1) If one forgot to count Sefirah one night, he/she should count during that day (without a Bracha) and then can resume counting the following night with a Bracha.
However, if one didn't remember to count on that day and sunset of the next day arrived, he/she must count the remainder of the sefirah days without a Bracha.
The above Halacha is only if you are certain that you forgot to count on one of the nights. However, if you are unsure (Safek) if you missed a night, you may continue the rest of the Sefirah counting with a Bracha. (Siman 489:8. See also Mishna Berura S"K 34. For more intricate details see Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 93:3 and Shu"t Minchas Yitzchak Vol. 9 Siman 57 and Kaf HaChaim 489:82) 2) There is a debate amongst the Poskim regarding one who knows that he/she will miss one (or more) days of counting the sefirah (due to being under the operating knife R"L , or any other reason) if they may begin counting with a Bracha in the first place (as there is an opinion in the Rishonim that one who misses one day of counting renders all his/her previous Brachos as Brachos L'Vatalah (L'mafrea), blessings in vain) The consensus of most Poskim, however, is that one may ndeed begin counting with a Bracha, and only after that day is missed, will they have to continue without a Bracha, and all the previous Brachos will not be rendered "in vain". (See Halichos Shlomo page 357, Shu"t Ohr L'Tzion Vol. 1 Siman 36. This is also the opinion of Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita and many other contemporary Poskim)
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
You wrote in a previous Q&A "It is prohibited to give bread to a Jew who does not wash his/her hands before eating bread, even if the bread belongs to him/her, as doing so will cause him/her to do a sin, and thus you will transgress the biblical prohibition of "Lifnei Iver Lo Titen Michshol".(Shulchan Aruch Siman 163:2 and Mishna Berura Siman S"K 12)"
Is this really a prohibition? What if you give bread to someone who isn't frum (religious) and the situation doesn't allow for you to give it only on condition that they wash?
Answer:
Yes, it is a real prohibition. That being said, there are certain circumstances under which the Poskim will indeed alow you to give the bread. One such exception is if you are in the midst of being mekarev(bringing close) a fellow Jew to yiddishkeit and by giving him/her the bread now without washing it will lead to him/her becoming frum down the line. It is always best to try and ask them to "humor you" and wash their hands.
For specific situations, a Rav should be consulted.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
