Q. Dearest Rov Shlit’a . At this time of the year many of us daven an early Mincha and Maariv. How early can one already count Sefira?
A. It depends on the town you are in. On question 4947 regarding Toronto we wrote:
Q. I daven in an early minyan of Mincha and Maariv. It is very likely as it happened to me many times and to others, that if I don’t count then sefira I will forget later on, When is the earliest one can count sefira in our town?
A. On question 3139 we wrote:
“Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a informed us that Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is (the Rov is out of town), that in need one may recite sefira (in Toronto at the beginning of Sefira) forty minutes after the Shekia (and on great need even thirty five minutes).
Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a mentioned that Horav Eliashiv Zt’l paskened that in Toronto you can count lechatchilla at 30 minutes.
Important Numbers
