Counting of the Omer

Last night started the counting of the omer. The omer is the 50 days between Pesach (April 14 this year) and Shavuot (June 4 this year). I like to put a mark on each day on my calendar, something physically tied to the counting. On each day, we say a prayer, count which day of the omer it is, and read Psalm 67.

"Blessed are you, Hashem, our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us concerning the counting of the omer. Today is the ___ day of the Omer, which is ___ weeks and ___ days of the Omer. The Compassionate One, may He return for us the service of the Holy Temple to its place, quickly and in our days. Amen." 

Psalm 67 "May G-d favor us and bless us, may He illuminate His countenance with us. To make known  Your way on earth, among all nations Your salvation. The peoples will acknowledge You, O G-d; the peoples will acknowledge You - all of them. Regimes will be glad and sing for you, because You will judge the peoples fairly and guide with fairness the regimes on earth. The peoples will acknowledge You, O G-d; the peoples will acknowledge You - all of them. The earth will then have yielded its produce; may G-d, our G-d, bless us. May G-d bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him."

Chag Sameach, and happy counting!