Q. When Lag B’Omer falls on Sunday, such as this year, may one shave or take a haircut before Shabbos?
A. When Lag B’Omer falls on Sunday, it is permitted for Ashkenazim to shave and take a haircut on Friday in honor of Shabbos (Rama 493:2). The same permit would apply for Sefardim in a year where Lag B’Omer would fall on Erev Shabbos and the 34th of the Omer on Shabbos (Mechaber 493:2).
The poskim dispute whether this allowance in honor of Shabbos applies on Thursday night as well. Rav Ovadia Yosef, zt”l (Yechaveh Daat 4:32) permits shaving or taking a haircut on Thursday night when for any reason one cannot do so on Friday. Rav Shmuel Wosner, zt”l, on the other hand, rules stringently (MiBeis Levi Nissan 5758 p. 87 footnote 3).
This column comes from OU Kosher’s Halacha Yomis dedicated in memory of Rav Chaim Yisroel ben Reb Dov HaLevy Belsky, zt’l, Senior OU Kosher Halachic Consultant (1987-2016). Subscribers can also ask their own questions on Kashrus issues and send them to [email protected]. These questions and their answers may be selected to become one of the Q and A’s on OU Kosher Halacha Yomis.
{Matzav.com}
