6037 – Finger counting, Really? -
Q. See question above. I have seen people count with their fingers the Thirteen Middos, when reciting them. Is that correct or even needed?
A. Ben Ish Chai, Ki Tisa 1:4 writes that one should count the Thirteen Middos with his fingers. However, Chacham Ovadia Yosef writes in Halichot Olam, vol. 1, p. 242; Maor Yisrael, vol. 1, Rosh Hashanah 18b, p. 185; and Chazon Ovadia, Yamim Nora’im, p. 33, 7 that one should not do so since it is unclear which words are counted as a separate middah.
See also Yalkut Yosef, Yamim Nora’im, p. 45, 27; Halachah Berurah, vol. 7, 131:8; Rambam, Responsa, Pe’er HaDor, siman 90, in the footnotes; and Orchot Maran, vol. 1, p. 360. Some people indeed have the custom to count the Thirteen Middot with their fingers. However, since Poskim dispute over which of the words refer to which attribute, it is preferable not to count them.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by, Horav Yaakov Hirschman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit’a
Answered by: Hagaon Rav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
Published: August 8, 2026