Sefirat HaOmer: Difference between revisions
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==Who is obligated to count?== | ==Who is obligated to count?== | ||
# Women are exempt from counting since it’s a Mitzvah Aseh SheZman Grama. <Ref>Rambam (Temidin UMusafin 7:24, Sefer Hamitzvot #161) rules that women are exempt from counting Sefirah. This is brought in Bet Yosef 489:1 s.v. VeTzarich and is also the opinion of Magen Avraham 489:1 (who also quotes Zohar Titzaveh pg 319 to show women are exempt) and Mishna Brurah 489:3.<br> Interestingly, Ramban (Kiddushin 34a) holds that women are obligated ''because it is a Mitzvat Aseh She'ein HaZman Grama''. Many Acharonim grapple with this Ramban, as, seemingly, it's indeed time bound between Pesach and Shavuot. The Avnei Nezer (O.C. 384) postulates that since the Torah ties Sefirat HaOmer to the day after Yom Tov, and not Yom Tov itself, it's not really dependent on the 16th of Nissan, but the day before, and, therefore, SheHaZman Grama. In opposition, the Sridei Esh (vol. 2 Siman 116) argues that Zeman Grama means there is a specific interval of time in which one must fulfill the Mitzvah. Sefirat HaOmer isn't bound to a time interval, however, it itself is a time interval, in which we are obligated to acknowledge during each of its days. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchic (Nefesh HaRav pg. 191, see also MiPininei HaRav pg. 124) and the editors of the Rambam Frankel (Sefer HaMitzvot ibid.) felt it was just a copyist error, as none of the Ramban's major Talmidim who usually quote his opinions cite it. [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/854004/rabbi-hershel-schachter/sanhedrin-84-chazarah-6/ Rav Hershel Schachter] and [http://www.torahbase.org/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A8/ Rav Asher Weiss] point out how a recent discovery of the [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=49831&st=&pgnum=471&hilite= Sefer Imrei Shefer], Chiddushim of the son of the Maharam Chalawa, who was a Talmid of a Talmid of the Rashba, shed light on the matter. The son quotes his father, the Maharam Chalawah, who explains that Sefirah isn’t Zman Grama since the time doesn’t cause Sefirah, but the Korban HaOmer, just like Birkat HaMazon on Shabbat isn't Zeman Grama, as the Mitzvah of Seudat Shabbat is Gorem it. Rav Schachter felt that the Maharam Chalawah's explanation was most relevant, as it was coming from a Talmid from the same Beit Midrash who most probably had a masorah. For a more detailed discussion, see the above article by HaRav Asher Weiss, Biur Sefer HaMitzvot LeRav Saadia Gaon by Rav Yerucham Fischel Perlow (Mevo chapter 12, specifically s.v. veOmnam), and the essay by HaRav Shlomo Wahrman, Rosh Yeshiva of HANC, in [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=51478&st=&pgnum=360&hilite= Orot HaPesach], pg. 289. | # Women are exempt from counting since it’s a [[Mitzvah Aseh SheZman Grama]]. <Ref>Rambam (Temidin UMusafin 7:24, Sefer Hamitzvot #161) rules that women are exempt from counting Sefirah. This is brought in Bet Yosef 489:1 s.v. VeTzarich and is also the opinion of Magen Avraham 489:1 (who also quotes Zohar Titzaveh pg 319 to show women are exempt) and Mishna Brurah 489:3.<br> Interestingly, Ramban (Kiddushin 34a) holds that women are obligated ''because it is a Mitzvat Aseh She'ein HaZman Grama''. Many Acharonim grapple with this Ramban, as, seemingly, it's indeed time bound between Pesach and Shavuot. The Avnei Nezer (O.C. 384) postulates that since the Torah ties Sefirat HaOmer to the day after Yom Tov, and not Yom Tov itself, it's not really dependent on the 16th of Nissan, but the day before, and, therefore, SheHaZman Grama. In opposition, the Sridei Esh (vol. 2 Siman 116) argues that Zeman Grama means there is a specific interval of time in which one must fulfill the Mitzvah. Sefirat HaOmer isn't bound to a time interval, however, it itself is a time interval, in which we are obligated to acknowledge during each of its days. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchic (Nefesh HaRav pg. 191, see also MiPininei HaRav pg. 124) and the editors of the Rambam Frankel (Sefer HaMitzvot ibid.) felt it was just a copyist error, as none of the Ramban's major Talmidim who usually quote his opinions cite it. [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/854004/rabbi-hershel-schachter/sanhedrin-84-chazarah-6/ Rav Hershel Schachter] and [http://www.torahbase.org/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A8/ Rav Asher Weiss] point out how a recent discovery of the [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=49831&st=&pgnum=471&hilite= Sefer Imrei Shefer], Chiddushim of the son of the Maharam Chalawa, who was a Talmid of a Talmid of the Rashba, shed light on the matter. The son quotes his father, the Maharam Chalawah, who explains that Sefirah isn’t Zman Grama since the time doesn’t cause Sefirah, but the Korban HaOmer, just like Birkat HaMazon on Shabbat isn't Zeman Grama, as the Mitzvah of Seudat Shabbat is Gorem it. Rav Schachter felt that the Maharam Chalawah's explanation was most relevant, as it was coming from a Talmid from the same Beit Midrash who most probably had a masorah. For a more detailed discussion, see the above article by HaRav Asher Weiss, Biur Sefer HaMitzvot LeRav Saadia Gaon by Rav Yerucham Fischel Perlow (Mevo chapter 12, specifically s.v. veOmnam), and the essay by HaRav Shlomo Wahrman, Rosh Yeshiva of HANC, in [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=51478&st=&pgnum=360&hilite= Orot HaPesach], pg. 289. | ||
* Shulchan Shlomo 489:3 writes that women shouldn't count [[sefirat haomer]] with a bracha because they might forget to count one night and they won't know the halacha (that they're supposed to continue without a bracha). </ref> | * Shulchan Shlomo 489:3 writes that women shouldn't count [[sefirat haomer]] with a bracha because they might forget to count one night and they won't know the halacha (that they're supposed to continue without a bracha). </ref> | ||
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However, Minchat Yitzchak 4:84 disagrees and feels that one may not attend a wedding during their Sefira. <br> | However, Minchat Yitzchak 4:84 disagrees and feels that one may not attend a wedding during their Sefira. <br> | ||
Rav Shmuel Vosner (Piskei Shemuot pg. 58) says that one should just go to wish a Mazel Tov but not participate.</ref> However, one may still not shave in such a situation.<ref> Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe OC 2:95) writes that unless being unable to shave will prevent you from going, it is not permissible to shave. However, if he realized earlier that he would be attending a wedding, he could plan accordingly by changing his custom for just that year, as per the teshuva mentioned above (OC 1:159)</ref> | Rav Shmuel Vosner (Piskei Shemuot pg. 58) says that one should just go to wish a Mazel Tov but not participate.</ref> However, one may still not shave in such a situation.<ref> Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe OC 2:95) writes that unless being unable to shave will prevent you from going, it is not permissible to shave. However, if he realized earlier that he would be attending a wedding, he could plan accordingly by changing his custom for just that year, as per the teshuva mentioned above (OC 1:159)</ref> | ||
# One may have a wedding within the three days of Shavuot<ref>Yalkut Yosef - Shavuot, page 573 </ref> | |||
===Getting Engaged=== | ===Getting Engaged=== | ||
