esterday we explained that the counting of the days of ‘omer connects the Holiday of Pesah, the commemoration of our physical freedom, with Shabu’ot, the day we received the Tora and we attained our “mental” freedom.
Following, a brief summary of the basic laws of Sefirat ha’omer.
WHO?
Counting the days of ‘omer is mandatory for adult males. Women can also count the days but they should not recite the blessing. In some Ashkenazi communities it is customary for women to say the Berakha for counting the ‘omer. Children can count the ‘omer and recite the blessing, as a training for the future (hinukh).
HOW?
The counting of the ‘omer takes place at night and it is preceded by the blessing: ... asher qiddeshanu bemitsvotav vetsivanu ‘al sefirat ha’omer. Then we proceed to count the days and the weeks. Today, for example, is the tenth day of the ‘omer, that is, one week and three days since the ‘omer.
WHAT IF…?
If we forget to count the ‘omer at night we can still count it during the next day until sunset. But only when we count at night we recite the proper blessing. If we miss one entire day, and we did not count the ‘omer during that night or the following day, we should continue counting, but in the opinion of most contemporary rabbis, Sephardim and Ashkenazim, we should not recite the blessing anymore.
It is customary in most communities to announce the day of the ‘omer in the morning Minyanim, so no one misses one entire day.
WHEN?
The days of the ‘omer are counted at night. Because for us Jews, the new day starts at night. Now, at what precise moment the new day starts and at what time the previous day ends is a complicated technical Halakhic matter.
Very briefly: there are two possible astronomic indicators for the new day. “Sunset”, when the sun disappears from sight, and “nightfall”, which is marked by the visibility of three medium size stars in the sky. All Rabbis agree that before sunset it is still considered day # 1, and most Rabbis agree that after three medium stars are visible it is considered day #2. The time in between sunset and the appearance of the three stars is known as “twilight” or in Hebrew, “ben hashemashot”. This time-period can fluctuate between 13 ½ minutes (for example in Israel or in other areas closer to the equator line) and 3 hours or more in extreme southern or northern locations. In New York area, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, etc., the length of this time is approximately 30 minutes (it also varies in different seasons). According to a very famous Gemara day #1 ends and day # 2 begins at an unknown, unidentifiable brief instant within this “twilight zone”. Now, what do we do in practical terms when we need to perform a Mitsva which needs to take into account the beginning of a new day? Regarding Shabbat, for example, we take the strictest stand by receiving Shabbat always a few minutes before sunset, and ending Shabbat only after three medium stars are visible.
For the Omer, ideally one should count the ‘omer only after nightfall. In many Sephardic communities in America however, the rabbis would authorize to count the ‘omer 15 minutes after sunset (thus says rabbi Eliyahu ben Hayim, for example). In exceptional circumstances Rabbis would authorize to count with berakha earlier, but never before sunset.
Every individual should follow the customs of his or her own community.
For the Omer, ideally one should count the ‘omer only after nightfall. In many Sephardic communities in America however, the rabbis would authorize to count the ‘omer 15 minutes after sunset (thus says rabbi Eliyahu ben Hayim, for example). In exceptional circumstances Rabbis would authorize to count with berakha earlier, but never before sunset.
Every individual should follow the customs of his or her own community.
TO READ ABOUT THE TRADITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS OF THE DAYS OMER SEE THIS
