Listening to Music During the Sefirat Haomer

Listening to Music During the Sefirat Haomer Day: Tuesday Date: April 21, 2015 Parshat: Tazria/Mitzora Yalkut Yosef: 493 The Gemara tells us that Rebbi Akiva had twenty four thousand students and tragicallly during the days of Sefirat Haomer they all died as a result of their lack of respect toward one another. They stopped dying on the thirty fourth day of the Omer. Afterward he started teaching Torah again with five students. They are Rebbi Meir, Rebbi Yehudah, Rebbi Yossi, Rebbi Shimon and Rebbi Elazar. All of the Torah that exists in the world today was transmitted through these five great Hachamim. As a sign of mourning we do not listen to any music during this time period whether live or recorded. On the thirty third day of the Omer, also known as Lag Baomer it is permissable to listen to music in honor of the yartzeit of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai. It is permitted to play music at a simcha such as a Brit, a Pidyon Haben or a siyum that is made after finishing a masechet. Singing without musical acompanyment is permitted. Obviously, it is permitted for the Shaliah Tzibur to sing parts of the prayer as well. The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org