Spiritual Elevation After Exodus

בפסוק והניף כו' לרצונכם ממחרת השבת כו'.

“In the verse: ‘And he shall wave… for your acceptance, on the morrow of the Sabbath…’”

The Sefat Emet opens by noting that this verse hints at a deeper meaning behind the timing of the omer offering.

הניח הכתוב מקום לחכמי ישראל שידעו שבמחרת הפסח הוא הרצון האמת של כללות ישראל.

“The Torah left room for the sages of Israel to know that the day after Passover is the true moment of will for the entirety of Israel.”

The Sefat Emet explains that the verse allows rabbinic interpretation because this time embodies Israel’s collective awakening of divine desire.

כמ"ש חז"ל שספירתה תלוי' בב"ד שהן יודעין לחדש ממחרת השבת מחרת יו"ט כו'.

“As our sages said, its counting depends on the court, which knows how to determine that ‘the morrow of the Sabbath’ means the morrow of the festival.”

This reflects that spiritual time is revealed through the sages, who identify the true beginning point of the omer.

דכתיב משכני אחריך נרוצה.

“As it is written: ‘Draw me, and after You we shall run.’”

This verse expresses Israel’s yearning to follow God as soon as redemption begins.

שאחר יצ"מ מתעורר רצון ואהבה בלבות בנ"י אליו ית'.

“For after the Exodus, desire and love awaken in the hearts of Israel toward God.”

Redemption sparks a renewed spiritual longing within the people.

וכמ"ש זכרתי לך חסד נעוריך כו'.

“As it says: ‘I remember the kindness of your youth.’”

This highlights the early love between God and Israel that re‑emerges at this season.

ולשעה קלה נסעו מרעמסס לסוכות כמ"ש ואשא אתכם על כנפי נשרים.

“And in a short moment they traveled from Raamses to Sukkot, as it is written: ‘I carried you on eagles’ wings.’”

The sudden movement from slavery to freedom reflects divine uplift.

לכן עתה זמן התרוממות כללות בנ"י.

“Therefore now is a time of elevation for all of Israel.”

This season naturally brings collective spiritual ascent.

דכתיב והניף.

“As it is written: ‘And he shall wave [lift].’”

The waving of the omer symbolizes this national uplift.

ולהרמה זו אין לה שיעור.

“And this elevation has no measure.”

The spiritual rise of Israel during this period is boundless.

ובמד' אחריך נרוצה כבהמה נמשכנו אחריך.

“And the Midrash says on ‘After You we shall run’: like an animal we were drawn after You.”

The Midrash describes simple, unquestioning attachment to God.

דאיתא ערומים בדעת כאדם ומשימין עצמם כבהמה ע"ש במד' אמור ע"פ אדם ובהמה תושיע ה'.

“For it is taught: they are clever in understanding like a human yet make themselves like an animal, as in the Midrash on ‘Man and beast You save, O God.’”

This paradox expresses humility: possessing intellect yet submitting simply to the divine.

דעומר מנחת שעורין מאכל בהמה כמ"ש מזה בחי' מו"ז ז"ל ע"ש.

“For the omer is a barley offering, animal food, as my grandfather of blessed memory explained.”

The barley offering embodies this quality of humble self‑nullification.

דכ' אדם אתם קרוין אדם כו' כי בנ"י הם הצורה הנבחרת שנק' אדם.

“For it is written: ‘You are called Adam (human),’ for Israel is the chosen form called ‘human.’”

Israel represents the ideal human form, capable of divine recognition.

וע"ז כתיב עם זו יצרתי לי תהלתי יספרו שזה הוא מעלת אדם המדבר ויודע להעיד על הבורא.

“And concerning this it is written: ‘This people I formed for Myself—they shall declare My praise,’ which is the greatness of the speaking human who can testify to the Creator.”

The essential human function is to articulate praise and awareness of God.

לכן בפסח נפתח פיהם של ישראל כמ"ש פה סח שאז נולד בהם הדעת.

“Therefore on Passover the mouths of Israel are opened—as it says, ‘Pe‑Sach’—for at this time knowledge is born within them.”

Passover awakens the capacity for articulate spiritual understanding.

וכדאיתא גר שנתגייר כקטן שנולד.

“As it is taught: a convert who converts is like a newborn child.”

This parallels Israel’s own rebirth at Passover.

שבזמן הזה נכנסנו תחת כנפי השכינה ב"ה.

“For at this time we entered under the wings of the Divine Presence.”

Passover marks the moment of Israel’s covenantal belonging.

ובמצרים בחומר ולבנים שלא הי' לנו הצורה השלימה.

“And in Egypt, in mortar and bricks, we did not yet possess the complete form.”

Slavery obscured Israel’s true spiritual identity.

ועתה עם זו יצרתי ונק' אדם.

“But now, ‘This people I formed,’ and we are called human.”

Redemption restored Israel’s essential human–spiritual form.

ואז הם מבינים ע"י הדעת לחשוב עצמם כבהמה לפניו ית'.

“And then, through knowledge, they understand to regard themselves as an animal before God.”

True knowledge leads to profound humility and surrender.

ומביאין מנחת שעורים וזה בא מדביקות האמת כמ"ש בהמות הייתי עמך.

“And they bring the barley offering, and this comes from true attachment, as it says: ‘I was like an animal with You.’”

The barley omer expresses the sincerity and simplicity of cleaving to God.

Summary: The Sefat Emet teaches that the omer period embodies Israel’s rebirth after the Exodus—an awakening of desire, knowledge, humility, and divine attachment symbolized by the barley offering and the opening of Israel’s spiritual “mouth.”