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May one get a haircut during Shloshes Yimei Hagbala, and when Erev Shavuos coincides with Shabbos?
A. Background:
On the one hand, it is a Mitzvah to get a haircut on Erev Shavuos in honor of Yom Tov, in order so one does not enter into the holiday looking unpresentable.[1] On the other hand, however, even if it is past one’s accustomed mourning period, according to Kabbalah one is to avoid getting a haircut throughout the period of Sefira, including during the Shloshes Yimei Hagbala, until Erev Shavuos[2], and so is the Chabad custom.[3]
Accordingly, in years that Erev Shavuos falls on Shabbos we enter into a dilemma of what to do; should we not get a haircut on Erev Shabbos due to the Kabalistic warning, or should we ignore the Kabalistic warning and get a haircut due to the Mitzvah involved in doing so?
B. The law:[4]
When Erev Shavuos coincides with Shabbos, one may get a haircut on Erev Shabbos which is the 48th day of the Omer.[5] This applies even according to the Kabbalistic ruling and Chabad custom. [One may begin to take a haircut after sunrise of Erev Shabbos, although one should not do so the night before.[6]] However, when Shavuos falls on Monday, one is not to get a haircut on Erev Shabbos, but only on Erev Shavuos.[7]
A. Background:
On the one hand, it is a Mitzvah to get a haircut on Erev Shavuos in honor of Yom Tov, in order so one does not enter into the holiday looking unpresentable.[1] On the other hand, however, even if it is past one’s accustomed mourning period, according to Kabbalah one is to avoid getting a haircut throughout the period of Sefira, including during the Shloshes Yimei Hagbala, until Erev Shavuos[2], and so is the Chabad custom.[3]
Accordingly, in years that Erev Shavuos falls on Shabbos we enter into a dilemma of what to do; should we not get a haircut on Erev Shabbos due to the Kabalistic warning, or should we ignore the Kabalistic warning and get a haircut due to the Mitzvah involved in doing so?
B. The law:[4]
When Erev Shavuos coincides with Shabbos, one may get a haircut on Erev Shabbos which is the 48th day of the Omer.[5] This applies even according to the Kabbalistic ruling and Chabad custom. [One may begin to take a haircut after sunrise of Erev Shabbos, although one should not do so the night before.[6]] However, when Shavuos falls on Monday, one is not to get a haircut on Erev Shabbos, but only on Erev Shavuos.[7]
| Summary: One is to get a haircut on Erev Shabbos, after sunrise. |
[1] Admur 529:2 regarding every Erev Yom Tov
[2] Custom of Arizal, brought in Peri Eitz Chaim 22:7; Shaar Hakavanos 86; Nehar Shalom 25; Igeres Ramaz 2; Birkeiy Yosef 493:6; Moreh Baetzba 8:221; Minchas Elazar 4:44; Kaf Hachaim 493:13
Other opinions: Some write that according to even according to Kabbalah one may get a haircut on the 48th day of Omer and that so was the custom of Rav Chaim Vital. [Minchas Elazar ibid]
Other opinions: Some write that according to even according to Kabbalah one may get a haircut on the 48th day of Omer and that so was the custom of Rav Chaim Vital. [Minchas Elazar ibid]
[3] Hayom Yom p. 53; Sefer Haminhagim p. 86 [English] “The Rebbe Rashab was uneasy with those which took haircuts during the Shloshes Yimei Hagbala”
[4] Moreh Baetzba 8:221; Minchas Elazar 3:65; Kaf Hachaim 493:13; Shevach Hamoadim p. 235 footnote 10 in name of Rav Shmuel Levitin that so was the custom in Lubavitch; Otzer Minhagei Chabad p. 290
Other opinions: The Rashash questioned whether one may get a haircut on the 48th day of Omer even in such a case. He concluded that if he would not have been forced into it, he would not have gotten a haircut on the 48th. [Nehar Shalom p. 25]
Other opinions: The Rashash questioned whether one may get a haircut on the 48th day of Omer even in such a case. He concluded that if he would not have been forced into it, he would not have gotten a haircut on the 48th. [Nehar Shalom p. 25]
[5] The reason: Although in general, based on the custom of the Arizal, we avoid haircuts until Erev Shavuos, this only applies when Erev Shavuos falls on a weekday, as one cannot enter into the festival with improper attire. Furthermore, it is recorded in Shaar Hakavanos that Rav Chaim Vital was always accustomed to get a haircut on the 48th day of Omer. Some learn this itself was due to Kabalistic reasons. Furthermore, even according to the Rashash who leaned to be stringent not to take a haircut on Erev Shabbos in such a coincidence, nevertheless he too forced himself to do so. Hence, there is no room to be stringent on the above, and on the contrary one should do so. [See Minchas Elazar ibid]
[6] See Admur 493:3 that according to those who start on the second of Sivan the 33rd day falls on Erev Shavuos, and Miktzas Hayom Kekulo; See Moed Lecho Chaiy 6:7 that one is to avoid getting a haircut at night of Erev Shavuos until daybreak
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one may get a haircut on the night before Shavuos even according to the Kabalistic ruling. [Pekudas Eliezer 493:2 that so is the custom, and so was the custom of Rav Chaim Vital to get a haircut on the night of the 49th of Omer, after saying Sefiras Haomer] Perhaps, according to this opinion, one may also get a haircut on the night of the 48th in years that Shavuos falls on Motzei Shabbos.
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one may get a haircut on the night before Shavuos even according to the Kabalistic ruling. [Pekudas Eliezer 493:2 that so is the custom, and so was the custom of Rav Chaim Vital to get a haircut on the night of the 49th of Omer, after saying Sefiras Haomer] Perhaps, according to this opinion, one may also get a haircut on the night of the 48th in years that Shavuos falls on Motzei Shabbos.
[7] Hagahos Chasam Sofer 493
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