09 May CUSTOMS DURING SEFIRA PART 3

Weddings after
Lag B’omer
According to those
who hold sefira
until Lag B’omer,
one is permitted to
make weddings after
Lag B’omer and on.
However, the custom
is that weddings
(haircuts are different because since
there is less joy) are not made from after
Lag B’omer until the day of Sivan, while
others say the custom is to be lenient
even after Rosh Chodesh Sivan.
Dancing after Rosh Chodesh Sivan
Some say from Lag B’omer until Shavuos
no non-mitzvah dancing should take
place, even if one is not holding sefira.
However, the custom of many is to be
lenient with this. There is an uncertainty
if non-mitzvah dancing is permitted from
Rosh Chodesh Sivan until Shavuos.
Seudas Reshus
One is permitted to make a seuda during
these days which is not a mitzvah but one
may not have dancing. This is true for a
fundraising dinner as well.
Seudas Mitzvah
One is permitted to make other seudas
mitzvahs during sefira such as a siyum
mesechta. Dancing is permitted by this
meal if one normally dances by such
a meal. Those who dance on Shabbos
would be permitted to do so on Shabbos
during sefira since there is no aveilus on
Shabbos.
Bar Mitzvah /Bas Mitzvah
One is permitted to make a bar mitzvah
or bas mitzvah during sefira without
music or dancing.
Chanukas Habayis
Some say one should not have a chanukas
habayis during sefira. Nonetheless, the
custom is to be lenient.
Music
The early poskim do not mention a custom
to refrain from music during sefira.
However, later poskim mention that
listening to music is not allowed during
sefira. Therefore, the custom is that music
in any form may not be listened to during
sefira, even in one’s home (see below).
However, when it is permitted to have
dancing, listening to music or having a
band play music is also permitted.

A cappella
Many say singing without music is not
permitted. Therefore, the newest fad
of listening to a cappella CDs cannot
be a viable loophole during sefira. It
defeats the whole purpose of the isssur
because the musical experience is what
is really ossur, which the a cappella
singing provides in full. There are
some poskim who maintain that one is
permitted to listen to singing on a CD etc
without music even if there are pleasant
harmonies.
Radio, Tapes and CDs
The custom is that one is not permitted
to listen to music from the radio, tapes
or CDs during sefira (even if one is
lenient and listens to music all year). If
the tape only has slow music and one is
listening in order to lift his spirit, then
doing so is permitted. However, others
say if one sings into a tape without beats
it is considered music and forbidden.
Included in this discussion is classical
music or tapes from a chazzon. For
example, one who is sick r”l in bed and
needs music to lift his spirit is permitted
to listen to such music according to the
first opinion.
Children’s CDs
One is permitted to listen to a children’s
music CD etc since he is not doing so
for enjoyment, but rather that his child
should enjoy the music. Children who
have reached the age of chinuch should
refrain from listening to music during
sefira.
Driving
One who wishes to listen to music while
driving in order to keep him awake may
do so even during his sefira period. One
who does not listen to music and is n a
car where others are listening to music
(not during their sefira period) does not
have to ask for the music to be shut off.
Parnasa
One who depends on playing musical
instruments for his parnasa is permitted
to practice a musical instrument or play
one at a wedding or other seudas mitzvah
(even if he is holding sefira). One who
is having lessons can continue during
sefira.
Singing
Some had the custom not to sing
during sefira. However, l’maseh, one is
permitted to sing a song during sefira

without the accompaniment of
music. This is common when
signing while learning, while
davening, or during zemiros.
Background Music
One who walks into a store and
hears background music may
listen to the music and is not
obligated to close his ears. The
same is true if one wants to have
a meeting in his house and put
on a little background music.
Similarly, listening to music
when being placed on hold, or when
waiting in a waiting room at a doctor, etc
is permitted.
Without Intent
Many cases of listening to music are not
because one wishes to enjoy the music.
For example, one who is exercising and
wishes to listen to music to make the
exercising better is permitted to do so
since his intent is not to enjoy the music.
In a playgroup or nursery a teacher may
play music even during her sefira.
Dancing and Music on Lag B’omer
Many have the custom to make bonfires
(and dancing) on the night of Lag
B’omer. Others say that the simcha
should start by day. However, because of
Rav Shimon Bar Yochai the minhag is to
do the bonfire and dancing etc at night
all over the world and not only in Meron.
However, music not accompanied by a
bonfire should not be listened to until the
next day after neitz hachama.
Cutting Nails
One is permitted to cut finger or toe nails
during sefira.
Shehechiyanu
Some have the opinion that no
shehechiyanu is recited during sefira.
However, according to many poskim
one is permitted to recite a shehechiyanu
during these days, one who has a custom
otherwise should adhere to it. According
to all opinions, doing so is permitted after
Lag B’omer (if one holds sefira until Lag
B’omer).
Wearing and buying new Clothes
According to many poskim, one is
permitted to buy new clothing and wear
them during sefira even if it is clothing
that one recites a shehechiyanu on. There
is another opinion that is stringent and
maintains doing so is not allowed. One
may fix garments during sefira. Others

say the custom is to be stringent and
avoid doing so during one’s sefira. In
any case, one who is getting married or
has a different need that may come up is
permitted to buy and wear new garments
during sefira even according to the
stringent opinion. Even according to the
stringent opinion one may buy furniture
etc since the opinion was referring to
buying clothes.
Moving into a Home
One is permitted to buy or move into a new
home during the sefira period. Although
painting one’s home is forbidden during
the nine days, doing so during sefira is
permitted. The same is true for doing
construction on a home during sefira, or
putting up wallpaper.
“No Work”
Some have the custom that a woman
(many say men as well) may not do
work from shekia until the next morning,
during the entire sefira period. One of
the reasons is since the students of Rabbi
Akiva died before shekia and were buried
after shekia. Some say the custom is only
until a half hour after shekia. According
to this reason after Lag B’omer one can
be lenient. Another reason for refraining
from work is because when the Torah
says we should count seven weeks it uses
the word “Shabbosos” which means rest.
According to this reason, one only needs
to refrain from work until after counting
sefira for that day. Some say women who
do not count sefira should avoid working a
whole night. Some say even according to
the stringent opinion, any work which is
permitted during chol hamoed is permitted
here too. In addition, only work which
takes time, such as sewing garments, and
washing dishes and folding laundry are
permitted. In addition, house work such
as cooking, cleaning etc is permitted.
The custom of many is not to be concerned
with this whole practice, and one should
follow his family’s custom