Brocha After Counting

Question

I recently made a mistake while counting Sefiras Ha’omer and would like to check if I acted properly. I counted Sefirah and then immediately realized that I had not recited a brocha, so I made one right away. Did I act properly?

Thank you.

Rav Auerbach 

Your question is a dispute amongst the poskim. The general practice is that brachos are recited oiver la’asiyoson, before performing a mitzvah. The reason is that before performing a mitzvah with our bodies, we make a blessing with our nefesh (see Ritva, Pesachim 7b). This is the reason we make the brocha before counting Sefirah.

If a person performed a mitzvah without reciting a brocha, may he recite the brocha afterwards? Some Rishonim understand that even if one did not recite the brocha oiver la’asiyoson, he may still recite it afterwards (Ohr Zora and Hagahos Ashri). In this vein, the Rama rules that a person may shecht and recite the brocha afterwards (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 19:1).

The Rambam rules that a brocha on a mitzvah may only be recited oiver la’asiyoson and not afterwards. Therefore, if one performed a mitzvah without reciting a brocha, he may not make it afterwards. The Shach follows this ruling (Yoreh Deah 19:3).

One major example of this halacha applies to the brocha of netilas yodayim. In some communities, the custom was to perform netilas yodayim at home and make the brocha in shul (Shulchan Aruch 2:6). Some poskim bring this minhag as proof that one does not need oiver la’asiyoson with brachos (Sefer Birkas Avrohom of Rav Avrohom Travis, cited by Shach ibid.).

However, the proof of the Birkas Avraham can be refuted, for one may not recite the brocha of netilas yodayim beforehand, since his hands are not clean. It is similar to the case of tevilah, where the brocha is always recited afterwards.

Therefore, as far as halacha lemaaseh in a case of safeik brachos, one must consider the opinion of the Shach, and generally may not recite the beracha afterwards. However in your case,if you remembered toich kedei dibbur (within 2-3 seconds, the time it takes to say "Shalom Alecha Rebbe") of the counting, you should recite the brocha after counting Sefirah (see also Pri Chodosh).