer, Day 1

The sun is setting.  The Shabbat during Pesach is ending.  The coming day is First Fruits and the first day of counting the omer.

ברוך אתה יי אלהינו מלך הולם, אשר קדשנו במיצותיו וצונו על ספירת העומר

היום יום אחד לעומר

Baruch atah, Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam,
  Blessed are you, my Lord, our God, King of the Universe,
asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav
   who has sanctified us with his commandments
v'tzivanu al sefirat ha'omer.
  and has commanded us concerning the counting of the omer.
Ha'yom yom echad la'omer
  Today is one day of the omer.

The fifty days between First Fruits and Shavuot are similar to the fifty days between Tish B'Av and Rosh Hashanah.  Both are times of prayerful introspection.

The counting of the omer emphasizes becoming pure so we are fit to receive what God wants to give us.  Later, the final fifty days of the year emphasize repentance and interpersonal forgiveness to minimize or perhaps defuse the negative consequences of our past year's mistakes.

It seemed appropriate to try blogging one year's introspection and personal growth.