וְאַתָּ֛ה תָּב֥וֹא אֶל־אֲבֹתֶ֖יךָ בְּשָׁל֑וֹם תִּקָּבֵ֖ר בְּשֵׂיבָ֥ה טוֹבָֽה׃
"Tu, porém, irás em paz aos teus pais, serás sepultado em boa velhice."
Kedushat Levi
The words וספרתם לכם, “you shall count for yourselves,” need further analysis, [as in all instances when the Torah adds the apparently superfluous לכם.] In this instance the word לכם may be understood as G’d reiterating that although it is our task in life to serve Him, each one of us must decide to do so of his own free will. He is not to feel coerced, as if he felt that way he could never qualify for the reward that the Torah promises us for observing G’d’s commandments.
The first of the “seven” weeks we are to “count,” measuring our spiritual progress, are devoted to 1) digesting the fact that finally, after close to 2500 years of human existence, the human race had come to acknowledge its Creator and the fact that He had a favorite people, whose three patriarchs had somehow sustained them sufficiently so that they had accepted Moses as His prophet. As a result our people learned to relate to G’d with love. 2) The second of the seven weeks is devoted to embracing G’d with reverence and awe, recognizing in Him the greatness of the Originator of all existence. The third week is devoted to ensure that G’d will have reason to “boast” of His people and their spiritual accomplishments.
The fourth and fifth week of our counting is devoted to deepening our faith in the Creator, our ability to withstand anything that might make us doubt His being the only G’d in the universe. The sixth week is devoted to strengthen our ties to Him through the intensity with which we serve Him. Finally, the seventh week is devoted to declaring Him as our King, enthroning Him as the King of Kings of the entire universe.
In light of the fact that theses attributes are derivatives of the Essence of G’d Himself, during the days when we observe the commandment of counting the days and weeks, it is especially important that each one of us will set aside time for contemplating these holy thoughts and serve the Creator by doing so, as the sages have taught us that בדרך שאדם רוצה להלוך מוליכים אותו, “that people who wish to travel along the right path will enjoy heavenly assists in doing so.” (Makkot 10) Seeing that the redemption occurred on Passover, (15th Nissan) we know that each year at that time, G’d is singularly prepared to reveal Himself as He did on the occasion of the first Passover, [actually, according to tradition already on the night when Avraham defeated the four mightiest kings with his 318 men, compare Genesis 15,15 Ed.] The period between then and the festival of Shavuot is especially suited for anyone who wishes to experience spiritual progress to do so by means of observing this commandment of counting with especial devotion. The word לכם therefore is best translated as “for your personal benefit,” suggesting that this period more than any other should be exploited by the pious to elevate themselves spiritually.
The first of the “seven” weeks we are to “count,” measuring our spiritual progress, are devoted to 1) digesting the fact that finally, after close to 2500 years of human existence, the human race had come to acknowledge its Creator and the fact that He had a favorite people, whose three patriarchs had somehow sustained them sufficiently so that they had accepted Moses as His prophet. As a result our people learned to relate to G’d with love. 2) The second of the seven weeks is devoted to embracing G’d with reverence and awe, recognizing in Him the greatness of the Originator of all existence. The third week is devoted to ensure that G’d will have reason to “boast” of His people and their spiritual accomplishments.
The fourth and fifth week of our counting is devoted to deepening our faith in the Creator, our ability to withstand anything that might make us doubt His being the only G’d in the universe. The sixth week is devoted to strengthen our ties to Him through the intensity with which we serve Him. Finally, the seventh week is devoted to declaring Him as our King, enthroning Him as the King of Kings of the entire universe.
In light of the fact that theses attributes are derivatives of the Essence of G’d Himself, during the days when we observe the commandment of counting the days and weeks, it is especially important that each one of us will set aside time for contemplating these holy thoughts and serve the Creator by doing so, as the sages have taught us that בדרך שאדם רוצה להלוך מוליכים אותו, “that people who wish to travel along the right path will enjoy heavenly assists in doing so.” (Makkot 10) Seeing that the redemption occurred on Passover, (15th Nissan) we know that each year at that time, G’d is singularly prepared to reveal Himself as He did on the occasion of the first Passover, [actually, according to tradition already on the night when Avraham defeated the four mightiest kings with his 318 men, compare Genesis 15,15 Ed.] The period between then and the festival of Shavuot is especially suited for anyone who wishes to experience spiritual progress to do so by means of observing this commandment of counting with especial devotion. The word לכם therefore is best translated as “for your personal benefit,” suggesting that this period more than any other should be exploited by the pious to elevate themselves spiritually.