Idana Goldberg
The 49 days of counting the Omer connect the Jewish festivals of liberation and revelation. In the mystical tradition developed by Rabbi Isaac Luria and Rabbi Chaim Vital, each day combines two divine attributes, teaching that wisdom lies in our ability to hold different qualities together. Loving-kindness without discipline can become indulgence; endurance without humility can harden into stubbornness. The annual count helps us practice the combinations life will require.
This combinational wisdom has particular resonance for philanthropy at a time when plans drafted in one year may describe a world that no longer exists by the next. The Russell Berrie Foundation’s work in Israel’s North, its investments in local democracy and its conclusion of the Russ Berrie Making a Difference Award each required a different pairing of qualities. Across these examples, sustained practice made it possible to respond to changing conditions without losing sight of the underlying commitment.
In my latest 501(c) Suite opinion column for eJewishPhilanthropy, I reflect on what counting the Omer can teach funders about leadership and readiness. The Omer does not promise that we will master uncertainty. It reminds us that preparation is built through patient, repeated practice, and that the capacities we need can be rebuilt as circumstances change. I hope you will read the full piece, and I welcome your reactions.