בס״ד Laws and Customs: Sefiras HaOmer For the year 5780 Times listed are for Passaic, NJ Based in part upon the guide prepared by Rabbi Shmuel Lesches (Yeshivah Shul – Young Yeshivah, Melbourne) WHEN then I do not fulfil my obligation with WHO this count”. After Tzeis Hakochavim, Sefiras Haomer is performed right Women are exempt from Sefiras he counts again with a Brocho. after Tzeis Hakochavim, and at the Haomer. Even so, they may still count conclusion of Ma’ariv (right before HOW with a Brocho, and it is customary for Aleinu). them to do so. One should stand for Sefiras Haomer. From half an hour prior to sunset until In extenuating circumstances (such as Boys from the age of Chinuch must after one (davens Maariv and) counts infirmity), or after the fact, one is recite Sefiras Haomer. [If necessary, the Omer, one may not eat more than Yoitzei even if he was sitting or they may count the Omer before Tzeis a K’beitzah (57 grams) of bread or reclining. Hakochavim, as long as it after Plag Mezonos. If, for whatever reason, one Before reciting the Brocho, one Hamincha, and preferably after began a meal prior to sunset, he is not sunset.] should ensure that he knows which required to interrupt it when the time night of the Omer it is. [Therefore, the A child who became Bar Mitzvah of Sefirah arrives. However, if one congregation recites Sefirah only after during the period of Sefiras Haomer began after sunset, he must interrupt the Chazzan recites it.] Nevertheless, continues counting the Omer with a it to count Sefiras Haomer as soon as if he recited the Brocho without Brocho. the time arrives. knowing which night of the Omer it is, IF ONE FORGOT If one appoints a Shomer (guardian) or even if he intended to count the to remind him to count the Omer, or wrong night, he does not need to If one forgot to count the Omer at he will be attending a later Minyan repeat the Brocho. night, or is unsure, he should recite where he regularly davens, he may Sefirah during the day, without a After reciting the Brocho, one should eat prior. Brocho. [For this reason, it is not pause or speak before counting appropriate for a Shacharis Minyan to One may not perform manual labor the Omer, even to answer Omen to count the Omer without a Brocho if from sunset until after he counts the someone else’s Brocho. If one did some of its participants either don’t Omer. speak, he needs to repeat the Brocho daven Maariv with a Minyan, or they only if his words were unrelated to If one realized that he forgot to count daven Maariv before sunset.] the counting. the Omer, he may still count with a If one forgot to count the Omer over Brocho the entire night until dawn, When reciting the actual Sefirah, one the course of an entire night and day, but should hurry to do so as soon as must know its meaning; otherwise, he and didn’t remember until the possible. does not fulfil his obligation. If following night, he continues counting necessary, one may recite Sefirah in If, for any reason, one counted the all subsequent nights of the Omer, any language that he understands. Omer any time between Plag but without a Brocho. Hamincha and Tzeis Hakochavim, he The chapter of Tehillim that follows If one is unsure whether he counted should count again after Tzeis Sefiras Haomer contains 49 words the Omer throughout an entire night Hakochavim without a Brocho. (excluding the first Posuk). The Posuk and day, he continues counting the of Yismechu in that chapter contains The same applies when one heard subsequent nights of the Omer with a 49 letters. The next paragraph Ono someone else counting the Omer any Brocho. time between Plag Hamincha and B’Choach contains 49 words. When Tzeis Hakochavim, even if he had no counting the Omer, one should have OTHER LAWS in mind the words and letters intention to be Yoitzei from him, When one listens to someone else corresponding to that night. [These unless he had explicit intention to not counting the Omer before reciting it are printed in the Siddur alongside be Yoitzei. himself, he should have explicit each night’s Sefirah.] If one must daven with a Minyan that intention to not be Yoitzei. If he had is davening Maariv between sunset If one recited the wrong Sefirah, he no such intention, he may no longer and Tzeis Hakochavim, he should should correct himself as soon as recite a Brocho when reciting it possible. He does not need to repeat count along with them without a himself. However, when listening to the Brocho, unless he already Brocho, stipulating as follows: “If I the Chazzan (or someone else) recite forget to count later tonight, then I diverted his attention from the the Sefirah purely in order to verify Mitzvah of Sefirah. fulfil my obligation with this count; if I which Omer to count, it is regarded as do not forget to count later tonight, if he had explicit intention to not be 248 Passaic Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055 • Phone: 917-803-7745 • [email protected] • www.beischabad.org בס״ד P a g e | 2 Beis Chabad of Passaic-Clifton Yoitzei, and he may therefore recite a or a day behind the people at his It is Chabad custom to learn one daf Brocho when reciting it himself. destination (if he travelled west). of Masechta Sotah each day of the Omer. On the first day, one learns the If one did not yet perform Sefirah, and Polar flight routes can be more is asked what night of the Omer it is: problematic. If it is absolutely “Sha’ar Blatt”. necessary to fly such a route, or after It is not Chabad custom to be • If it is before Plag Hamincha, he may the fact, one should seek guidance punctilious about including the day of answer the question directly. from a Rav familiar with these the Omer when dating a letter. • If it is after Plag Hamincha, he matters. The period of the Omer is a time of should not answer directly, but should instead state what last night’s Sefirah CHODOSH mourning, commemorating the 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akiva’s students was. The Torah forbids the consumption of who died due to insufficient respect new grains (Chodosh) until after the If, after Plag Hamincha, one answered for each other. Obviously, it is an Minchas HaOmer was offered up in the question directly: opportune time to emphasise the the Beis Hamikdash on the second Mitzvah of Ahavas Yisroel. • If it is before sunset, one may still day of Pesach, or in our times, the count the Omer with a Brocho (after third day of Pesach in Eretz Yisroel, During the period of the Omer, one Tzeis Hakochavim). and the fourth day in Chutz Lo’oretz. should not recite the Brocho of • If it is after sunset, then it depends: The grains become permissible after Shehecheyanu (other than for a If he prefaced his response by saying this time, and are known as Yoshon. Pidyon Haben), unless on Shabbos and Lag Bo’Omer. Therefore, one “tonight is…” or “today is…”, then one One opinion maintains that Chodosh should not eat new fruits during the should count the Omer without a applies only to grain grown in Eretz week. [It would appear that someone Brocho (after Tzeis Hakochavim). Yisroel. Another opinion asserts that celebrating a birthday during the Chodosh applies only to grain • If he did not preface his response by period of the Omer should eat the belonging to a Jew at the time of its saying “tonight is…” or “today is…”, customary new fruit on the Shabbos harvest. The majority of Poskim then one may still count the Omer prior (or after).] with a Brocho (after Tzeis disagree and hold that Chodosh Hakochavim). applies even to grains grown outside The following activities are prohibited Eretz Yisroel, and even to those from right after Pesach: One who is reciting Sefirah without a belonging to a non-Jew. Nevertheless, Brocho (for whatever reason) should • Weddings (until the second and the centuries-old custom is to rely on try to hear the Brocho from another third nights of the Shloshes Ymei the lenient view, and this is also male over Bar Mitzvah. The one Hagboloh). Minhag Chabad. reciting the Brocho should have in • Haircuts (until Erev Shabbos 4th mind to be Moitzie the listener. The DAYS OF THE OMER Sivan). Even a Chosson or the Baalei listener should have in mind to be This year, from after Pesach until Habris should refrain from haircuts. [A Yoitzei the Brocho, answer Omen (but Parshas Massei, the Parsha read in woman may groom or wax her not Boruch Hu U’Voruch Shmo), and Eretz Yisroel is one ahead of the eyebrows etc. Similarly, one may count the Omer immediately Parsha read in Chutz Lo’oretz. Those remove nasal hair or hair of the ear.] afterwards, without interruption. For travelling to or from Eretz Yisroel • An Upshernish should be deferred this reason, it is appropriate that the during this time should try not to skip to the earliest opportunity (i.e. Lag Chazzan has in mind anyone who hearing a Parsha. [“Chutz Lo’oretz Bo’Omer or until Erev Shabbos 4th cannot make the Brocho. Minyanim” are usually arranged in Nevertheless, one who needs to hear Sivan). However, the other associated Eretz Yisroel for this purpose.] areas of Chinuch (such as training the the Brocho should not take this for child to wear Tzitizis and to recite granted, but should explicitly ask the Pirkei Avos is studied between Chazzan (or someone else) to be Mincha and Maariv each Shabbos Brochos, Shma and bentching) should not be deferred.