Achieving a Spiritual Transformation With the Omer Aliyah

On the surface, the Omer is the start of the barley harvest, where Jews would take the first sheaves to the Temple as a way to give thanks for their harvest. It also marks the 49 days between the second night of Passover and the beginning of Shavuot, when Jews commemorate the giving of the Torah. 

For many, the Omer is also a time to look inward. Passover is when Jews think about how they can break free from negative habits or thought processes and learn how to rely on their faith. Shavuot is when they become truly liberated. 

Neuriel Shore, an observant Jew who is director for Greater Los Angeles at Jewish National Fund-USA, embraces the Omer as a time to reflect on his life and change his mindset. He started this ritual after reading Benji Elson’s “Dance of the Omer: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Transformational Journey of Sefirat Ha’Omer.”

“The journey was magnificent, and the results were absolutely transformative,” Shore said. 

Now, Shore is sharing what he discovered with the Jewish community. Last year, he created the Omer Aliyah, a seven-week program people can sign up for that coincides with the Omer. This year, he’s bringing it back and making it even bigger. 

“I felt a divine calling to share this experience with as many of my Jewish brothers and sisters as I could,” he said. “The experience was like winning a spiritual lottery, and I knew that I had been given a great opportunity and responsibility to gift it to the world.”

When participants join in, they gain access to a guidebook, a WhatsApp group, specific actions they can take to prepare for their journey and weekly classes from community leaders and Torah educators. This year’s educators include Torah teacher and Golden Globe winning writer and producer David Sacks; Rabbi Doniel Katz of The Elevation Project; author of “The Jewish Educator’s Companion” Batsheva Frankel; motivational training guru Chava Floryn; Rabbi Mendel Simons, founder of Young Jewish Professionals of Los Angeles; Rabbi Simon Jacobson, the founder of the Meaningful Life Center; and Benji Elson.  

“I selected community leaders, pioneers in expansive Torah consciousness and self-transformation, and those who are relatable to varying demographics to create a big tent atmosphere,” Shore said. “The educators in this year’s Omer Aliyah are true powerhouses in facilitating spiritual growth.”

Shore believes that if a participant dives into the material, they will build upon their emunah (faithfulness) and bitachon (trust), improve their relationships with others, gain clarity on their personal mission and become more resilient. 

“[They will] develop a renewed, authentic relationship with Hashem,” he said. 

Last year, when Shore launched what he called the “beta version” of the Omer Aliyah, 60 people across 13 cities and three countries – the United States, Israel and Canada – participated. This year, Jews from Uganda and Australia have also signed up. 

Since Shore secured sponsorships from donors, the Omer Aliyah is completely free for participants.

“It’s like having 24/7, complimentary access to a spiritual Equinox for seven weeks.” – Neuriel Shore

“It’s like having 24/7, complimentary access to a spiritual Equinox for seven weeks,” he said. “Like going to a gym, the more you authentically engage in the process, the more transformative the results will be.”

On a collective level, Shore strives for the Omer Aliyah to be a unifying force among Jews of all backgrounds. He also hopes to help people connect with Jewish teachings, and realize how powerful the Torah can be when it comes to self-transformation. 

“The self-empowerment industry is a multi-billion-dollar industry with millions of people involved,” he said. “Coaches like Tony Robbins and others are using transformative practices to reach people across the world. Our people are a civilization of wisdom containing the deepest oceans of Torah, and which address all facets of the human condition. The Omer Aliyah streamlines, packages and delivers this holy material with a ribbon on top.”