Buying Clothing and Furniture During Sefira

Is it permissible to buy new clothing and new furniture during sefira?

The Mishna Berura (493:2) writes that it is permissible to recite the bracha of shehechiyanu during sefira. As such, contemporary poskim allow purchasing new clothing and furniture during the sefira, and reciting shehechiyanu when required. This is the position of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l (Mesoras Moshe, p. 156), Rav Yaakov Kamenetzky, zt”l (Emes L’Yaakov O.C. 493), Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l (Halichos Shlomo, Sefiras Haomer 11:53), and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, zt”l (Ashrei HaIsh, Moadim 65:12). (Note: During the three weeks before Tisha B’Av everyone agrees that in general one should not recite shehechiyanu.)

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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.