Eating Before Counting the Omer

Question: I read that one must not eat before counting the omer. Does it make a difference whether I daven maariv early or late?

Answer: The Rema (OC 489:4) states that once it is time to count the omer one must refrain from eating until they have counted. There is a machlokes as to when exactly this restriction begins. The Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 489:17) writes that one must not eat from a half-hour before shekia, while the Mishna Berura (489:23) allows eating until a half-hour before nacht (see Shaar Hatzion 489:29).

Similarly, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 235:2) advises that one should not start eating half an hour before the time to daven maariv, as they may become preoccupied and forget to recite the shema.

However, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 232:16) notes that someone who regularly davens maariv in shul is permitted to eat beforehand because they are unlikely to forget to recite the shema. Likewise, the Mishna Berura (235:18) states that one who wants to eat may do so if they ask someone else to remind them. R’ Avraham Yeshaya Pfoifer (Ishei Yisrael 27:19) suggests that setting an alarm serves the same purpose.

R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 4:99) and R’ Binyamin Zilber (Az Nidberu 6:52) write that there is no need to be stricter about counting the omer than about eating before davening maariv. Therefore, someone who regularly davens maariv after nacht may eat supper beforehand without worrying about forgetting to recite shema. Similarly, since it is customary to count the omer after maariv, one may eat before davening and counting (see Rivevos Ephraim 2:129:28).

In conclusion, one who regularly davens maariv after nacht can eat beforehand. Those who either daven earlier or are davening later than usual should set an alarm as a reminder or take a similar precaution before sitting down to eat.