Q. A daily shiur is given by a woman for other women. At the end of the shiur they count Sefirah. Since some of the women are no counting with a bracha anymore, can the woman leading the shiur say the bracha for all?
A. On question 3165 regarding if it is proper for a group of women that meets every night for a short zoom shiur on Lashon Harah, and then they count Sefira at the end with a bracha, we wrote: “Mishna Berura (489: 3) writes that women are exempt from the mitzva of counting the Omer as it is time dependent. However he adds, that Magen Avrohom maintains that they have accepted this mitzva as an obligation, but mentions that it is not apparently the common tradition in our communities.
He further quotes Shulchan Shleima and others, that women should avoid reciting the brocho as it is likely they will forget counting and completing the mitzva. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that when reminded properly women can count with a brocho.
Minchas Chinuch (306) mentions From Zohar and the writings of the Arizal, that women should avoid counting at all.
On question 773 we mentioned: “However women who follow Ashkenazi traditions do recite brochos on mitzvos they are exempt (Rabenu Tam, Remah – Shulchan Aruch O.H. 587: 6.) Although, Pri Megadim maintains that this applies only to mitzvos were an action is involved as Lulav and Shofar and not verbal mitzvos like Sefira, many Poskim disagree.
It should also be noted that Ramban’s (Kidushin 34) position is that Sefirat Haomer is not a time sensitive mitzvah since it is part and parcel of the Yom Tov of Shavuos or depends on Pesach. (See question 774)
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that women who desire to comply with this mitzvah and are steadfast in its constancy, can do so and with a brocho. (See similar opinions quoted from Horav Eliashuv zt’l in Hilchos Chag Bechag and Horav Ch. Kanievsky Shlit”a in Dole Umashke and Piskey Shemuos p. 16)
See question above about how in our days it is easy to be reminded by the cell phones etc. to do the counting. They would have to be reminded to count on Friday night also.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that when reminded properly they can count with a brocho.”
In our case the Rov maintains that a woman can make a Brocho for others. (See Nitei Gavriel Pesach 3: 30: 18, that seems to disagree)
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a