6298 —ספירת העומר בעת חציית קו התאריך הבינלאומי

Shalom u'Vrachah! [Days of Sefirah 5718] 1) Regarding what is to come, he should listen to others. 2) He should count according to what he began (which in my opinion is his main count), and additionally, also as they count here, but with a pause between them and not consecutively (as it would appear as if he is reading, and also because this is contrary to the idea of Sefirah, which is clarification and not doubt; therefore, it is questionable whether he could recite a blessing even if he counted two counts every day). He should ask rabbis for a halachic ruling regarding Shavuos, because according to the above, Shavuos (which is determined only by each individual's counting and not by Beis Din) should be one day earlier for him (Shabbos and Sunday).

V'Rachatz was printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 7 p. 295, and this is an answer to someone who traveled during Sefirah days from Australia to the USA via the International Date Line. On his first night upon arrival, he recited the blessing and counted as they do in the USA (even though he had already counted that Sefirah), and after a pause also counted as they do in Australia. From the second night onward, he blessed and counted only as they do in the USA. He asks if this is correct. See also below letter no. 6115 and those referenced in its notes.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that when crossing time zones during Sefirah, one should maintain consistency with their original count while also respecting local practice—with separation—and consult rabbinic authority for festival observance.