Easy as 1, 2, 3: How to Count the Omer
Counting from Passover to Shavuot
If you can count up from one to forty-nine, you can count the Omer! Not sure what you're counting towards? Not to worry! At the end of the 49 days, on day 50, we arrive at the holiday of Shavuot, ready and excited to receive the Torah! And back in the day during Temple times, they would bring sheaves of wheat to the Temple on Shavuot to thank God for the great harvest.
But there's a very special way of counting, and it's as easy as 1, 2, 3 - even if it's not "literally" just saying those numbers!
Let's start with the basics:
What?
(טו) וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִמָּחֳרַ֣ת הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת מִיּוֹם֙ הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־עֹ֖מֶר הַתְּנוּפָ֑ה שֶׁ֥בַע שַׁבָּת֖וֹת תְּמִימֹ֥ת תִּהְיֶֽינָה׃ (טז) עַ֣ד מִֽמָּחֳרַ֤ת הַשַּׁבָּת֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תִּסְפְּר֖וּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים י֑וֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֛ם מִנְחָ֥ה חֲדָשָׁ֖ה לַיהוָֽה׃
(15) And from the day on which you bring the sheaf of elevation offering—the day after the sabbath—you shall count off seven full weeks: (16) you must count until the day after the seventh week—fifty days; then you shall bring an offering of new grain to the LORD.
When?
(א) ממחרת השבת. מִמָּחֳרַת יוֹם טוֹב:
"The day after the sabbath" - i. e. from the day after the first day of the Passover festival (Menachot 65b).
(ב) תמימת תהיינה. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁמַּתְחִיל וּמוֹנֶה מִבָּעֶרֶב, שֶׁאִם לֹא כֵן אֵינָן תְּמִימוֹת (ספרא; מנחות ס"ו):
"You shall count off seven full weeks" - This teaches that one has to begin counting in the evening, for otherwise they would not be complete (Menachot 66a).
Who?
תנו רבנן (ויקרא כג, טו) וספרתם לכם שתהא ספירה לכל אחד ואחד
The Sages taught in a baraita: The phrase: “And you shall count for you,” (Leviticus 23:15) teaches that the mitzva of counting is not a communal obligation. Rather, there should be a counting by each and every person.
Okay, there we have it! Each and every one of us begins our counting journey at night on the second night of Passover, and we count each of the 49 nights for seven week until Shavuot.
Starting the count
Now that we know who counts (all of us!) and when (at night!), check out your Jewish calendar, search online, or ask a teacher what day of the Omer you'll be counting that night. Once you know the number, you're ready to make the berakha (blessing).
(ג) הִנְ֒נִי מוּכָן וּמְזֻמָּן לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּתּוֹרָה. וּסְפַרְתֶּם לָכֶם מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת מִיּוֹם הֲבִיאֲכֶם אֶת עֹֽמֶר הַתְּ֒נוּפָה שֶֽׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימוֹת תִּהְיֶֽינָה: עַד מִמָּחֳרַת הַשַּׁבָּת הַשְּׁ֒בִיעִית תִּסְפְּ֒רוּ חֲמִשִּׁים יוֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם מִנְחָה חֲדָשָׁה לַיהֹוָה:
Here I am, prepared and ready to perform the affirmative command to count the Omer, as is written in the Torah: “And you shall count for yourselves, from the day after the day of rest, from the day you bring the omer as the wave-offering, seven complete weeks shall there be; until the day following the seventh week shall you count fifty days; and you shall bring a new meal-offering unto Adonoy.” Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.
Hineni muchan um’zuman l’kayem mitzvat aseh shel s’firat ha’omer k’mo shekatuv baTorah: Us’fartem lakhem mimaharat hashabbat miyom havi’echem et omer hat’nufa, sheva shabbatot t’mimot tihiyenah. Ad mimaharat hashabbat hash’vi’it tisp’ru chamishim yom ve'hikravtem minchah chadashah la'adonai.
(ה) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר קִדְּ֒שָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר:
Blessed are You, Adonoy, our God, King of the universe, Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to count the Omer.
Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha’Olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tizivanu al sefirat ha’omer.
Preamble - check.
Blessing - check.
Counting past the first week
If it's the first day of the first week of counting, for example, you simply say the "today is Day One of the Omer," or "hayom yom echad la'omer". Simple!
If six days have already passed, and you're on the eighth day, for example, then you include the number of weeks you are in as well and say, "today is Day Eight of the Omer, which is one week and one day of the Omer" or "Hayom shemonah yamim, she’hem shavuah echad v’yom echad la’omer."
Once you know what day of the Omer it is, find that number in the source below and read that line (not including the Hebrew date!). That's all there is to it!
(ו) ט"ז ניסן1. הַיּוֹם יוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(ז) י"ז ניסן2. הַיּוֹם שְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(ח) י"ח ניסן3. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(ט) י"ט ניסן4. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(י) כ ניסן5. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יא) כ"א ניסן 6. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יב) כ"ב ניסן 7. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יג) כ"ג ניסן8. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יד) כ"ד ניסן9. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(טו) כ"ה ניסן10. הַיּוֹם עֲשָׂרָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(טז) כ"ו ניסן11. הַיּוֹם אַחַד עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יז) כ"ז ניסן12. הַיּוֹם שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יח) כ"ח ניסן13. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(יט) כ"ט ניסן14. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כ) ל ניסן15. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כא) א אייר16. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כב) ב אייר17. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כג) ג אייר18. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כד) ד אייר19. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה עָשָׂר יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כה) ה אייר20. הַיּוֹם עֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁנֵי שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כו) ו אייר21. הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כז) ז אייר22. הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כח) ח אייר23. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(כט) ט אייר24. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(ל) י אייר25. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לא) י"א אייר26. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לב) י"ב אייר27. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שְׁלשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לג) י"ג אייר28. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לד) י"ד אייר29. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לה) ט"ו אייר30. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לו) ט"ז אייר31. הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לז) י"ז אייר32. הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לח) י"ח אייר33. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשָׁה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(לט) י"ט אייר34. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם אַרְבָּעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מ) כ אייר35. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מא) כ"א אייר36. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מב) כ"ב אייר37. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מג) כ"ג אייר38. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מד) כ"ד אייר39. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וּשְׁלשִׁים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁהּ שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מה) כ"ה אייר40. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מו) כ"ו אייר41. הַיּוֹם אֶחָד וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם חֲמִשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מז) כ"ז אייר42. הַיּוֹם שְׁנַֽיִם וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מח) כ"ח אייר43. הַיּוֹם שְׁלשָׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(מט) כ"ט אייר44. הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁנֵי יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(נ) א סיון45. הַיּוֹם חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלשָׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(נא) ב סיון46. הַיּוֹם שִׁשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(נב) ג סיון47. הַיּוֹם שִׁבְעָה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וַחֲמִשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(נג) ד סיון48. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁשָּׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וְשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים בָּעֹֽמֶר:
(נד) ה סיון49. הַיּוֹם תִּשְׁעָה וְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם שֶׁהֵם שִׁבְעָה שָׁבוּעוֹת בָּעֹֽמֶר:
16 of Nissan.
1. Hayom yom echad la-omer.Today is one day of the Omer.
2. Hayom sh’nei yamim la-omer.Today is two days of the Omer.
3. Hayom sh’loshah yamim la-omer.Today is three days of the Omer.
4. Hayom arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is four days of the Omer.
5. Hayom chamishah yamim la-omer.Today is five days of the omer.
6. Hayom shishah yamim la-omer.
Today is six days of the Omer.
7. Hayom shivah yamim shehem shavua echad la-omer.Today is seven days which is one week of the Omer.
8. Hayom sh’monah yamim shehem shavua echad v’yom echad la-omer.Today is eight days, which is one week and one day of the Omer.
9. Hayom tishah yamim shehem shavua echad ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is nine days, which is one week and two days of the Omer.
10. Hayom asarah yamim shehem shavua echad ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is ten days, which is one week and three days of the Omer.
11. Hayom achad asar yom shehem shavua echad v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is eleven days, which is one week and four days of the Omer.
12. Hayom sh’neim asar yom shehem shavua echad vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is twelve days, which is one week and five days of the Omer.
13. Hayom sh’loshah asar yom shehem shavua echad v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is thirteen days, which is one week and six days of the Omer.
14. Hayom arbaah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot la-omer.Today is fourteen days, which is two weeks of the Omer.
15. Hayom chamishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.Today is fifteen days, which is two weeks and one day of the Omer.
16. Hayom shishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is sixteen days, which is two weeks and two days of the Omer.
17. Hayom shivah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is seventeen days, which is two weeks and three days of the Omer.
18. Hayom sh’monah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is eighteen days, which is two weeks and four days of the Omer.
19. Hayom tishah asar yom shehem sh’nei shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is nineteen days, which is two weeks and five days of the Omer.
20. Hayom esrim yom shehem sh’nei shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is twenty days, which is two weeks and six days of the Omer.
21. Hayom echad v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot la-omer.Today is twenty-one days, which is three weeks of the Omer.
22. Hayom sh’nayim v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.Today is twenty-two days, which is three weeks and one day to the Omer.
23. Hayom sh’loshah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is twenty-three days, which is three weeks and two days of the Omer.
24. Hayom arbaah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is twenty-four days, which is three weeks and three days of the Omer.
25. Hayom chamishah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is twenty-five days, which is three weeks and four days of the Omer.
26. Hayom shishah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is twenty-six days, which is three weeks and five days of the Omer.
27. Hayom shivah v’esrim yom shehem sh’loshah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is twenty-seven days, which is three weeks and six days of the Omer.
28. Hayom sh’monah v’esrim yom shehem arbaah shavuot la-omer.Today is twenty-eight days, which is four weeks of the Omer.
29. Hayom tishah v’esrim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.Today is twenty-nine days, which is four weeks and one day of the Omer.
30. Hayom sh’loshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is thirty days, which is four weeks and two days of the Omer.
31. Hayom echad ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-one days, which is four weeks and three days of the Omer.
32. Hayom sh’nayim ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-two days, which is four weeks and four days of the Omer.
33. Hayom sh’loshah ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-three days, which is four weeks and five days of the Omer.
34. Hayom arbaah ushloshim yom shehem arbaah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-four days, which is four weeks and six days of the Omer.
35. Hayom chamishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot la-omer.Today is thirty-five days, which is five weeks of the Omer.
36. Hayom shishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.Today is thirty-six days, which is five weeks and one day of the Omer.
37. Hayom shivah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-seven days, which is five weeks and two days of the Omer.
38. Hayom sh’monah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-eight days, which is five weeks and three days of the Omer.
39. Hayom tishah ushloshim yom shehem chamishah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is thirty-nine days, which is five weeks and four days of the Omer.
40. Hayom arbaim yom shehem chamishah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is forty days, which is five weeks and five days of the Omer.
41. Hayom echad v’arbaim yom shehem chamishah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is forty-one days, which is five weeks and six days of the Omer.
42. Hayom sh’nayim v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot la-omer.Today is forty-two days, which is six weeks of the Omer.
43. Hayom sh’loshah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot v’yom echad la-omer.Today is forty-three days, which is six weeks and one day of the Omer.
44. Hayom arbaah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot ushnei yamim la-omer.Today is forty-four days, which is six weeks and two days of the Omer.
45. Hayom chamishah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot ushloshah yamim la-omer.Today is forty-five days, which is six weeks and three days of the Omer.
46. Hayom shishah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot v’arbaah yamim la-omer.Today is forty-six days, which is six weeks and four days of the Omer.
47. Hayom shivah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot vachamishah yamim la-omer.Today is forty-seven days, which is six weeks and five days of the Omer.
48. Hayom sh’monah v’arbaim yom shehem shishah shavuot v’shishah yamim la-omer.Today is forty-eight days, which is six weeks and six days of the Omer.
49. Hayom tishah v’arbaim yom shehem shivah shavuot la-omerToday is forty-nine days, which is seven weeks of the Omer.
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