Sheva Shabbatot temimot tiyenah - Vayikra 23:15
The Meaning of Temim
The word temim is an adjective, which in regard to time means "complete, full".
In regard to an offering it means "unblemished". In regard to people it can mean honest, simple, innocent, naive or, in the Torah sense upright, G-d-fearing.
In the translations regarding the Omer count, we naturally find the translation regarding a time period - i.e. complete or full. - On second look, though, we find that indeed all the meanings apply here. The original offering of the physical Omer had to be unblemished. The other adjectives would apply more in a figurative sense to the time and more to the person bringing the physical Omer and counting the days of the Sfira. Each person has to honestly know if he understood what he said, and his spiritual purification has to be that of an upright and G-d-fearing person. There is no Tshuva and no Tikkun without Yiras Shomayim.
The dilemma of what to do when we make a mistake has been discussed at length. Sometimes the chain is broken not because we made a mistake, but because of a situation - e.g. in the case of Aveilos. However simple the Omer count may appear at the outset, everyone who has counted knows the pitfalls. However frustrating it may be to have a perfect record marred by an oversight of ours at the last minute, for example, we have to keep our cool. To peel off 49 levels of impurity -the level we had reached in Mitzraim - in just so many days is no mean task for a Tzaddik, let alone an average person.
Rabbi Shraga Simmons of Aish quotes "Proverbs (24:16): 'The Tzaddik falls seven times and gets up.' The definition of a Tzaddik is not someone who never makes a mistake, but rather someone who, although he may fail, does not give up. He tries again and does not despair!"*
However, no matter how imperfect, no matter how incomplete our peeling process may seem to us, the Omer count itself must be carried through to its utter completion on Erev Shavuos until after dark. There can be no ushering in of the Chag, before the Omer is with certainty given its due. Since davening Maariv would signalize the Yom tov, even if it is still day, to give the Omer its due we may not daven Maariv until actual nightfall, after the appearance of three medium-sized stars.
And Now What ?
Many people speak about the proper way to end a fast. How many people have discussed as such the way to end the Omer count beyond this cautionary measure ?
How do we nurture our now so tender and anticipating souls ?
After the many tradition-laden meal, we have two serious possibilities: Tikkun Layl Shavuos and/or all-night learning at Shiurim, sometimes combined even with a Shul crawl (going from Shul to Shul). There are debates on which of these is best, but the bottom line is that every Jew should be occupied with some aspect of Torah - whether doing further direct cleaning (Tikkun) or learning together with one's Shulmates - and acting like the Torah-dicker Mensch he should now have become in the course of his Sfiras HaOmer.
Note:
*In this connection, it could well be argued that since the best proof of all that every Jew counts, is this tremendous gift of HaShem's - the Mitzvah to count, it should be incumbent upon all our
Rabbonim to bend over backwards to make everyone's count count as a Mitzvah. Those who posken that the Mitzvah is on the whole 49 and that someone who skips has forfeited the entire
Mitzvah really should consider what they are saying. If it is halachically permissible to bentsch Kiddush Levana on Motzai Shabbos with a Minyan, even if the moon has become almost invisible, if there is fear that some people would then miss the Mitzvah entirely, then in a world so happy to be rid of us, the opportunity of helping every Jew to count should be seized with joy.
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