Positive Mitzvah 161: Counting the Omer
Leviticus 23:15 "And you shall count for yourselves...seven weeks"

Shani's cousin, Nava, was coming to visit from Eretz Yisrael.

Shani was so excited, she could hardly wait for the day of her arrival. She had never met Nava, but her parents had told her all about her. They had written to each other during the past year and got to know each other through their letters.

Shani prepared a place for her cousin in her room. She planned the activities they'd do together. Every day, she'd cross off the date on the calendar, waiting excitedly for Nava to come.

When the Jewish people came out of Egypt, they counted the days, impatient for that special upcoming event - Matan Torah - the giving of the Torah. They were so anxious to receive that great gift from HaShem, that they counted the days from Pesach until Shavuot.

Receiving the Torah was not just a one-time affair.

Every year, a Jew must feel as if he is receiving the Torah.

We anxiously await this precious gift and count the days awaiting the special occasion of Matan Torah.

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Negative Mitzvah 140: We are forbidden to eat the meat of an animal which was dedicated for a sacrifice and then became unsuited for sacrifice
Deuteronomy 14:3 "You shall not eat any abominable [food]"

In describing the sacrifices, the Torah describes a number of situations, when an animal becomes unfit to be offered, for example, an animal with a blemish.

We are forbidden to eat the meat of animals which were intended to be offered as sacrifices, but are, for some reason, disqualified for sacrifice.

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True happiness is the highest form of self sacrifice. There, in that state, there is no sense of self -- not even an awareness that you are happy. True happiness is somewhere beyond "knowing" -- beyond self. All the more so when you bring joy to others.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com