WhatsApp and Sefirat HaOmer

Hey Rabbi, Just wanted to ask something quick. Every night on WhatsApp, I’ve been sending out reminders to all my friends about the new Omer count—what day we’re on and all that. I was just wondering, is there anything halachically iffy about doing this? Any advice or rules I should be aware of? Thanks!

Thank you for reaching out with your question. First, let me commend your initiative in encouraging and reminding your community to keep up with the Omer count—an excellent endeavor indeed!

There is one aspect that needs consideration. If you already davened Maariv and counted with a beracha, there is no problem in writing the text message. However, in an event that you haven’t yet prayed Maariv and counted the sefirah with a beracha, then what needs to be considered is that maybe by writing to others—even though it is unintentional and you don’t intend to fulfill the mitzvah with it—nevertheless, maybe unintentional counting can also be considered counting. Let's delve into the topics: A) unintentional counting and B) whether writing/typing is considered as having fulfilled the mitzvah as speech.

Regarding your query, there is a pertinent discussion in the Talmud, Tractate Rosh Hashana (28a), about whether one can fulfill a mitzvah without intent. According to the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 60, Se'if 4), a mitzvah is typically only fulfilled when performed with intent.

However, the counting of the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) involves a unique rule regarding intention (mitzvot tsrichot kavana). Even if you inadvertently fulfill the mitzvah—such as responding to someone asking, "What day of the Omer is it?" and you reply, "Today is 21 days, which is three weeks of the Omer"—this is considered a valid count. Therefore, even though you had no intention of fulfilling the mitzvah at that moment, it is deemed that you have counted the Omer for that day, and you cannot repeat the count with a blessing.

As stated in the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, section 489, Se'if 4: If someone asks another during twilight how many days of the Omer have been counted that night, he should reply: "Yesterday was such and such days," because if he says, "Today is such and such days," he will not be able to count that day again with a blessing.

The Mishna Berura (Se'if 22) explains: This is considered having fulfilled the counting of the Omer according to the opinion that mitzvot do not require intent. Although our accepted ruling is that intent is necessary, and in this case, he did not intend to fulfill the mitzvah, when it comes to blessings one should be stringent and consider this opinion, and should not recite a blessing on the subsequent counting that day.

We could therefore say that regarding your practice of typing the Omer count, even though it was unintentional, it is considered as having fulfilled the mitzvah.

However, further consideration is needed since you typed, rather than spoke, the Omer count. We can deliberate whether writing or, as in your case, typing, is considered like having said the Omer count.

We find discussion about writing in Hilchot Birkat HaTorah: before one sits to learn, one must first recite Birkat HaTorah. However, if it is just thinking about Torah, then one is exempt from the blessing before studying. Now, regarding writing Divrei Torah, the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 47, Se'if 3) indicates that if one writes words of Torah, even though he did not speak them, this is considered learning, and one needs to first recite the Birkat HaTorah before beginning. The Mishnah Berurah explains that writing is considered an action and therefore requires a blessing before commencing. However, the Mishnah Berurah goes on to say that many poskim (such as the Magen Avraham and the Taz) write that writing is not considered sufficient to demand a blessing but rather only speech.

Circling back to your practice of writing the Day of the Omer, given that some opinions consider writing as equivalent to speech, I would advise that before you type the Day of the Omer, think to yourself that you do not intend this as fulfillment of your obligation, as suggested in the Mishnah Berurah Siman 489, Se'if 22. However, even if you didn’t think this, you can still count with a berachah since, lehalacha, writing is not considered as having counted.

1. Talmud, Tractate Rosh Hashana (28a)
2. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (60:4)
3. Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim (489:4)
4. Mishna Berura (489:22)
5. Shulchan Aruch, Siman 47, Se'if 3
6. Mishnah Berurah, Siman 47
7. Azamroh Lish’mecho page 240