24 Nisan 5772;9th Day of the Omer; 41 Days Until Kabolas HaTorah
April 16, 2012
CURRENT TOPIC:
HALACHOS OF SEFIRAS HA'OMER
1) If one forgot to count Sefirah one night, he/she should count during that day (without a Bracha) and then can resume counting the following night with a Bracha.
However, if one didn't remember to count on that day and sunset of the next day arrived, he/she must count the remainder of the Sefirah days without a Bracha, and preferably hear the Bracha from someone else who is counting.
The above Halacha is only if you are certain that you forgot to count on one of the nights. However, if you are unsure (Safek) if you missed a night, you may continue the rest of the Sefirah counting with a Bracha. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 489:8. See also Mishna Berura S"K 38. For more details see Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 99:3 and Shu"t Minchas Yitzchak Vol. 9 Siman 57 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 489:82)
2) There is a debate amongst the Poskim regarding one who knows that he/she will miss one (or more) days of counting the Sefirah (due to being under the operating knife R"L , or any other reason) if they may begin counting with a Bracha in the first place (as there is an opinion in the Rishonim that one who misses one day of counting renders all his/her previous Brachos as Brachos L'Vatalah (L'mafrea), blessings in vain)
The consensus of most Poskim, however, is that one may indeed begin counting with a Bracha, and only after that day is missed, will they have to continue without a Bracha, but all the previous Brachos will not be rendered "in vain". (See Halichos Shlomo page 357, Shu"t Ohr L'Tzion Vol. 1 Siman 36. This is also the opinion of Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv Shlita and many other contemporary Poskim
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 there any Halacha regarding women shaving their legs or plucking their eyebrows during Sefirah
Answer:
Plucking the eyebrows, according to Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal and Rav Shmuel Wosner shlita is never a problem, as it isn't considered "cutting the hair" so it's permitted for all women all the time.
Shaving the legs, for married women is not a problem during Sefirah according to all opinions. For single girls, there are opinions that forbid it, but the majority of contemporary Poskim do allow it
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
Ben Dovid (Mashiach) will not come until the redemption is despaired of (Talmud Sanhedrin 97a).
This seems to contradict all the sources which assert that we are never to lose hope in the arrival of Mashiach.
The above dictum should thus be interpreted as follows: Jews are misguided when they turn to the gentile nations for political, military or financial assistance in the redemption of the Holy Land. Mashiach will come only when we put our full faith in the Almighty and trust in Him to send the true redeemer, because we have given up all hope that the gentile nations will be our saviors.
Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal as quoted in Sefer Torah Tavlin
Important Numbers
