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Do women have to count the Omer?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Holidays » Counting the Omer | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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A woman is required to fulfill all negative commandments (the "do not"s), but only those positive commandments ("do"s) which do not carry a time contingency. In other words, a woman is obligated to affix a Mezuzah to her door but is exempt from hearing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. [There are several exceptions to this rule (for example, a woman is obligated to eat matzah on Passover).]

A woman is required to fulfill all negative commandments (the "do not"s), but only those positive commandments ("do"s) which do not carry a time contingency
However, for the most part, even those commandments from which women are exempt, they may observe them if they so choose, and recite the blessing for that Mitzvah. For example, a woman may shake the Lulav or blow the Shofar and say the blessing.

The same is true with counting the Omer; although a woman doesn't have to count the Omer, she may do so with a Brachah. In fact, many women are accustomed to reciting the blessing before counting at night.

[We must note that Sephardic women don't recite blessings on those Mitzvahs which they are not required to observe.]

See also Why are women exempt from time-related Mitzvahs?


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RELATED CATEGORIES

Women & Judaism » Women's Mitzvot » Obligations/ Exemptions
Mitzvah
(pl. Mitzvot). A commandment from G-d. Mitzvah also means a connection, for a Jew connects with G–d through fulfilling His commandments.
Rosh Hashanah
The Jewish New Year. An early autumn two day holiday marking the creation of Adam and Eve. On this day we hear the blasts of the ram's horn and accept G-d's sovereignty upon ourselves and the world. On Rosh Hashanah we pray that G-d should grant us all a sweet New Year.
Mezuzah
A rolled up scroll containing certain verses from the Torah which is affixed to the right-hand doorpost of doorways in a Jewish home.
Shofar
The horn of a Kosher animal. The Shofar is sounded on the holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and is intended to awaken us to repentance. Also blown to signify the conclusion of the Yom Kippur holiday.
Sephardic
(adj.) A Jew whose ancestors stem from Southern Italy, Spain, Portugal, North Africa or the Arabian countries.
Omer
Starting from the second day of Passover, we count forty-nine days. The fiftieth day is the holiday of Shavuot. This is called the “Counting of the Omer” because on the second day of Passover the barley “Omer” offering was offered in the Holy Temple, and we count forty-nine days from this offering. [Literally, "Omer" is a certain weight measure; the required amount of barley for this sacrifice.]
Lulav
A palm branch. One of the Four Species we are required to take on the holiday of Sukkot. We shake it together with a citron, myrtle, and willow.