Sefirat HaOmer: Difference between revisions

There is a Torah obligation to count the days of the Omer stated in the Pasuk <ref>(Vayikra 23:15-16) </ref> as follows: וספרתם לכם ממחרת השבת מיום הביאכם את עמר התנופה שבע שבתות תמימת תהיינה: עד ממחרת השבת השביעת תספרו חמשים יום והקרבתם מנחה חדשה ליהוה:.  

. The Mitzvah is to count 49 days (counting the days and the weeks) from the second day of Pesach (when the Korban HaOmer was brought) until Shavuot. The mitzvah applies nowadays. <Ref> Rambam (Sefer HaMitzvah Mitzvot Aseh #161) counts this as one mitzvah to count days and weeks and not as two separate mitzvot. See Tosfot Menachot 65b D"H Ketuv who asks why we only count 49 days when the Pasuk says to count 50 days and answers that the pasuk doesn't mean from the Korban Omer until the day after HaShabbat HaShevit count 50 days but rather means to from the Korban Omer until the day after Hashabbat HaShevit which is the 50th day one should count (up to but not including). Alternatively Tosfot answers that the command to count to the number 50 in the pasuk refers to when the Korban Shtei HaLechem is brought and not the count of the Omer. </ref>

# If someone asks "What day of the Omer is it?" if one hasn't fulfilled one's obligation yet, one should answer that "yesterday was such and such" rather than answering "today is such and such in the Omer" because if one were to do so, then one would fulfill one's obligation without having made the Bracha (and wouldn't be allowed to then say the Bracha). <ref>S"A 489:4 </ref>

===Timing===

# Lechatchila, Sefirat HaOmer should be said after Tzet HaChochavim. However, it’s permissible to say it after Shekiyah. <Ref> Tosfot (Menachot 66a), Rosh (Pesachim 10:40), Tur 489:1, and Ran (Pesachim 28a D”H VeBeHaggadah in name of most Mefarshim) rule that since Sefirah is Derabbanan one can count even during Ben HaShemashot. However, Rambam (Temidin UMusafin 7:22) who holds that Sefira is Deoritta, also holds that Sefirah must be said after nightfall. S”A 489:1. </ref>  

# If one is Davening in a minyan which is davening early and finishes during Ben HaShemashot (Between Shekiah and Tzet HaCochavim) those who are careful about counting after Tzet HaCochavim should count with the minyan without a bracha and stipulate mentally "if I don't remember to count with a bracha then this counting should fulfill my obligation, however, if I remember later then I have intent not to fulfill my obligation with this counting" and then after Tzet HaCochavim count the Omer with a Bracha. <Ref> S"A 489:3 states that if davens early with a minyan one should count without a Bracha and if one remembers later with a minyan one should count with a Bracha. Mishnah Brurah 489:17 and Chazon Ovadyah (Yom Tov pg 233-4 explain that the minyan finishes during Ben HaShemashot and one must stipulate that if one remembers to count later that one will not fulfill one's obligation with the counting together with the Minyan. </ref>

==Who is obligated to count?==

# Women are exempt from counting since it’s a Mitzvah Aseh SheZman Grama. <Ref>Rambam (Temidin UMusafin 7:24) rules that women are exempt from counting Sefirah. (Rambam is also found in the Sefer Hamitzvot #161). This is brought in Bet Yosef 489:1 D”H VeTzarich. So rules Magan Avraham 489:1 (who also quotes Zohar Titzaveh pg 319 to show women are exempt) and Mishna Brurah 489:3. [Interestingly, Ramban (Kedushin 34a) holds women are obligated and the Shitat HaKadmonim (last page of Bava Kama) brings the son the Maharam Challavah who explains that Sefirah isn’t Zman Grama since the time doesn’t cause Sefirah, but the Korban HaOmer.] </ref>

# Lechatchila, one should count today is such and such “to the Omer”, Bedieved if one just said today is such and such day you’re yotzei. <Ref> Sh”t Rashba 1:457 brought in Bet Yosef 489 D”H Katav rules that really to fulfill the mitzvah it deosn’t matter whether you mention the Omer or not, however, it’s preferable to mention the Omer to clarify. So rules the Mishna Brurah 489:8. </ref>

==Incorrect intent during Bracha==

# If one started the bracha (Baruch Atta…Melech HaOlam) with in mind to say the wrong night and then finished the bracha with the intent to say the correct night and then said the correct Hayom, one is Yotzei. <ref> Tur 489:6 quotes the Avi Ezri that writes that a person who had in mind the wrong number during the beginning of the bracha and during the end of the bracha he thought of the correct number and said the HaYom correctly, isn’t Yotzei as he needs the beginning and end of the bracha to be with the correct intention. Bet Yosef 489:6 quotes the Mordechai that this Avi Ezri is going according to the opinion that Sefira is Deoritta and therefore since it’s a Safek whether such a Bracha is sufficient (as in Brachot 12a) he must make a new bracha. However, Bet Yosef concludes since majority of RIshonim hold Sefira is Derabbanan, we are lenient on this safek and is Yotzei. So rules the S”A 489:6 and all achronim agree including Mishna Brurah 489:32. </ref>

# If one started the bracha (Baruch Atta…Melech HaOlam) with in mind to say the correct night and then finished the bracha with the intent to say the wrong night and then said the wrong Hayom, according to Sephardim, one is Yotzei, while Ashkenazim hold that if one corrects the Hayom within Toch Kedi Dibbur one is Yotsei but otherwise one isn’t Yotzei and needs a new bracha. <ref> (1) Tur 489:6 quotes the Avi Ezri that writes that a person who had in mind the correct number during the beginning of the bracha and during the end of the bracha he thought of the wrong number and said the wrong HaYom, isn’t Yotzei as he needs the beginning and end of the bracha to be with the correct intention. (2) Bet Yosef 489:6 quotes the Mordechai that this Avi Ezri is going according to the opinion that Sefira is Deoritta and therefore since it’s a Safek whether such a Bracha is sufficient (as in Brachot 12a) he must make a new bracha. However, Bet Yosef concludes since majority of Rishonim hold Sefira is Derabbanan, we are lenient on this safek and is Yotzei. So rules the S”A 489:6 and some achronim agree including Magan Avraham 489:12, Olot Shabbat 489:6, Chok Yakov 489:19, and Kaf HaChaim 489:75. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim edition 5764 pg 615) writes that one should count again to fulfill the obligation according to everyone however one shouldn’t make a Bracha like S”A. (3) However, Bach (489 D”H UMah SheKatav Katav Od Avi Ezri) argues on the Bet Yosef and says that according to everyone one isn’t Yotzei in such a case as the counting was simply wrong. So rules the Levush, Pri Chadash and Mishna Brurah 489:32. (4) The third approach is that of the Maamer Mordechai 489:8 and Chok Yosef who explains S”A as where one corrected himself within Toch Kedi Dibbur. (5) Another explanation of S”A is that of the Taz 489:9 (to defend S”A against his father-in-law the Bach) who explains that the S”A was only dealing with someone who made the bracha with the wrong intent either in the beginning or in the end and then counted the Hayom correctly and so one fulfills his obligation according to the majority of Rishonim that Sefirah is Derabbanan. </ref>