# 3673 Do I Really Count?
Dear Rabbi I would like to know the following Shaila. I usually daven Maariv in a shul that has many Minyanim one after another. I daven after Tzeis (nightfall) and then count Sefirah.
If I came late and practically missed Maariv, but I can still count Sefirah with everyone. Since I’m going to stay anyway for the next Minyan, should I count Sefirah now before Maariv, since we say that a mitzva that becomes available should not be postponed, or should I daven first Maariv as usual and then count Sefirah?
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that you should daven first Maariv and then count, since Maariv includes the Shema which is a Biblical mitzva as opposed to Sefirah and is also ’Todir’ or more constant and usual and therefore takes precedence.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a
Answered by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Published: April 29, 2022