Judaea. Jerusalem. First Jewish War AD 66-70. Dated Year 4 = 69/70 CE
1/8 Shekel Æ

20 mm, 6,36 g

Cup (of the Omer?); 'for the redemption of Zion' in Paleo-Hebrew around / Bundle of lulav between two etrogs; 'year four' in Paleo-Hebrew around.

Very Fine, artificial patina

Hendin GBC 6, 6398; Hendin GBC 5, 1369; Sofaer 44-49; TJC 214.

The omer period is a significant time in the Jewish calendar, lasting 49 days between the festivals of passover and shavuot. It begins on the second night of passover and ends on the eve of shavuot. During this period, Jews observe the daily practice of counting the omer, which involves reciting a blessing and verbally counting each day, reflecting on spiritual growth and preparation. Historically, the omer period comes from the biblical commandment in leviticus 23:15–16, where the Israelites were instructed to bring an omer, a measure of barley, as an offering in the temple in Jerusalem. This offering marked the beginning of the barley harvest and led up to the wheat harvest, celebrated during shavuot. The omer offering connected the agricultural cycle to spiritual gratitude for sustenance. Spiritually, the omer period is a time of self-refinement and introspection. In kabbalistic tradition, each of the seven weeks is associated with one of the seven lower sefirot, divine attributes guiding personal growth in areas like kindness, discipline, balance, and humility. The omer is also observed as a semi-mourning period due to the death of thousands of rabbi akiva's students, who, according to the talmud, died during this time because they failed to respect one another. As a result, certain joyous activities, such as weddings, music, and haircuts, are traditionally avoided. On the 33rd day of the omer, known as lag baomer, the mourning is lifted, and it becomes a day of celebration. This day commemorates the end of the plague and honors rabbi shimon bar yochai, a revered sage and mystic. The omer period combines themes of historical remembrance, agricultural cycles, spiritual development, and communal mourning, all culminating in the celebration of receiving the torah on shavuot.