This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com *All customs listed below are only practiced during the period of time in which one is accustomed to observe the mourning customs, as explained in the previous Halacha. For semantic purposes we will refer to this as “the mourning period […]
Counted wrong day
This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com Saying or having in mind the wrong day: A. Said the wrong date and did not remember until the next night: If one counted the wrong date and only discovered the next night, then it is considered that he did […]
Counted two days
Knowing the day of the count before saying the blessing:[1] Lechatchilah one is not to say the blessing over the Sefirah until he verifies which day of the count it is.[2] In the event that one said the blessing prior to knowing which day of the count it is, he […]
Erev Lag BaOmer
Tachanun: Tachanun is omitted on Lag BaOmer. It is omitted beginning from Mincha of the 17th of Iyar [Erev Lag BaOmer].[1] When do the mourning customs cease? The mourning customs cease to be practiced beginning from the night of Lag BaOmer.[2] One may hence listen to music, get […]
Shehechiyanu during Sefirah
Shehechiyanu during Sefirah Shehechiyanu: It is permitted to recite Shehechiyanu during Sefirah.[1] Nevertheless, many are accustomed to avoid saying Shehechiyanu throughout the entire weekday period of Sefirah, from after Pesach until Erev Shavuos.[2] Practically, so is the Chabad custom.[3] Those which are accustomed to say Shehechiyanu throughout Sefirah may continue […]
Music during Sefirah
Music: It is forbidden to hear music during Sefirah.[1] It is forbidden to listen to music, whether live or recorded.[2] The widespread custom even amongst G-d fearing Jews is to permit listening to cappella[3] music.[4] However there are Poskim[5] that are stringent to prohibit listening to music even of such […]
Counting with a Minyan-Counting before Maariv
May one count before Maariv?[1] It is permitted to count the Sefira before Maariv [after nightfall]. This applies even on Motzei Shabbos, when one extends the Shabbos into the night [until Maariv].[2] Nevertheless it is proper to precede the Davening of Maariv to the counting of the Omer.[3] Is […]
Melacha before counting
Melacha prior to counting:[1] It is accustomed for both men[2] and women to avoid doing work/Melacha during the entire period of Sefiras HaOmer, from the time of sunset until after they have counted the Omer.[3] (Possibly those women which are not accustomed to count the Omer must refrain from work […]
Eating before counting
Eating before counting:[1] One must refrain from eating even a small a meal a half hour prior to the time of the Sefirah[2], which is a half hour before Bein Hashmashos [i.e. sunset].[3] This applies even if one has already Davened Maariv but has not yet recited Sefiras HaOmer.[4] If […]
The Mourning Period
When between Pesach and Shavuos is one to practice the mourning customs?[1] One is required to practice the mourning customs for 33 days between Pesach and Shavuos.[2] A variety of customs and opinions exist regarding the exact dates of which the mourning customs are to be practiced between Pesach and […]
The Mourning Customs
The Mourning period: It is accustomed amongst Jewry to observe certain customs of mourning within the period between Pesach and Shavuos. The reason:[1] The reason behind this custom is because during this time period 12,000 study partners, which were the twenty four thousand students of Rebbe Akiva, passed away.[2] In […]
Women counting
Women:[1] Women are exempt from the Mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer.[2] [Likewise, based on Kabala, women are not applicable to this Mitzvah.[3]] However in certain provinces[4] women have accepted this Mitzvah upon themselves as a complete obligation.[5] [In such provinces the women are obligated to count due to this custom.[6]] All […]
Mitzvah of Sefiras Haomer
The Mitzvah: It is a positive command of the Torah for every single Jew[1] to count seven weeks worth of days starting from the offering of the Omer. [In the times of the Temple the Omer was offered on the 16th of Nissan, the second day of Pesach. The Omer […]
