Counting the Omer 4/10/10

During Passover, we decided to spend a session focusing on the seemingly obscure idea of Counting the Omer. This is a practice in Judaism in which the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot are counted during morning prayers. This practice was also connected to the ancient agricultural schedule of the Jews between the planting of barley and wheat.
Shavuot is a holiday which commemorates the receiving of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. The idea of counting between the two holidays also connects the Exodus from Egypt to the receiving of the Ten Commandments. This counting period is also considered a time period for personal growth.

We connected the Counting of the Omer with a unique project of  creating 50 small boxes from water colors. Fifty was chosen to include the 49 days of counting plus the actual day of Shavuot. Each participant was given a large sheet of paper with lines of painter's tape running horizontal and vertical to outline the boxes. The participant then covered the entire sheet with watercolors, and after it was dry, the painter's tape was removed. The result was a very polished looking project with an array of colors. This was a very simple project in which most participants were able to execute without any assistance.