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In the summer on flights from the US to Europe and Israel (when flying north through Greenland), there are situations where one cannot say arvit (the evening's prayer) because it never becomes night outside. One goes straight from evening to morning and the sun never sets.

In such a situation what are the rules regarding counting the Omer with a bracha (blessing) in the morning?

  • Can one count with a bracha because it is the first opportunity one has to do so and since one didn't forget?
  • Or should one not say the bracha because one lost the opportunity to do so even if through no fault of his own?

Are there sources addressing the issue directly?

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    While I appreciate and identify with fighting for the opportunity to recite a berakhah, one could always recite Sefirat Ha'Omer without a berakhah and nevertheless fulfill his obligation since berakhot e'inan me'akevot.
    – Lee
    May 23, 2016 at 7:19
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    I don't understand why "first opportunity" and "one didn't forget (!)" are relevant to whether or not the Mitzva only applies at night.
    – Double AA
    May 23, 2016 at 7:25
  • Since the sun never setting has myriad practical implications, perhaps there should be one master question/answer summarizing how the poseqim relate to such a reality.
    – Lee
    May 23, 2016 at 8:19
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    @DoubleAA if the bracha applies (1) at the first opportunity one has to count and/or (2) if one didn't forget, then one could say the bracha in the morning. If the bracha applies only at night, then one couldn't. I am not clear on the rules here and am asking for them
    – mbloch
    May 23, 2016 at 8:34
  • @Lee yes that would be my default behavior indeed (count in the morning without a bracha) if I couldn't find sources allowing to count with a bracha
    – mbloch
    May 23, 2016 at 8:35

1 Answer 1

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BeDi'Avad if one recited Sefirat Ha'Omer with a berakhah during Be'in HaShemashot, he fulfilled his obligation (Mishnah Berurah, Siman 489, s.q. 15 in the name of "Magen Avraham and other aḥaronim").

Since there may still well be broad daylight during this time, perhaps one can rely on this opinion while travelling in a part of the world where the sun never sets.

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  • Can't one fulfill the obligation BeDiAvad without even saying a Berachah?
    – user9907
    May 23, 2016 at 11:06
  • @ephraimhelfgot One can, technically, fulfill any obligation without reciting a berakhah. I don't understand the question.
    – Lee
    May 23, 2016 at 12:01
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    @Lee His point is Bedieved doesn't prove anything about if the blessing should have been said.
    – Double AA
    May 23, 2016 at 13:13
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    @DoubleAA I agree with your and ephraim's logic after having reconsidered my answer. Is it more proper to delete the answer or leave it be for future reference?
    – Lee
    May 23, 2016 at 15:25

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