Sefiras HaOmer - Before Eating

QUESTION: Shulchan Aruch writes that one may not begin a meal until one counts Sefiras HaOmer. When does this prohibition begin?

ANSWER: Mishnah Berurah (489:23) writes that beginning 30 minutes before Tzeis Hakochavim (nightfall), one may not begin a meal until counting Sefira, even if they have already davened ma’ariv. One who considers nightfall to begin 50 minutes after sunset must not begin a meal once it is 20 minutes after sunset. However, if one started the meal before this time, they may continue eating. If one wishes to begin a meal during this time, they can appoint a guardian to remind them. However, the guardian must be someone who is not involved in the meal, or else he too might be distracted.

With regard to whether one may set an alarm to allow eating before counting Sefira, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Rav Elyashiv and Rav Shmuel Wosner were of the opinion that it helps. Whereas Rav Nissin Karelitz maintained that since an alarm merely rings and does not explicitly remind him what to do, it does not help (See Dirshu Mishnah Berurah 235:18, f.n. 33).

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