Rosh Chodesh Iyar - Haircut

QUESTION: If one observes the mourning restrictions of the first half of sefira (from Pesach until Lag B’omer), can he get a haircut today (Friday, the 30th of Nissan) in honor of Rosh Chodesh Iyar?

ANSWER: The Mishnah Berurah (493:5) writes that in a year such as this, in which Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh coincide, one may get a haircut on Friday in honor of both Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh. Although ordinarily during this period one may not get a haircut in honor of Shabbos, nor may one get a haircut in honor of Rosh Chodesh, the combined simcha of Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh together allow for this leniency. Additionally, the Mishnah Berurah writes that one can even make a wedding on Friday, provided that the wedding meal is served at night when it will be Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh.

Although Friday is also Rosh Chodesh, and some have a custom to never get a haircut on Rosh Chodesh as per the ruling of Rebbi Yehuda HaChasid who cautioned against this, Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l (see Dirshu MB n. 16) permitted getting a haircut on this Friday for those who keep first half of sefira, since one could not get a haircut beforehand. However, Rav Shmuel Wosner writes that those who follow Rebbi Yehuda HaChasid should not get a haircut even in this case.

(It would seem that all would agree that one who observes the second half of sefira, and therefore can get a haircut on Thursday, should not get a haircut on Friday if he follows the custom of Rebbi Yehuda HaChasid not to get haircuts on Rosh Chodesh.)

___________________________________________________

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.