DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 574 KB)
Praying for the Bet Hamikdash After Counting the Omer

The Sha’ar Hakavanot (collection of Kabbalistic teachings) writes that after one counts the Omer – meaning, after reciting the Beracha and then counting that day’s number – one should offer a prayer for the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash. The text of this prayer is, "Harahaman Hu Yahazir Abodat Bet Hamikdash Limkomah Bimhera Beyamenu Amen" ("The Merciful One shall restore the service of the Temple to its place, speedily and in our days, Amen").

The reason for this practice is that according to most Halachic authorities, the Misva of counting the Omer applies nowadays Mi’de’rabbanan – by force of Rabbinic enactment – as opposed to Torah law. The Torah obligation of Sefirat Ha’omer applied only in the times of the Bet Hamikdash, when we offered the special Omer sacrifice, whereas nowadays, in the absence of Bet Hamikdash, when we cannot bring this offering, our counting is only commemorative. Therefore, after we count the Omer each night, we pray to God to rebuild the Bet Hamikdash so we can offer the Korban Ha’omer, and then we will be able to count in fulfillment of the actual Misva. And even according to those authorities (such as the Rambam) who maintained that Sefirat Ha’omer is required by Torah law nowadays, we offer a prayer that the Temple will be rebuilt so we can offer the Korban Ha’omer.

This also answers the question addressed by the Halachic authorities as to why we do not recite the Beracha of "Shehehiyanu" the first time we count the Omer each year. As we know, whenever we perform a Misva that presents itself on infrequent occasions, we recite the Beracha of "Shehehiyanu." Seemingly, this should apply to Sefirat Ha’omer, as well, yet Halacha does not require reciting this Beracha before the counting of the Omer. The reason is that when we count the Omer, we are mindful of the fact that we count only as a commemoration of the actual Misva, which we cannot fulfill in its true form due to the absence of the Bet Hamikdash. The counting of the Omer thus evokes a degree of sorrow, and does not warrant the recitation of the festive "Shehehiyanu" blessing.

Summary: It is customary to recite immediately after Sefirat Ha’omer a brief prayer for the rebuilding of the Bet Hamikdash: "Harahaman Hu Yahazir Abodat Bet Hamikdash Limkomah Bimhera Beyamenu Amen."

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Passover- The Proper Procedures for ERUV TAVSHILIN When Yom Tov Is On Thursday and Friday
Pesah- When & How To Conduct Bedikat Hames
The Pesah Seder – Using a Seder Plate, Kissing the Masa, the Procedure For Pouring Out Wine While Listing the Ten Plagues
Laws and Customs of the Seder
The Significance of Shabbat Hagadol
Pesah – Eating “Gebrukst” (Masa with liquid), and the Requirement of “Masa Shemura”
Pesah – Making a Thorough Search Even Though the House Was Already Cleaned
Pesah – Explaining the Requirements of Bittul Hametz and Bedikat Hametz
Pesah: Bananas, Quinoa and Mustard
Do Tablets, Cosmetics, Soaps, Shampoos and Detergents Require “Kosher for Pesah” Certification?
Pesah- The Procedure for Kashering Stove Grates, Oven Racks, Blechs, and Tablecloths
Pesah- Koshering Cookware in Preparation for Pesah
Pesah- Baby Bottles, Barbeques, Birkat Ha’mazon Cards, Cookbooks, Microwaves, Nutcrackers and Salt Shakers
Pesah- Koshering Garlic Presses, Highchairs and Kitchen Counters
Pesah- Koshering the Dishwasher, Oven, Tables, Countertops, Microwave, Stovetop, and Sink
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found