{"id":5203,"date":"2010-02-04T11:00:23","date_gmt":"2010-02-04T09:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/?p=5203"},"modified":"2010-02-04T11:00:23","modified_gmt":"2010-02-04T09:00:23","slug":"05-04-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-04-11\/","title":{"rendered":"11 – Shaving, Haircuts, Weddings, and Tachanun"},"content":{"rendered":"
After Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em> was established as a day of joy and thanksgiving, the question arose: do the customs of mourning that we observe during the Sefirat HaOmer<\/em> period apply to Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em>? The halachic authorities have expressed their opinions in both directions. The accepted practice is not to keep customs of mourning that diminish expressions of the joy. Therefore, it is permissible to dance and play music. However, one should not make a wedding on that day, because avoiding weddings is not considered an expression of mourning that clashes with the joy of Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em>.<\/p>\n Those who shave regularly should shave in advance of Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em>, just like one puts on special clothing before the holiday begins. Regarding haircuts, it seems that only one who looks disgraceful because of his [long] hair may take a haircut prior to Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em>. Someone who looks fine, however, is allowed to take a haircut only on Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em> itself, for then the joy of the day overrides this custom of mourning12<\/a><\/sup>.<\/p>\n The Chief Rabbinate, under the leadership of Rabbi Unterman and Rabbi Nissim, determined that even Ashkenazim who observe the customs of mourning during the latter part of Sefirah<\/em> should not curtail their joy on the 28th<\/sup> of Iyar<\/em>, Yom Yerushalayim<\/em>. After all, many communities terminate all the restrictions after Lag BaOmer<\/em> (the 33rd<\/sup> day of the Omer<\/em>) (see above 3.2-4). This is all the more so, now that the 28th<\/sup> of Iyar<\/em> has been instituted as a day of thanksgiving and joy over the miracle that HaKadosh Baruch Hu<\/em> performed for His nation, Israel. Therefore, one may even make a wedding on Yom Yerushalayim<\/em>.<\/p>\n We do not say Tachanun<\/em> on Yom HaAtzmaut<\/em>, Yom Yerushalayim<\/em>, or during the Minchah<\/em> service preceding these days (Peninei Halachah<\/em>, Tefillah<\/em> 21.7; see also 21.2, n. 1).<\/p>\n