May 8, 1997

A short idea on Sefiras haOmer that I told my Shiur this morning based on Rav Zevin.
We know that Davar Shebeminyan Eino Bateil. Although we generally say that a piece of Issur is Bateil in a majority of Heter -- if the Issur is Davar Shebeminyan (something which is usually counted), then it cannot be Bateil. The reason for this is logical. To say that one small piece of Treif meat in a majority of Kosher meat is annulled, works, because that little piece of meat is insignificant, so we can disregard it. But, if the Issur is something that is important enough to be counted, then each individual piece is significant, and so you cannot annul it.

Some not religious relatives of mine once visited on Sukkot and I showed them my Esrog. My Uncle asked where one could buy an Esrog and how much it cost. When I explained, he said, "Not the kind of thing that you buy in the Supersol for 3.50 a kilogram." Then he turned to his wife and said, "I told you those things in the supermarket weren't Etrogim!"
Oranges can be sold be weight, and you don't mind how many are in the bag, but Esrogim are sold by number. The indication that each individual component is important, is counting.

We tend to consider time in chunks of last year, next month, some time ago or suchlike. But, if we want to make our days significant, then we need to see them as Davar Shebeminyan, something counted. If we count our days, then they cannot be Bateil; they remain significant, and like Avraham we can reach an old age of "Ba Bayamim" - That his days came with him. Each day was accounted for and none were lost to be Bateil in the blur of a spent life.
Each year we have Sefiras haOmer to engage us in the counting of days so that we can learn to do this all year long and make each day valuable - "Limnos Yomeinu Kein Hoda veNavi Levav Chochma," as the Posuk says. Or, count your days to make your days count.

Shabbat Shalom
Rav Segal