27 Nisan 5772;12th Day of the Omer; 38 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
April 19, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF SEFIRAS HA'OMER
1) If one is invited to a wedding at a time when they are observing Sefirah, while the one making the wedding observes the "other half" of Sefirah and is thus permitted to make a wedding, he/she may attend the wedding, listen to the music and even participate in the dancing. (See Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 2 Siman 95)
However, taking a haircut or shaving/trimming a beard in honor of the wedding is prohibited unless not doing so will be embarrassing and cause you not to go to the wedding and thus prevent you from performing the Mitzvah of bringing joy to a bride and groom. (ibid.)
2) If during the days that you do not yet observe Sefirah, someone who is observing Sefirah enters your home, car or other area where you are listening to music, it isn't necessary to close the music. However, that person may not deliberately do this in order to listen to the music.
Likewise, it isn't necessary to worry about your neighbors, who may be observing Sefirah now, hearing the music from your home, as long as it's playing at a usual, acceptable level. (This was the Psak of Rav Moshe Feinstein regarding one who is in the year of Aveilus for a parent R"L that his/her family members may play music in the home, and surely that is the Halacha regarding Sefirah. Quoted in Sefer Shiurei Halacha from Rav Shmuel Felder Shlita, Posek in Lakewood, NJ
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
These Q&A are taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Today website.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Questions can be emailed to HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
Reader's Question:
Is one permitted to take piano lessons during s'firah, where they won't be learning songs, but just theory? Can they press down keys, but not play songs?
Answer:
The Poskim debate whether one may learn how to play a musical instrument during Sefirah. Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal (Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 3 Siman 87) seems to maintain that if one is doing this for Parnasa reasons it would be OK, but if one is doing this for pleasure and thus get Simcha out of it, it is prohibited.
Many contemporary Poskim (She'arim Metzuyanim B'Halacha on Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:2. Rav Shmuel Felder shlita in Kuntres Shiurei Halacha quoting Rav Elyashiv shlita, and others) are lenient in this matter especially if you will lose out by not taking those lessons now.
If just learning theory and making sounds, but not actually playing songs, it would probably be permitted according to everyone, as that is not music.
A Rav should be consulted for Halacha L'Maaseh
CHIZUK CORNER
This section is dedicated L'Ilui Nishmos the Telzer Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Chaim Yaakov Stein Zatzal , the Mir Rosh Yeshiva, HaRav Noson Tzvi Finkel Zatzal and the Rosh Yeshiva of Torah Ohr, the great Posek HaRav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg Zatzal.
May we all strive to follow in their ways and may they both be Melitzei Yosher for all of Klal Yisroel.
We will B'Ezras Hashem post here each day a short inspirational thought to help us all improve our lives and grow in our service of our Father in heaven, HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING MEANINGFUL FOR THIS SECTION, PLEASE EMAIL IT TO HalachaForToday@Gmail.com
THANK YOU AND תזכו למצות!
זכר צדיקים וקדושים לברכה
HaRav Shimshon Dovid Pincus Zatzal
The following is an actual "reply" letter sent by Rav Shimshon Dovid Pincus Zatzal:
I`ve read your letter. Though I do not consider myself qualified to dispense advice, I will, nevertheless, share my impressions of the situation you are in.
It appears to me that you are someone who has struggled mightily in your endeavour to grow in Torah and yiras Shamayim. Despite all your hard work, you`ve reached an impasse. You are realizing that you can`t succeed on your own, that you need help from outside. The reason for this is simple: you yearn to acquire Torah knowledge, to form a passionate connection with it. Though we may never stop trying, there comes a point when we must look outside of ourselves for support.
Therefore, I would like to recommend a name and address of someone you can turn to for assistance.
His name is Hashem Yisborach.
He is capable of everything, for He created everything. I also happen to know that He has a special love for you, and is waiting eagerly for you to approach him.
He is easily accessible, for He is in every place. Even now,as you read this letter, you can turn to Him. He will be available.
I write this because many people associate the opportunity to talk to Hashem with "formal" prayer and spiritual loftiness. Though this is important, it is not, what defines our relationship with Him.
At the very core of our relationship with Hashem is the appreciation that He is not Something but SomeOne. To be thoroughly aware of the simple reality that Hashem is there, real and true, and that it`s easy to form a personal, sincere connection with Him, and to discuss your most basic and mundane needs. To believe that those who do so are never let down.
Others may give you different suggestions, but it`s a shame to waste your time. Go directly to the only One who can truly help you - grasp Him and do not let go. Al titnu dami lo, allow Him no rest, until you`ve attained all that your heart desires.
One who signs with respect for a searching ben Torah, who -unfortunately - knows not where to search.
Important Numbers
