There is a machlokes rishonim if the 49 days of counting sefira are one big mitzvah, or 49 separate mitzvos. A basic difference between these opinions will be in regards to someone who missed a day. If it is one big mitzvah, the mitzvah was lost, and one can no longer continue to count. If each night is an independent mitzvah, one can continue to count.
How do we pasken? If one missed a day of sefira, can he continue to count or not? The Shulchan Aruch rules that one should continue to count, but not with a brocha. The reason for this compromise is because many rishonim hold that the mitzvah was not lost, and one should definitely continue to count. However, since other rishonim hold that the mitzvah is lost, when it comes to a brocha, the rule is that when in doubt – whether or not to recite a brocha – you do without. Therefore, in this case of missing a day of sefira, since it is a machlokes, one should count without a brocha.
It is interesting to note that the Divrei Chaim ruled that we can rely on the many rishonim who hold that the mitzvah has not been lost, and one can actually continue to count with a brocha. His reasoning is that when a person does not recite a brocha, he will think that he is not really fulfilling any mitzvah and won’t be careful to continue counting every night. He therefore rules that one should recite a brocha, following the rishonim who allow it. However, the consensus of the poskim is that one should not recite a brocha.
Although we mentioned earlier the opinion of the Sefer Hachinuch, that one must first state the previous day’s sefira. The Biur Halacha points out that the poskim do not mention this requirement, and one can continue to count without mentioning the previous day’s sefira – albeit without a brocha.
However, it is important to realize that according to many rishonim the mitzvah is still going strong, and one should be sure to count. The only reason a brocha is not recited is because we are concerned about a brocha l’vatalah. The Mishna Berura, therefore, adds that if possible one should try to hear the brocha from the chazzan or someone else, and that way he will fulfill the mitzvah of counting with a brocha.
Being Motzi Someone Else with the Brocha
Now that we have seen that one who missed a day of counting can no longer count with a brocha, the question arises as to what a chazzan or rav should do if he missed one day of sefira. If he is unable to count with a brocha, and everyone realizes that he missed a day, he may get embarrassed. A possible solution would be for the chazzan or rav to ask someone who is counting with a brocha to listen to his brocha and be yotzei with the brocha. That way the brocha will definitely be valid. Is he allowed to do this? This a two-fold question: 1) Can one recite a brocha on behalf of someone, if that person is able to do so on his own? 2) The rule of thumb is that one can only recite a brocha on behalf of someone else if he himself is also required in the mitzvah. Is someone who missed a day considered one who is required in the mitzvah?
As far as the first question: Can one recite a brocha on behalf of someone else, if the person can really do so on his own? The Shulchan Aruch rules that this should only be done when the other party does not know how to recite the brocha on their own. According to that ruling, it should not be allowed to say the brocha of sefira for someone who can recite the brocha himself. However, the Mishna Brura quotes the Pri Chodosh who rules that one can recite the brocha on behalf of others, even if the other person is capable of saying the brocha himself. According to that, it would be allowed for a chazzan or rav to be motzi someone else with the brocha, even if that person knows how to recite the brocha himself.
To be continued...
SUMMARY
If one missed a day of sefira he must continue to count, but not recite the brocha. Preferably, he should hear the brocha from someone else. There is a machlokes if one can recite the brocha to be motzi others.
Rabbi Scheiner
