Lag B'Omer Weddings

Q. Is it permissible to make a wedding on Lag B’Omer at night?

A. The Shulchan Aruch (493:1) writes that haircuts are not permitted until the morning of the 34th day of the Omer and Sefardim follow this position. The Rema writes that Ashkenazic traditions allows haircuts the morning of the 33rd day of the Omer. Ashkenazim follow the Rema. The Mishnah Berurah (493:11) writes that according to Ashkenazic tradition, some are lenient and allow haircuts the night of Lag B’omer, but the custom is to not permit weddings at night. Nonetheless, many poskim maintain that we do not follow this stringency. Igros Moshe (OC 1:159) and Sridei Aish (1:50) both write that a wedding may be made the night of Lag B’omer. The prevalent custom is that one may get married on the night of Lag B’Omer.

Rav Belsky, zt”l ruled that the chassan and the fathers of chassan and kallah may shave even on the 32nd day of the Omer before shekiah. (See פסקי הלכה, Volume One, pages 109 – 110)

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.