During Passover celebrations across Israel, The Temple Institute held yet another historic event, reenacting the Omer harvest offering of the new barley crop in Jerusalem.
Held in conjunction with Women on Behalf of the Holy Temple, the reenactment served as a training exercise for Kohanim, the Jewish priests, in preparation for their service in the Holy Jewish Temple.
The event was held on the 16th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar (April 5), the same day the Omer offering was performed in ancient times according to the Bible.
The Omer offering is a direct commandment from the Bible and took place each year in the Jewish Temple. The offering marks the beginning of the counting of the Omer, which counts down from the first night of Passover to the Shavuot holiday.
Shavuot commemorates the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai from God to the exiled Hebrews from Egypt as well as the “official” creation of the Jewish nation.
