Q. When lighting the Yom Tov candles on the first night of Shavuoth do I have to wait till nightfall if I didn't count sefirah?
A. Piskey Teshuvos (O.H. 494, 4) rules that women should wait to light candles on the eve of Shavuos until nightfall since they recite the brocho of shecheyanu which is similar to kiddush and they accept at that time the sanctity of the day. The fact that no sefirah was counted is of no consequence; you still have to keep the seven complete weeks. A man that missed counting would also wait with Kiddush until night.
Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a disagrees in principle and mentions that the common custom is for women to light candles earlier as in every other Yom Tov (as it is recorded on most calendars). Men should also observe and accept toseffes Yom Tov before sunset. This does not contradict the compliance of keeping the seven complete weeks as the total Kedushas Yom Tov, is received only when reciting Kiddush at night.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
