In what language is one to count?

Author: Rabbi Yaakov GoldsteinPublished: November 28, 2016

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer Buy me here or on Amazon.com In what language is one to count?[1] One may count in any language that he understands. One may not count in a language that he does not understand, even if it is in Lashon Hakodesh.

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer

Buy me here or on Amazon.com

In what language is one to count? [1]

One may count in any language that he understands. One may not count in a language that he does not understand, even if it is in Lashon Hakodesh. [Thus, if he does not understand the Hebrew counting then he may not count in Hebrew.] If one counted in a language that he does not understand, even if he counted in Lashon Hakodesh, he does not fulfill his obligation [and must recount with a blessing].[2]

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[1] Admur 489/10; M”A 489/2

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one fulfills his obligation even if he does not understand the words he is counting and even if it is not in Lashon Hakodesh. [Siddur Yaavetz Halacha 10; Sheilas Yaavetz 139]

[2] The reason: As since he does not know the number that he is counting it is therefore not considered a counting at all. [ibid]

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