Zoe has already asked me five times today whether it’s time to count the omer.  Yes, it’s a mitzvah to count how many days have passed from the second day of Passover until Shavuot, and yes, it’s true that according to the rabbis you can only recite a bracha if you haven’t missed a day. But Zoe’s vigilance about observing this ritual is not a sign of a newfound enthusiasm for the minutiae of Jewish law. Nor has she appointed herself Queen Mahmir. No, Zoe just wants the candy.

A couple of years ago, inspired by the advent calendars I envied in my youth, I created a candy Omer counter for my daughters. Now, it’s a tradition. This is the first year, however, I’ve actually started it on time, instead of waiting until after Passover when the jelly beans are permitted in our house (albeit on a very limited basis.) While they aren’t really clear on what we are counting down to (Shavuot has yet to become a very memorable holiday celebration in our home), they sure do like the counting.

Here’s a link to version 2.0, and here’s what we came up with for this year. The empty spaces will get filled in next week, when the Easter candy just happens to go on sale.

Shabbat Shalom!