Editing Counting of the Omer (section)

== The count ==
[[File:The National Library of Israel - Counting of the Omer, Morocco, Tangier.ogg|right|thumb|Counting the Omer in [[Tangier]], [[Morocco]], in the 1960s]]
[[File:The National Library of Israel - Counting of the Omer, Poland, Galicia.ogg|right|thumb|Counting the Omer, Polish version, recorded in [[Jerusalem]] in 1952]]
{{Sefirat HaOmer Box|floatright=floatright}}
As soon as it is definitely night (approximately thirty minutes after sundown), the one who is counting the ''Omer'' recites this blessing:

{{blockquote|text={{transliteration|he|Barukh atah, A-donai E-loheinu, Melekh Ha-ʿolam, asher qid'shanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu ʿal S'firat Ha-ʿomer.}}<br/>
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.|sign=|source=}}

Then he or she states the ''Omer''-count in terms of both total days and weeks and days. For example:
* On the first day: "Today is one day of the omer"
* On the eighth day: "Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the omer"

The wording of the count differs slightly between customs: the last Hebrew word is either ''laomer'' (literally "to the omer") or ''baomer'' (literally "in the omer"). Both customs are valid according to [[halakha]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Bulman|first=Nachman|title=Ask The rabbi|url=http://ohr.edu/ask_db/ask_main.php/63/Q2/|work=Shulchan Oruch, Orach Chaim 489:1, 493:2; Mishneh Brurah 489:8|publisher=Ohr Somayach, Israel|access-date=7 April 2013}}</ref>

The count is generally in [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]; it may also be counted in any language, however one must understand what one is saying.<ref>{{cite web|last=Torah.org|title=Sefiras Ha'Omer|url=http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/omer/sefira.php3|publisher=Project Genesis, USA|access-date=7 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330073814/http://www.torah.org/learning/yomtov/omer/sefira.php3|archive-date=30 March 2013}}</ref>

The counting is preferably done at night, at the beginning of the Jewish day. If one realizes the next morning or afternoon that they have not yet counted, the count may still be made, but without a blessing. If one forgets to count a day altogether, he or she may continue to count succeeding days, but without a blessing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Mitzva to Count the Omer - Jewish Tradition |url=https://yahadut.org/en/shabbat-and-festivals/counting-the-omer-and-israel-s-national-holidays/the-mitzva-to-count-the-omer/ |access-date=2024-04-01 |website=yahadut.org |language=en}}</ref>