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Sefirat HaOmer: Difference between revisions

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===Shaving===
===Shaving===
# Included in the minhag not to take hair cuts is not to shave. <ref> Tur 493 says that some have the custom "lo lihistaper." Masekhet Semachot (7:11) in regards to [[mourning]] writes that lihistaper means to cutting the hair of one's head, mustache, beard, and all other hair. Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] vol 3, 49:2) and Chazon Ovadyah (p. 262) write that including in the minhag not to take a hair cut is not to shave.</ref> Some authorities permitted someone who shaves daily after having waited 3 or 5 days of not [[shaving]] to shave during the Sefira. <ref> Rav Soloveitchik (cited by Rav Schachter in Nefesh HaRav pg 191-2) compared the Sefira to the 12 months of [[mourning]] in which a person who shaves daily may shave after waiting a few days. Rav Soloveitchik felt that this was the case because all customs have to be based on some opinion or patterned after another halacha. Therefore, he argues that the [[mourning]] of the Omer is parallel to the [[mourning]] during the year of [[mourning]] for a parent. Therefore since the halacha says that it is permissible to shave during the year once one's friends scold him to tell him that his hair is too long ("ad she-yig'aru bo chaveirav": Moed Katan 22b, Rambam Hilkhot Evel 6:3), it would be permissible during the omer also.
# Included in the minhag not to take hair cuts is not to shave. <ref> Tur 493 says that some have the custom "lo lihistaper." Masekhet Semachot (7:11) in regards to [[mourning]] writes that lihistaper means to cutting the hair of one's head, mustache, beard, and all other hair. Nitei Gavriel ([[Pesach]] vol 3, 49:2) and Chazon Ovadyah (p. 262) write that including in the minhag not to take a hair cut is not to shave.</ref> Some authorities permitted someone who shaves daily after having waited 3 or 5 days of not [[shaving]] to shave during the Sefira. <ref> Rav Soloveitchik (cited by Rav Schachter in Nefesh HaRav pg 191-2) compared the Sefira to the 12 months of [[mourning]] in which a person who shaves daily may shave after waiting a few days. Rav Soloveitchik felt that this was the case because all customs have to be based on some opinion or patterned after another halacha. Therefore, he argues that the [[mourning]] of the Omer is parallel to the [[mourning]] during the year of [[mourning]] for a parent. Therefore since the halacha says that it is permissible to shave during the year once one's friends scold him to tell him that his hair is too long ("ad she-yig'aru bo chaveirav": Moed Katan 22b, Rambam Hilkhot Evel 6:3), it would be permissible during the omer also.
Rav Schachter (“Halachos of [[Chol HaMoed]], min 67-70) clarified that not [[shaving]] for 3 or 5 days is sufficient. Rabbi Willig (“Hilchos [[Pesach]] and Sefira#1”, min 85-90) also quotes Rav Soloveitchik. Rav Aharon Lictenstein [http://vbm-torah.org/archive/halak65/24halak.htm vbm.org] says that it is even an obligation to shave for kavod [[shabbat]] on Friday incorporating Rav Soloveitchik's approach. </ref>  
* Rav Schachter ([http://www.yutorah.org/sidebar/lecture.cfm/733780/rabbi-hershel-schachter/hilchos-chol-hamoed/ “Hilchos Chol HaMoed”], min 67-70) clarified that not [[shaving]] for 3 or 5 days is sufficient. Rabbi Willig (“Hilchos [[Pesach]] and Sefira#1”, min 85-90) also quotes Rav Soloveitchik. Rav Aharon Lictenstein [http://vbm-torah.org/archive/halak65/24halak.htm vbm.org] says that it is even an obligation to shave for kavod [[shabbat]] on Friday incorporating Rav Soloveitchik's approach. </ref>  
# Many Sephardic authorities are lenient regarding shave on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar if it causes one pain not to shave, however, Ashekanzic authorities seem not to accept such a leniency.<ref>
# Many Sephardic authorities are lenient regarding shave on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar if it causes one pain not to shave, however, Ashekanzic authorities seem not to accept such a leniency.<ref>
* 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.
* The 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.  
* 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.  
* The Bach 493 quotes the Minhagim who says that it’s permitted to get married on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar if it falls out on [[Shabbat]] and explains that it’s based on the fact that there’s a combination of the [[kedusha]] of [[rosh chodesh]] and [[kedusha]] of [[Shabbat]] to override [[mourning]] of Sefira. Pri Megadim (E”A 493:2) clarifies that the Bach means getting married on Friday because it’s forbidden to get married on [[Shabbat]]. Regarding this Bach, the Pri [[Chadash]] 493:3 writes that the same is true for haircuts. Thus, Mishna Brurah 493:5 writes that if [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar falls out on [[Shabbat]] one may cut one’s hair on Friday. Kitzur S”A 120:6 and S”A HaRav 493:8 agree. It seems clear from the above achronim that [[Rosh Chodesh]] alone isn’t sufficient to permit cutting one’s hair. </ref>
* The Bach 493 quotes the Minhagim who says that it’s permitted to get married on [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar if it falls out on [[Shabbat]] and explains that it’s based on the fact that there’s a combination of the [[kedusha]] of [[rosh chodesh]] and [[kedusha]] of [[Shabbat]] to override [[mourning]] of Sefira. Pri Megadim (E”A 493:2) clarifies that the Bach means getting married on Friday because it’s forbidden to get married on [[Shabbat]]. Regarding this Bach, the Pri [[Chadash]] 493:3 writes that the same is true for haircuts. Thus, Mishna Brurah 493:5 writes that if [[Rosh Chodesh]] Iyar falls out on [[Shabbat]] one may cut one’s hair on Friday. Kitzur S”A 120:6 and S”A HaRav 493:8 agree. It seems clear from the above achronim that [[Rosh Chodesh]] alone isn’t sufficient to permit cutting one’s hair. </ref>