By: Rabbi Doniel Neustadt
QUESTION: For those who began observing the sefirah restrictions on the second night of Pesach, is there any special dispensation to take a haircut or a shave on Rosh Chodesh Iyar when it falls on a Friday [and Shabbos] – as it does this year?
DISCUSSSION: Mishnah Berurah,(1) followed by almost all of the poskim,(2) rules that when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on a Friday, it is permitted to take a haircut or a shave that Friday, even for those who are already in the midst of the sefirah mourning restrictions. This exception (which is for haircut and shaving only – not for other sefirah restrictions such as listening to music) is permitted in honor of the double occasion of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh.(3)
Mishnah Berurah, however, does not clearly address whether or not this also applies to those who follow the special restriction recorded in the Will and Testament of Rabbi Yehudah Hachasid never to take a haircut or a shave on any Rosh Chodesh throughout the year, even if Rosh Chodesh falls on Friday.(4) Other poskim, however, do discuss this issue directly: Some hold that Rosh Chodesh Iyar is an exception and permit taking a haircut or a shave on Friday, Rosh Chodesh Iyar;(5) others maintain that Rosh Chodesh Iyar is not an exception and is no different from any other Rosh Chodesh;(6) while a third opinion suggests that one should take a haircut or a shave on Thursday afternoon after chatzos.(7) One should consult his rav as to which opinion to follow.
Torah.org
1 O.C. 493:5.
2 A dissenting view is quoted by Kaf ha-Chayim 493:42.
3 If, for some reason, one will be unable to take a haircut or shave on Friday, it is permitted to do so on Thursday night.
4 As quoted by Mishnah Berurah 260:7.
5 Harav M. Feinstein (quoted in L’Torah V’horahah, vol. 2, pg. 20); Harav Y. Kamenetsky (Emes L’yaakov O.C. 260:1). Note, however, that even according to this opinion, only those who are already observing the sefirah restrictions may be lenient on Rosh Chodesh. Those who customarily begin sefirah restrictions on Rosh Chodesh should do so this year as well and take their haircut and shave on Thursday.
6 Harav Y. Y. Kanievsky (quoted in by Harav C. Kanievsky in Bein Pesach L’shavuos, pg. 246.)
7 Kaf ha-Chayim 493:47, quoting several poskim.
https://torah.org/torah-portion/weekly-halacha-5766-tazria/
The Will and Testament of Rabbi Yehudah Hachasid was written for his direct family. It has nothing to do with anyone else.
ReplyDeleteSome of it. But this hanahga happens to be brought in the Mishna Berura. And many people have this minhag.
DeleteRabbi Neustadt Shlit'a
ReplyDeleteWhat the story with masks on shabbos?
Karmelis ? Reshus Haorabim? and in this situation today?
Please reply sooner then later since its L'mayseh.
Thanks
call the Rav at home
Delete(MB Does not address R' Yehuda Hachasid at all when it comes to shaving this week..) R' Moshe's reason is - since you were not able to take a haircut prior to Rosh chodesh so it doesn't apply - acc. to his reasoning it would make sense to only allow those keeping the first half. Dirshu Brings down from R' Elyashiv who also said it is mutar to take a haircut (R Yehuda Hachasid) for a different reason which may apply even to those keeping second half.
ReplyDeleteThe "sefira restrictions" are a sort of aveilus and don't technically start "on the second day of pesach", as they wouldn't apply to chol hamoed. Everybody listens to music chol hamoed, even those who hold of the first period. It just happens that restrictions like haircuts and weddings are forbidden because of chol hamoed, but not because of 'aveilus' of sefira which would not be observed on chol hamoed.
ReplyDeleteOne must observe 32 days of ''availus". So either you start from the second day of Pesach until Lag Ba'omer, or you start on Rosh Chodesh and continue until Shloshess Yemai Hagbalah. Either way it is 32 days.
DeleteYou can listen to music etc. on Chol hamoed because it is Yom tov - not because it didn't start...
DeleteThe Lakewood Rosh yeshiva Rav Aharon !!!!!
DeleteHow can no one acknowledge his shitah?!
Rav Aharon was ALWAYS makpid on this R’ Yehuda hachasid.
The oilam hatorah In Lakewood is oilam hatorah of America. Period.
Other shitos shouldn’t have even been mentioned here.
I think it’s Pashut.
I`m not sure why Chol HaMoed is mutar in music for those who keep sefira . It would seem that it`s more or less like Yud Beis Chodesh of R"L aveilus
DeleteI dont think aveilim listen to music during Chol HaMoed
If anyone has a decent mareh makon please post
Did Rav Ahron ever tell anyone to be makpid on Rav Yehuda HaChosid ?
Oilam haTorah is not one uniform minhag
Rav Ahron put tefillin on Chol HaMoed does that mean we all need to start doing that ?
Other shitos shouldn’t have been mentioned? Why not? First of all this is not exclusive to Lakewood, second Lakewood is a big city where BMG is not even close to the majority anymore so there is no reason to only mention R Aaron’s shita.
ReplyDeleteIt’s actually 33 days of aveilus not 32. Day 33 you have miktzas hayom which is why the mishna brura says not to listen to music or get a haircut lag baomer at night.
ReplyDeleteAbe,exactly. My point the chol hanoed is not part of "aveilus"of sefira, though it's included in on the count of 33.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the source that you are using to exclude Chol HaMoed from the aveilus of sefira
ReplyDeleteAn avel rl even during chol hamoed may not listen to music