The mystics of our tradition saw great meaning in the counting of the Omer. In its cycle of 7 days, counted 7 times, they saw a parallel to the sefirot, Divine attributes of Jewish mystical understanding. Each week, then, was dedicated to a particular attribute—this week’s attribute is Netzach—tenacity.
Today is the 24th day of the Omer.
Last June, witnessing demonstrations against racial injustice around the world, Congressman John Lewis remarked: “It gives me hope that as a nation and as a people, we’re going to get there. We’re going to make it. We’re going to survive, and there will be no turning back. There may be some setbacks, there may be people who will stand in our way, but we will not go back. We’ve come too far, and we’re not going to give up now.”
Congressman Lewis died just a little more than a month after he uttered those words. He didn’t get to see George Floyd’s murderer brought to justice yesterday but he knew that, eventually, justice would win out, righteousness would triumph, bigotry would—someday—be vanquished by understanding, respect, and love.
Tenacity requires persistence, never giving in to despair, never giving up hope. Yesterday’s verdict can’t restore George Floyd’s life—in that most precious sense, complete justice eludes us. There is much work still to be done in the fight against racism, antisemitism, sexism, homophobia, and xenophobia of every sort. But it does give us hope that “as a nation and as a people, we’re going to get there.” Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but ביום ההוא (bayom hahu) someday, somehow, through our collective efforts, we will get there together.
— Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback