Sefirah Chinuch

Rashi explains the double language of emor ve’amrtah teaches us that the gedolim must warn the ketonim on the issurim to kohanim.  The word that Rashi uses to say warn is lehazher which can also be translated as zohar-shine.  Chinuch isn’t supposed to be superimposing additional rules on the katon, it is to bring out that shine that is buried within the child.  להזהיר גדולים על הקטנים, through teaching the teacher will gain rays of light as well.  It is by giving to others that the best of the teacher/parent is brought out (see Likutay Sichos volume seven.) 

Sefiras Haomer is the chinuch of Klal Yisroel for kabbalas hatorah.  The possuk (25:15) says usfartem lachem.  Why the extra word lachem?  Why is the korban omer called omer because of its measurement, why is this significant?  The Ksav Vekabalah explains that lachem means for your benefit (like Rashi says at the beginning of Lech Lecha.)  The word seferah is related to sappirah-sapphire, which is something clear and shiny.  The count of the omer is not just a count of a day, it is a count toward purity.  The possuk means וספרתם לכם, purify yourself in order to be ready to accept the Torah.  Hashem gives us the time of sephirah to reveal the pure, untainted holiness that exists within us.  Hashem is being mechanech us for the acceptance of the Torah.  That’s why the korban is called an omer.  Omer can mean servitude (as in לא תתעמר בה in beginning of Ke Tatzah.)  We are counting towards the day when we learn what we really should be applying ourselves too; the Torah.  On Peach the korban omer is waved to indicate that all the four corners of the world and the winds represented by the waiving is all a means to the end.  The success that is obtained in the material world is so that we have peace of mind in order to focus on the Torah.    

One of the famous questions asked about Shavous is why is there no mention in the Torah of it being the holiday where we accepted the Torah?  Rav Eliyah Lopian answers that the Torah wants to highlight that what is necessary for kabbalas hatorah is our preparation for it.  Therefore, it is referred to by the Torah as Shavous indicating that it’s the weeks of preparation that make the Yom Tov.  It is our acceptance of Hashem’s chinuch that matters.