Listening to Music During the Period of Sefirat Haomer

Listening to Music During the Period of Sefirat Haomer Day: Monday Date: May 9, 2016 Parshat: Kidoshim Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 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 recruted five new students and began teaching Torah again to them. 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 for the original twenty four thousand students 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 permissible 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. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org