What Does Lev Tov Have to do with Sfira?

Sfira has to do with our spiritual growth, our preparation for receiving the Torah at Sinai and all times.

The best way for a person to grow, according to Rav Elazar ben Arach, is a Lev tov, and his Rebbe, Rav Jochanan ben Zachai, agreed, for a Lev tov contains all the necessary Midos, it is all-encompassing. A person with a good heart is a good friend, a good neighbour , and he has foresight, the qualities mentioned by Rav Elazar's colleagues. It is important to note in this story from Pirkei Avos, that Rav Yochanan did not knock the other students' suggestions, but simply said they were included in the Lev tov, and thus he was demonstrating his Lev tov too.

Rav Meir Goldwicht mentions in regard to this story from Perek how amazing it is that the Sfira is divided up into two periods - 32 days before Lag b'Omer, and 17 days after, the latter corresponding to the Gematria of Lev tov.*

In other words, beyond our mourning for Rabbi Akiva's students who died especially during the period prior to Lag b'Omer, we recognize their failures in ourselves and are most interested in preparing ourselves to avoid another tragedy such as theirs. Their Avera was not isolated in time and peculiar only to those individuals. We have to guard our tongues, thoughts, hearts against any emulation of the behaviour leading to their death.

The Sfira of each Omer count is a Midah of HaShem and of us created in His image, if we choose to emulate Him. However, it is the count that can undo any damage we have created in the pertaining Sfira of that day. The count, like the physical Omer offering itself in the days in which it could be brought, is a Mitzvah given us by HaShem to offer us a means of purification.

We do not have to be Kabbalists, Tzaddikim, Gaonim. All we need is a Lev tov and thus also the Yiras Shomayim to perform this Mitzvah of Omer (when it was applicable) and Sfiras HaOmer . HaShem's Torah is not over the sea, but right here.

Yaakov avinu parallels the Sfira Tiferes, a Sfira of compassion, mediating the conflict between Chesed and Gevurah, the middle path way, as befits a Lev tov. In the symbolic human body associated with Kabbalah, Tiferes corresponds to the heart, which unifies and harmonizes various functions of the body. The concept of Lev tov is thus very central both physically and spiritually to Sfiras HaOmer.

* Interesting to note is that Yosef was 17, when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, Yaakov Avinu lived the last 17 years of his life in Egypt, the Chofetz Chaim (known in regard to Shmiras HaLashon) was 17 when he got married.

The Omer and Honey
Peaks and Valleys - The Good Omer and the Bad Omer
Omer Personalities - R' Akiva and R' Shimon Bar Yochai
From Beast to Man
From Matzos to Cheesecake
Lag B'Omer - Breaking up the Count
Mitzvah lesaper et haMispar hamesaper
Not Fowl, but Foul
One Long Party: Pesach to Shavuot
Oops, I forgot to Count the Omer
Sheva Shabbatot temimot tiyenah
The Best Unbroken Chain
The Mourning after the Night Before
The Students of Rabbi Akiva
What Does Lev Tov Have to do with Sfira?
The Counting of The Omer
Lag B'Omer - The 33rd Day