Sefirat HaOmer: Difference between revisions

==When to count Sefira==

# According to most poskim, it is correct to wait until Tzet Hakochavim in order to count [[sefirat haomer]]; however, one fulfills his obligation by counting after sunset. <Ref>  

* Bet Yosef 489:1 quotes this dispute, and his ruling in S”A is unclear. Mishna Brurah 489:14 understands that S”A holds that the halacha follows Tosfot but that it is proper to wait until Tzet Hakochavim. Chazon Ovadyah (p. 232) agrees.

# If one is praying in a [[minyan]] that finishes [[maariv]] after sunset and one wants to count after Tzet Hakochavim, he should count then without a Bracha and mentally stipulate, "if I don't remember to count with a bracha then this counting should fulfill my obligation, however, if I remember later then I have intent not to fulfill my obligation with this counting." If one in fact remembers, he should count after Tzet Hakochavim with a Bracha. <ref>

* Mishna Brurah 489:17 writes that if one wants to count after Tzet Hakochavim, he should count with the [[minyan]] without a Bracha and have in mind that if he remembers later to count with a Bracha, this original counting shouldn’t fulfill his obligation. Hagahot Rabbi Akiva Eiger 46:16 and Aruch HaShulchan 489:8 agree. Chazon Ovadyah ([[Yom Tov]] p. 233-4) adds that the stipulation should be "if I don't remember to count with a bracha then this counting should fulfill my obligation, however, if I remember later then I have intent not to fulfill my obligation with this counting." However, the Taz writes that making such a condition doesn’t work.

* See, however, the Levush 489:3, who explains that the case is where the [[minyan]] finished before sunset, and the reason they counted was for Amei HaAretz who wouldn’t count later at night. </ref>

# If one forgot to count the Omer an entire night and day one should continue to count without a Bracha. <Ref> S"A 489:8, Yabia Omer 3:28. Mishna Brurah 489:36-37 explains that we continue counting to satisfy the opinions that say that you can, but don't say a beracha because of the opinions that you cannot, namely the Behag quoted by Tosafot Menachot 66a "zecher" that if you miss one night you can't count any longer because to fulfill the mitzva you need seven full weeks. Tosafot themselves disagree and say you can continue counting, as does Rabbeinu Yitzchak quoted in the Rosh Pesachim 10:41 because the Behag believes that the mitzva is only one long mitzva. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik quoted by Rav Herschel Schachter in Eretz Hatzvi 3:6-7 explains the behag not as saying that you need seven full weeks, but that you need the 49 consecutive days, and that is why the halacha is that if you count during the day even if you missed it the night before, you can continue through the rest of sefira with a beracha because you accomplished this obligation of consecutive nights. Sh"t Beit Halevi 1:39 says that since there is a mitzva to count days and weeks, if somebody misses a night in the middle of the week, he can count with a beracha on the nights that complete the week. Shearim mitzuyanim Bihalacha 120:4 says that nowadays when people miss a night they think they are exempt, and that is not what the S"A intended by saying that one should count without a beracha, and therefore, nowadays one should continue counting with a beracha. </ref>

# If one is unsure whether one missed an entire day one should continue to count with a Bracha. <ref> S"A 489:8 </ref>

# If a person counted in a self-contradictory manner, like saying the correct number of days but wrong number of weeks or vice versa and he didn't fix it by the next night, he can only continue to count without a beracha. <ref> [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=563 Rabbi Eli Mansour Dailyhalacha] </ref>

# If someone asks "What day of the Omer is it?" if one hasn't fulfilled one's obligation yet, one should answer that "yesterday was such and such" rather than answering "today is such and such in the Omer" because if one were to do so, then one would fulfill one's obligation without having made the Bracha (and wouldn't be allowed to then say the Bracha). <ref>S"A 489:4 </ref>

# If it's before [[Shekiah]] then one may answer the day in the Omer in a straightforward manner and still say that night's Omer with a Bracha. <ref> S"A 489:4 </ref>However, because of a minority opinion that one fulfills one's obligation by counting after Plag [[Mincha]], even before [[Shekiyah]], one should be careful not to answer in a straightforward manner but rather say "yesterday was such and such".<ref>Kaf HaChaim 489:52 quoting S"A 489:15</ref>

# Some say that if a person answered the number in abbreviation (such as Lag for 33 or Dalet for 4) one has not fulfilled one’s obligation and one should repeat counting the Sefirah with a Bracha. <Ref> Sh"t Maharash HaLevi Siman 5 </ref> while others hold that one fulfills one's obligation with an abbreviation and one should not repeat the Omer with a Bracha. <ref> Knesset HaGedolah on Bet Yosef 489 s.v. VaAni </ref>

# If a person made the Bracha and then said the number in abbreviation one shouldn’t repeat the counting with a Bracha (since he clearly intended to fulfill his obligation and there is some significance to an abbreviation.)<Ref> Sh"t Maharash HaLevi Siman 5 </ref>

==Prohibited practices during the Sefirat HaOmer==

The practice is to observe certain practices of [[mourning]] during the Sefirah because the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died during this time. <ref> Tur and Shulchan Aruch 493:1 based on gemara in Yevamot 62b. </ref> There’s three basic minhagim about the [[mourning]] period between [[Pesach]] and [[Shavuot]]:

# A second practice is to mourn from the beginning of the Omer until the 33rd day in the morning. This practice is followed by most Ashkenazim. <Ref>The source for this minhag is the Rama 493:2 who holds that the students of Rabbi Akiva stopped dying on the 33rd day of the Omer and by the principle of Miksat HaYom KeKulo (a minority of the day is considered like a whole day) one may stop [[mourning]] on the morning of the 33rd. This is the explanation of the Biur HaGra 493:9 s.v. UMarbim, and the practice of Ashkenazim as recorded by [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thehalacha.com%2Fattach%2FVolume5%2FIssue8.pdf Halachically Speaking] (Volume 3, Issue 8, page 3).

This is explained clearly in Beiur Halacha 493 s.v. Yesh Nohagim and [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/714562/Rabbi_Josh_Flug/The_Mourning_Period_Of_Sefirat_Ha'omer Rabbi Flug's article on Sefirat HaOmer]. </ref>  

## Some observe this practice by [[mourning]] from after [[Issru Chag]] until [[Rosh Chodesh]] Sivan excluding the two days of [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar and [[Lag BaOmer]].  <Ref>Mishna Brurah 489:15 quoting the Siddur Derech Chaim </ref>

## Some observe this practice by [[mourning]] all the days of the Omer expect for [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar and Sivan. <Ref> Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:159 explains that the reason for this minhag is that it holds that the students of Rabbi Akiva died on all the days between [[Pesach]] and [[Shavuot]] except for the 16 days when one can not say [[Tachanun]] (7 days of [[Pesach]], 6 [[Shabbat]]ot, 3 days of [[Rosh Chodesh]]) and so the minhag forbids getting married and cutting hair the entire Sefira except for [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar and Sivan (and [[Pesach]] and [[Shabbat]] are already forbidden to get married). </ref>

# It is permitted for a wife to observe her family’s [[mourning]] period, as long as her husband does not object. <ref> Rav Doniel Neustadt [[Daily Halacha]] Discussion page 219 </ref>  

===Getting Married===

* Bet Yosef 493:3 writes that those who cut their hair on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar because they consider it a [[Yom Tov]] are mistaken because the minhag is not to cut their hair on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar. He adds that they may have mistakenly thought it was permitted based on another minhag which would mourn another 33 days during the sefira. Similarly, Mishna Brurah 493:14 summarizes that according to those who don’t cut their hair the first 33 days of the Sefira, it would be contradictory to shave on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar.

* However, the Radvaz 2:687 permits cutting one’s hair on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar if not cutting one’s hair causes one’s pain based on the halacha that one who is pain is exempt from the mitzvah of [[Sukkah]]. Sh”t Chazon Ovadyah (vol 1, pg 55) clarifies that although the halacha of [[Sukkah]] is based on Teshvu Kein Taduro, the Radvaz means that it’s logical that one can be lenient if it’s bothersome since sefira is only a minhag. Chida in Yosef Ometz 40:2 and Kaf HaChaim 493:40 write that some rely on this Radvaz. Similarly, Rav Ovadyah in Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 431) and Chazon Ovadyah (pg 262) writes that one should be careful not to shave during sefira and if it’s difficult not to shave, one may shave on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar.  

# Many authorities hold that one may not shave on Friday for [[Kavod Shabbat]]. If a person is in great pain from not [[shaving]], some say one may shave.<ref>

* It also seems evident from the Bach and Mishna Brurah (see previous footnote) that one may not cut one’s hair because of [[Kavod Shabbat]] alone. Thus, Rav Shlomo Zalman (cited by Shalmei Moed pg 449-450) and Rav Yacov Kamenetsky (Emet L’Yaakov 493 note 467) hold that one may not shave in the sefira for [[Kavod Shabbat]].

* However, Rav Lichtenstein (vbm.org) ruled that not only is it permitted but an obligation to shave for [[kavod Shabbat]] during sefira just like [[Kavod Shabbat]] theoretically overrides the [[nine days]] (see Mishna Brurah 551:32). Similarly, Rav Ovadyah in Chazon Ovadyah ([[Yom Tov]] pg 262) and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 431) writes that if one is in great pain one may shave every Friday.</ref>

# Many authorities permit [[shaving]] if not [[shaving]] will cause one a loss of income; however, each case should be judged individually. <ref>

* Rav Moshe in Igrot Moshe 4:102 rules that if one will lose money by not [[shaving]], one may shave during sefira, because the minhag never applied in a case of monetary loss. In 5:24(9), he explains his position and says that only a person who is concerned about losing his income for the duration of the sefira is permitted to shave. If, however, he can simply borrow money and then repay it with later income, this leniency wouldn’t apply. See Maadanei Shlomo (p. 54) who quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman as also being lenient.

# It is permitted to redecorate or paint one's home. <ref> Yechave Daat 3:30, Tzitz Eliezer 11:41. Piskei Teshuvot 493:1 quotes several poskim who bring this minhag as well. </ref>

===Listening to music===

# It is forbidden to listen to music during the Sefira <ref> Iggerot Moshe OC 1:166, 2:137, Minhag Yisrael Torah 493:8, Aruch Hashulchan 493:2, Yechave Daat 3:30 based on a Magen Avraham that prohibits dancing during sefira because the two come together. Rav Mordechai Willig quoted in http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/735746/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Music_During_Sefira says that music is not necessarily forbidden, the prohition was only placed on things that lead to excessibe joy, which music doesn't necessarily accomplish. </ref> Some poskim say that even if it's not live music, <ref> Az Nidberu 8:58, Iggerot Moshe OC 1:167, Tzitz Eliezer 15:33, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 434, Maamar Mordechai of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu [[Sefirat Haomer]] #40.  Chelkat Yaakov 1:62 argues that a device which didn't exist at the time of the decree cannot be included. In his article at  [[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/735746/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Music_During_Sefira]] Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz says that this argument can only be made for music in general, but during sefira this would not apply because there was never a formal ban placed on  music specifically during sefira. See http://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Listening_to_Music for the discussion about music during the year. </ref> and this practice should be kept until at least the 34th of the Omer.  <ref> Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 434), Maamer Mordechai of Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (Sefirat HaOmer #40),  </ref> Some poskim even prohibit listening to a Capella music. <ref> [[Shevet Halevi]] 8:127, Salmat Chaim 4:21. see http://matzav.com/p%E2%80%99sak-from-rav-yisroel-belsky-and-rav-shlomo-miller-on-acappella-music-during-sefirah-2 that Rav Yisrael Belsky and Rav Shlomo Miller differentiate between different types of a cappella, only permitting choirs which simply sound like a group of people singing and nothing more. Rav Binyamin Silber in Az Nidberu 8:58 discussing music during the year says that a recorded voice is considered like an instrument. </ref>

# If not listening to recorded music will result in depression, even the stringent authorities would permit it. <ref> Hilchot Chag B’chag p.63, Halichot Shlomo, Moadim 2:11:14. </ref>

# If one is reliant on playing live music to make an income, he is permitted to. <ref> Iggerot Moshe OC 3:87. </ref>

==Sources==

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