1) There are varying opinions amongst the Poskim regarding if women should/may count the sefirah with a Bracha.
Women are not obligated in Sefiras HaOmer, as it is a "Mitzvas Asei SheHazman Gerama, a Mitzvah that is bound to a certain time-period".
The Mogen Avraham maintains that women have accepted this Mitzvah upon themselves as if it is an "obligation" and thus they must indeed count with a Bracha. (Quoted in Mishna Berura 489:3) The custom of women in Europe in the time and place of the Chofetz Chaim was not to count Sefirah. (Mishna Berura ibid.) The Shulchan Shlomo (quoted in Mishna Berura ibid.) maintains that women should count the days, but should not recite the Bracha before the counting. His reasoning is that women will all but surely forget to count at least one of the nights (as the reason many men don't forget is that they go to Shul for maariv. Men who do not attend Shul for maariv, according to this opinion, should probably also not count sefirah with a Bracha, as they too will end up "messing up") Today's days many women do indeed have the custom to count Sefirah with a Bracha, as today we have Sefirah calendars and other reminders (including many email, and text message reminders) that make it more likely that they will indeed complete the entire 49 day count. (See Aruch HaShulchan 489:4 that women should count with a Bracha as they do other Mitzvos Asei Shehazman Gerama.)
2) If a woman indeed wants to count, it is important that she at least know the basic meaning of the words being said (i.e. how the days and weeks being said in Hebrew translate into the appropriate day of the counting.) (See Mishna Berura 489:5, Shu"t MaHaril Diskin Kunteres Achron Siman 5 Os 55) Women who follow the Sephardic traditions do not recite blessings on any Mitzvos Asei SheHazman Gerama, and thus should not recite the Bracha on Sefirah.
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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.
I work for a woman who is not frum. She sometimes asks me to buy her lunch. Must I say no? There are no kosher places to eat close to where I work.
A second related question: She sometimes asks me to go to lunch with her. When we do this, we take the car and drive for about 20 minutes to eat in a kosher establishment. I prefer to work through lunch and leave work early. Must I agree to go to lunch with her since on those occasions she eats a kosher meal?
Answer:
Being that if you would refuse to buy your boss lunch it would jeapordize your job security (I assume), and she would get the lunch regardless through a different means, you probably may buy her the lunch. However, if you are using your own money (or possibly even her money) to purchase Basar B'Chalav that may pose a problem and a Rav should be consulted about the proper course of action.
There is no need for you to accompany her just for the purpose of having her eat Kosher. However, if you feel that by doing so, it will contribute to her eventually becoming frum, it would be good to keep going with her as the reward for facilitating someone's becoming frum is boundless!
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
