1st Day Rosh Chodesh Iyar 5772;15th Day of the Omer; 35 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
April 22, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF SEFIRAS HA'OMER
1) It is permissible to sing during Sefirah.
However, one should refrain from singing excessively lively songs that may lead to dancing. (Ruling of HaRav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal)
If one is passively
listening to music with no intention to bring him/herself to Simcha
(e.g. while in a doctor's waiting room, in a store or in another public
place where music is playing) it is permitted to remain there, as it
isn't his/her intention to listen to the music.
If one is exercising and needs music for the rhythm, it is permissible, as it isn't being done for Simcha. (Psak of Rav Shmuel Felder Shlita and other Poskim)
2) Listening
to Cantorial recordings (Chazanus) where the musical accompaniment is
only as background, and isn't an integral part of the music, is
permitted.
Likewise,
children's story tapes that have musical background are permitted, even
when there are adults present who will hear it. (See Sefer VaYevarech Dovid Orach Chaim Siman 65)
If music is
necessary to calm and/or control small children (e.g. a musical mobile
for an infant, or even a music tape in the car on long trips) it is
permitted.
However, it should not be played very loud that people outside, who do not know the reason you are playing it, will hear it. (Psak of Rav Shmuel Felder Shlita)
QUESTION&ANSWER CORNER
Reader
Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we
covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers.
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:
If
we can't be happy during Sefirah and even more so that we can not even
listen to music for fear of bringing about happiness, why then is Yom
Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) not marked?
I have always heard the excuse that
Nissan is to be a happy month and therefore it is inappropriate to
mourn. Having said that then do the halachos regarding dancing and
singing only apply after or on Rosh Chodesh Iyar? That would seem to
follow would it not?
Answer:
First of all, according to many customs, the mourning of Sefirah indeed only begins on or after Rosh Chodesh Iyar.
Secondly,
who says that Yom Hashoah isnt marked? Many people do in fact
commemorate this day as a day of rememberance for the 6,000,000 Kedoshim
that were savagely murdered by Hitler and the Nazis Yemach Shemam
V'Zichram.
Lastly, many Gedolim, including Rav Yitzchok
Hutner, Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitzik and Rav Mordechai Gifter Zichronam
L'Vracha, just to name a few, were of the opinion that Tisha B'Av was
established by the Chachamim to commemorate not only the destruction of
the Bais Hamikdash, but all subsequent Churbanos as well, including the
crusades, the inquisition and the holocaust.
In fact we
have many Kinos on Tisha B'Av that commemorate tragedies other than the
actual Churban Bais Hamikdash, and even some Kinos authored by the Bobov
Rebbe and Rav Shimon Schwab Zichronam L'Vracha which address the
holocaust directly.
They held not to establish other days
of commemoration for each tragedy, as all subsequent tragedies were
extensions of the Churban Bais Hamikdash throughout the ages, as Chazal
teach us that any generation that doesnt merit the rebuilding of the
Bais Hamikdash is considered as if the Bais Hamikdash was once again
destroyed in that generation.
Every congregation, with the consultation of their respective Rabbonim, should decide for themselves which tradition to follow
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.
Important Numbers
