Counting the Omer — Sefirat HaOmer
Today's Omer count, calculated automatically from the Hebrew calendar. Wednesday, October 7, 2026
The Omer Is Not Counted Today
Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) takes place only during the 49-day period from the second night of Passover (16 Nissan) until Shavuot (6 Sivan). Today — October 7, 2026 — is outside that window.
The next Omer counting period begins on the second night of Passover. The count is calculated automatically from the Hebrew calendar each year, so this page will display the correct count the moment the period begins.
About Sefirat HaOmer
Counting the Omer (ספירת העומר) is a biblical commandment recorded in Leviticus 23:15–16: "You shall count for yourselves — from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving — seven weeks, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh week, you shall count fifty days." In Temple times, an omer (a sheaf of barley) was offered on 16 Nissan; today we fulfill the commandment by counting aloud each evening.
The 49 days link two foundational events: Passover — the physical redemption from Egyptian slavery — and Shavuot — the spiritual redemption of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. The period is also one of partial mourning in memory of Rabbi Akiva's students, with celebrations restricted until Lag BaOmer (the 33rd day).
Key Dates During the Omer
- Day 1 (16 Nissan): First night of counting; second night of Passover
- Day 33 (18 Iyar): Lag BaOmer — mourning customs are lifted; bonfires and celebrations
- Day 49 (5 Sivan): Final count; erev Shavuot
- Day 50 (6 Sivan): Shavuot — the counting is complete
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Counting the Omer?
Counting the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer) is a mitzvah to count 49 days from the second night of Passover (16 Nissan) until Shavuot (6 Sivan). The count connects the Exodus from Egypt to the giving of the Torah at Sinai.
When does the Omer count begin and end?
The Omer count begins on the night of the 16th of Nissan (the second night of Passover) and concludes after 49 days, on the night before Shavuot (the 6th of Sivan). The count is performed each evening after nightfall.
How is the Omer calculated?
The Omer day is calculated algorithmically from the Hebrew calendar: it equals the number of days elapsed since 16 Nissan. Day 1 is 16 Nissan, day 7 is the first complete week, day 49 is 5 Sivan (the night before Shavuot). The count only applies during this 49-day window.
Why do we count the Omer?
In Temple times, an omer (a measure of barley) was offered on the 16th of Nissan. The Torah commands counting seven full weeks (Leviticus 23:15–16). Today, the count connects Passover (freedom) to Shavuot (receiving the Torah), marking spiritual preparation from redemption to revelation.