- The Sefira must be recited in a standing position. Nevertheless, if one counted while sitting, he fulfills his obligation.
- Leaning: It is forbidden for one to lean on any item in a way that it supports him from falling while counting the Omer.
- One is to count both the days, and the weeks and remaining days, on every single night of the count.
- If one did not do so, then he fulfills his obligation, with exception to the weekends [i.e. day 7, day 14 etc] in which case one is to repeat the counting with a blessing if he did not count the days, and is to repeat the counting without a blessing if he did not count the weeks.
- Saying the word “Hayom/Today”: One must say the word “Hayom/Today is” prior to counting the days. If one counted the amount of days without [first] saying “Hayom/Today is” [i.e. he plainly said “6 days to the Omer”], he does not fulfill his obligation and must thus repeat the counting with a blessing.
- The prayers said after the Sefira: After the counting of the Sefira it is customary to recite “Yehi Ratzon Sheyibaneh Beis Hamikdash etc” (Some are accustomed for reasons known to them to say after this prayer the Psalm of “Elokim Yichaneinu Vivarcheinu”, Ana Bekoach, and Ribono Shel Olam.) [Practically, so is the ruling of the Siddur and the Chabad custom. Some are accustomed to reciting Lesheim Yichud or Hareini Muchan Umezuman prior to counting the Sefira. This is not the Chabad custom.]
- The Kavana: When counting Sefira one is to have in mind the Sefira of that night, one word of the Ana Bechoach, and one word of the psalm Mizmor Elokim Yechoneinu, and one letter from the verse Yismachu. [It is unclear if these intents are to be held while counting the Sefira, before one counts, or after the count, while reciting the Mizmor.]
- 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].
- Prior to counting the Omer at night one must say a blessing, just as is done prior to the fulfillment of every Mitzvah, whether Biblical or Rabbinical. The blessing is “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech Haolam Asher Kidishanu Bemitzvosav Vetzivanu Al Sefiras Haomer.”
- Lechatchilah, one is not to say the blessing over the Sefira until he verifies which day of the count it is.
- In the event that one said the blessing prior to knowing which day of the count it is, he has nevertheless fulfilled the blessing and is not required to repeat it prior to verifying and saying that day’s Sefira. [This however only applies if no interval was made between the verification and the counting and the blessing, such as one said the blessing together with his friend, and waited until his friend counted to verify the date, and then he counted. If, however, an invalidating interval took place between the blessing and the Mitzvah, such as he switched houses, or talked of irrelevant matters, then the blessing must be repeated.]
- If one recited the wrong date, he is to immediately repeat the correct day, as soon as he remembers. If an invalidating interval was made in-between [such as he spoke to a friend of irrelevant matters or switched rooms in between] then he must also repeat the blessing. If an invalidating interval was not made in-between then the correct date is counted without a blessing. If one remembered within the amount of time it takes him to say “Shalom Alecha Rebbe” then he immediately counts the right number without repeating the words Hayom. If not, then he must repeat the correct number of days starting from the word “Hayom/Today.”
- 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 not count that day and he thus may no longer continue counting with a blessing. See Halacha 21!
- If one unintentionally stated the Sefira of that night [i.e. without intent to fulfill the Mitzvah], he is to recount later on at night without a blessing. This however only applies if one said the words “Today is such and such”. If, however, he did not say these words and rather simply said “Such and Such to the Omer”, then he is to repeat the counting with a blessing.
- If for whatever reason one does not desire to count Sefira at a certain time, but is afraid that if he does not count at this time he may forget to count later on, then he may count now without a blessing and have in mind the following condition: “If I forget to count at night I am relying on this count to fulfill my obligation. If, however, I will not forget, then I am now having in mind to not fulfill my obligation with this count.” It suffices to think of this condition in one’s mind, and it is not required to be verbalized.
- One cannot appoint a messenger to count the days on his behalf.
- If, however, one hears the counting from that person, then it is disputed in Poskim as to whether one fulfills his obligation. Practically, one is to initially suspect for the stringent opinion, and therefore not rely on hearing the counting from the Chazzan or other individual, and is to rather count himself.
- One may even initially fulfill the blessing through hearing it from the Chazzan, even if he knows how to say the blessing himself.
- In such a case, one is to count the Sefira immediately after hearing the blessing of the Chazzan.
- If one casually overheard the counting of another person, whether from a private individual or congregation, without any particular intent of being Yotzei or not being Yotzei, then it is disputed as to whether he fulfilled his obligation.
- This dispute applies even if the person who said the Sefira did not have in mind to fulfill the obligation of the listener.
- Practically, one who overheard the Sefira from another is to repeat the Sefira without a blessing. This applies beginning from Bein Hashmashos. If, however, one specifically had in mind to not fulfill his obligation with the overhearing of the Sefira, then he is to repeat the Sefira with a blessing. If however he did not have in mind to not fulfill his obligation, then even if he had in mind that he is not intending to fulfill his obligation, he is to repeat the counting without a blessing, as stated above.
- Starting from Plag Hamincha until one coun’ts Omer that night, whenever one is asked that day’s count he is to answer yesterday’s date. If he answered the date of that day then he is to repeat the Sefira without a blessing, with exception to the following cases, in which he is to repeat Sefira with a blessing:
- He did not say the word “Hayom/Today.”
- He had in mind to not be Yotzei.
- It was the end of a week, such as 7, 14 etc, and he did not say the day, but simply said the number of weeks.
- After Plag Hamincha: If the above reply of “Today is such and such days” occurred prior to sunset [Bein Hashmashos], but past Plag Hamincha, then he has not forfeited the blessing and is thus to repeat the count with a blessing later at night.
- The asker: The above law only applies to the person who was asked and replied, “Today is such and such days.” However, the person who asked the question and consequently heard this reply, has not forfeited his blessing and is thus to repeat the count with the blessing later at night.
- If one forgot to count the Sefira at night and remembered during the day, he is to count the Sefira during the day without a blessing.
- Until when at night can one count with a blessing? One may count at night with a blessing until Alos Hashachar/dawn. Once dawn has arrived, one can no longer count with a blessing.
- If one forgot to count at night and counted during the day without a blessing, as explained in Halacha 19, then he has not forfeited the blessing of the future nights and may thus continue to count with a blessing on the following nights.
- This applies whether one forgot to count the Sefira of the first night and counted during the day, or whether one forgot to count the Sefira of any other night and then counted during the day.
- If one forgot to count one full day of Sefira [meaning he forgot to count both at night and also the next day] it is disputed in Poskim as to whether he is still obligated in the Mitzvah of counting on the future nights. Practically, the custom is to continue to count on the following nights without a blessing.
- This applies whether one forgot to count the Sefira of the first night or whether one forgot to count the Sefira of any other night.
- This applies whether one was negligent in his lack of count, or it was inevitable due to illness, such as if he was in a state of unconsciousness.
- If one is in doubt as to whether he counted at night, and he did not count the next day, then he is nevertheless to continue counting with a blessing on the coming nights.
- Counting with a blessing in a case of other forms of doubts: The above rule applies for all cases in which there is a question as to whether one’s previous count was valid, and he was required to recount without a blessing and did not do so, nevertheless he is to continue to count on the coming nights with a blessing.
- If the validity of the count of the previous day is held in question on several grounds, may one continue to count with a blessing on the coming nights? In the event that the count of the previous day is held in question on more than one ground [i.e. there are two reasons to invalidate the count, such as one who counted the next day by Bein Hashmashos] then some Poskim rule he is to continue counting without a blessing. Others however rule he is to continue to count with a blessing. Practically, one is to continue counting without a blessing and instead is to try to hear the blessing from another person.
- This dispute applies to any of the following cases:
- One counted the next day by Bein Hashmashos.
- One knows for certain that he did not count at night and is in doubt if he counted the next day.
- One did not count at night but heard the count from the Chazzan during the day.
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