- Wait until after nightfall.
- Stand to recite the blessing and count.
- Bless
- Count.
The Blessing:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹֹּתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר.
Baruch ata adonai, eloheinu melech haolam, asher kidshanu, b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu al s’firat haomer.
Blessed are you, Adonai, our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctified us with mitzvot, and commanded us to count the Omer.
The Count: (e.g. on the 8th day)
. הַיּוֹם שְׁמוֹנָה יָמִים שֶׁהֵם שָׁבֽוּעַ אֶחָד וְיוֹם אֶחָד בָּעֹֽמֶר
Ha-yom sh’mona yamim, shehaym shavu-a e-chad v’yom e-chad ba-omer (or la-omer)*
Today is eight days, which are one week and one day of the Omer
Notes:
If you forget to count at night, you can count the next day, but without a blessing. If you forget to count for entire day, you continue to count, but traditionally, one doesn’t recite the blessing beforehand.
Many people have the custom to not say the current day before they bless and count. So they will say yesterday was Day 39, today is 39 + 1.
After the first six days, one also includes the number of weeks that one has counted.
*There are two ways to count – ba-omer and la-omer – both are acceptable.
Check out our recommended resources for counting and consider setting an alarm for each night to help you remember to count (or find a daily minyan to pray Maariv).
Omertime 