6298 —ספירת העומר בעת חציית קו התאריך הבינלאומי

Shalom u'Vrachah! [Days of Sefirah 5718]

1) Regarding the future — he should hear from someone else. 2) He should count according to what he began (which in my opinion is his primary obligation), and for extra assurance also as they count here, but with a break between them and not consecutively (since doing so would appear as if reading, and also because this contradicts the idea of counting — which is clarification, not doubt; therefore it is questionable whether he could recite a blessing even if he counted both 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 for him one day earlier (Shabbos and Sunday).

^[1] Printed in Likkutei Sichos vol. 7 p. 295, and it is an answer to someone who traveled during Sefirah days from Australia to the USA via the International Date Line. On the first night after his arrival he recited a 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 recited a blessing and counted only as they do in the USA. He asks if this is correct. See also below letter 6,315, and those referenced in its notes.

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that when crossing the International Date Line during Sefiras HaOmer, one should maintain their original count while also considering local practice for extra caution, but always with separation between counts. Rabbinic guidance is advised for determining Shavuos.