Shaving On Friday When Lag Ba'omer Falls Out on Sunday

When Lag Ba'omer falls out on motzei Shabbos shaving permitted on Friday erev shabbos

(For reference only, contact your LOR for psak)

Since Lag B’Omer, this year falls on Sunday, May 26, 2024 (18 Iyar,5784) one is permitted to get a haircut and shave on Friday erev shabbos , May 24, in honor of shabbos, according to the Ra''ma. However, according to many, it is Assur to shave or take a haircut on Motzei Shabbos  (Rama"h in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 493:2)

This is also the view of Maharika”sh (Oholei Yaakov 98), quoted in Yabi’a Omer, (vol. 6, Orach Chaim 47). However, Kaf Hachaim (O.C. 493: note 32) writes that those who follow the opinion of the Mechaber and do not have a haircut until day 34 of the Omer, may not take a haircut until Monday (this year)

Some poskim debate if it is preferable to take a haircut after chatzos on Friday. (Halichos Snlomo Moadim 2 pg 364) Rav Boruch Mordechai Zilberberg posek in Bnei Brak wrote this year that he heard from Rav A. L Shteinman, that according to the Rama one can already take a haircut Thursday night.

The Levush says this is only in places where you wouldn't be able to get a haircut on Sunday because all the shops are closed for the Christian holiday. Perforce then we have to let you get it early.

See See Halachically Speaking Volume 3 Issue 16 page 5

When Lag B’omer falls out on Sunday (as it does this year) shaving etc is permitted on Friday because of kovod for Shabbos.64 

The reason why it is kovod for Shabbos is because by the mincha before Lag B’omer one does not say tachnun, so technically shaving would permitted on Shabbos, but since one can not do so, the allowance is pushed back to Friday.65 One may not shave etc. on Motzei Shabbos when Lag B’omer falls out on Sunday.66

Furthermore, many say that shaving etc. in the above situation is not permitted on Thursday night if one has time to do it on Friday.

67 One who started shaving etc. on Lag B’omer may continue after shekia as well (even if he holds no shaving after Lag B’omer).68

According to the opinion of the Arizal shaving is not allowed even on Lag B’omer.69 

Shaving is permitted on Erev Shavuos even for those who go with the Arizal’s opinion.70

Footnotes 

64. Rama ibid [493:2], Chok Yaakov 7, Shulchan Aruch Harav 5, Chai Adom 131:11, Mishnah Berurah 5, Aruch Ha’shulchan 6, L’Torah V’horah 2:page 19:2 quoting the opinion of Horav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, Rivevos Ephraim 6:page 294:2, Orchos Rabbeinu 2:page 95:11, see Chok Yaakov 7. This is even according to the Sefardim (Bais Dovid 208). Lag B’omer falls out on Sunday in the following years (5767, 70, 71, 73, 74, 77, 84, 88, 91, 94, 95, 97, 98). Some say to take the haircut on Friday after chatzos if possible, although taking it before chatzos is also permitted (Halichos Shlomo Moadim 2:page 364:footnote 79).

65. Horav Yisroel Belsky Shlita. Refer to Nodeh B’Yehuda 1:28:page 64 (old).

66. Ben Pesach L’Shavuos page 250:foontoe 20 quoting the opinion of Horav Elyashiv Shlita, Doleh U’mashka page 196, Halichos Shlomo Moadim 2:page 364:footnote 31.

67. Refer to Refer to Mishnah Berurah 260:5, Rivevos Ephraim 1:338, 4:131, see Kaf Ha’chaim 23, Ben Pesach L’Shavuos page 250. One who did not cut his hair in this situation until Sunday was not mezalzel in the honor of Shabbos (Rivevos Ephraim 1:338).