Q & A - WITH RABBI RISKIN
Question: Is it permissible to shave on Yom
Haatzmaut?
Answer:
There are two major periods of semi -
mourning during the days of the count of the Omer: the first
custom is from the day following the festival of Pesach until
the 34th day of the Omer (since there is no mourning
on the Festival of Pesach itself), because of the death of
24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva (Rav Hai Gaon says that they were
killed in the Bar Kochba rebellion against Rome and its
aftermath of the Hadrianic persecutions), and the second custom
is from Rosh Chodesh Iyar until three days before Shavuot
because of the destruction of the Jewish communities along the
Rhine River at the hands of the Christian
crusaders on their way to free the Land of Israel from Saracen
Moslem rule.
The major custom includes the prohibition of haircuts,
weddings and parties with food and music. In most places in Eastern Europe
shaving was prohibited as well; my revered teacher Rav Soloveitchik
permitted shaving for those who shaved every day in the United States, since
he felt that the Gentile community would not appreciate the unkempt
appearance of those who did not shave. And he did not believe that shaving
was part of the initial custom of prohibition for
those who shaved daily. This year, since Rosh Chodesh Iyar comes out on
Friday and Shabbat, most Ashkenazi authorities permit haircuts on Friday
Rosh Hodesh.
As a result of this background, my position – in
accordance with a goodly number of Talmudic scholars and decisors – would be
to permit shaving on Yom Haatzmaut for those who shave regularly; I would
also permit shaving every Friday in honor of the Sabbath. After all, despite
the significance of Yom Haatzmaut, I do not believe that it has a greater
sanctity than the sanctity of the Sabbath. I would also agree with those
Poskim in Israel who would allow weddings and haircuts on Yom HaAtzmaut as
well, since we regard it as a semi-Festival, with Hallel and group
festivities.
