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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Dr. Dan on July 14, 2015, 08:19:01 PM

Title: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Dr. Dan on July 14, 2015, 08:19:01 PM
I understand that it is a tradition for some Jews to cut their son's hair by the age of 3 for the first time. However, if his third birthday falls on the Omer, does one wait until lagbaomer?  Or can his hair be cut the year before when he is 2 and half?

Thanks
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Rashi on July 14, 2015, 09:58:47 PM
Upsherin is really a minhag....It is actually a pagan custom that  crept into Judaism..I find nothing wrong with it personally...If you are into Lurianic Kabbalah..I would do it on  lagbaomer..since it is a festive event..but I remind you that even  lagbaomer has no basis in Tanach, Mishnah or Gemara
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Rashi on July 14, 2015, 10:07:17 PM
I would highly recommend this lecture


http://machonshilo.org/en/eng/list-audio-shiurim/35-hagim/303-lag-bomer-a-holiday-with-no-reason


Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Dr. Dan on July 15, 2015, 11:08:00 AM
It doesn't answer my question.

We are waiting until the age of 3 to cut his hair.  If one follows that minhag, does he wait until Lag BaOmer when he is over 3 years old or can it be done sooner?
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Tag-MehirTzedek on July 15, 2015, 01:11:03 PM
It doesn't answer my question.

We are waiting until the age of 3 to cut his hair.  If one follows that minhag, does he wait until Lag BaOmer when he is over 3 years old or can it be done sooner?

 As I understand it people do usually wait until Lag BaOmer in this case. (if your going by that minhag + if you follow that one cannot take a haircut during the Omer (at least until Lag or Lad BaOmer).
 + Perhaps even according to that it also depends when your son was born during the Omer? The beginning during Nissan or later on (in Iyar) ??

 
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Tag-MehirTzedek on July 15, 2015, 01:21:40 PM
 Just looked at Pnini Halacha (have an App its free as well with different books both in English and Hebrew) it says that their are those who have a custom and according to that you would wait until Lag BaOmer since its a few weeks before it.
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Dr. Dan on July 16, 2015, 03:05:36 AM
He was born during pesach and next year his birthday falls within the Omer. Which brings up another question:  is it the third birthday according to the Jewish or solar calendar?

It's probably a moot point anyway
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Tag-MehirTzedek on July 16, 2015, 09:48:23 AM
He was born during pesach and next year his birthday falls within the Omer. Which brings up another question:  is it the third birthday according to the Jewish or solar calendar?

It's probably a moot point anyway

 Jewish birthday. Born during Pessah so his birthday is during Pessah. You can either search by date converter or even if you know which day of Pessah he was born on. For example if on the 4th than his birthday is always on the 4thday of Pessah.

Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Dr. Dan on July 16, 2015, 09:50:35 AM
Jewish birthday. Born during Pessah so his birthday is during Pessah. You can either search by date converter or even if you know which day of Pessah he was born on. For example if on the 4th than his birthday is always on the 4thday of Pessah.

I think the brit milah was on the third or fourth day.. so technically speaking, if I go via the hebrew calender, it should be acceptable to cut his hair even if his solar year hasn't reached 3 years necessarily. Hmmm.  Any problem with that?
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Tag-MehirTzedek on July 16, 2015, 09:53:18 AM
I think you can either cut his hair right AFTER Pessah as you shouldn't get haircuts during Hold Hamoed (although maybe it doesn't apply to children). In general getting haircuts during Hold Hamoed is assured as one should.go into the holiday already with a haircut etc.

Or you can wait until lagBaomer. Again if you want to go by thay custome you should probably wait. Its just a few extra days (maybe like 15 or 20) out of 3 years its not much
Title: Re: Cutting a Jewish boy's hair for the first time (need help)
Post by: Tag-MehirTzedek on July 16, 2015, 09:55:46 AM
I think the brit milah was on the third or fourth day.. so technically speaking, if I go via the hebrew calender, it should be acceptable to cut his hair even if his solar year hasn't reached 3 years necessarily. Hmmm.  Any problem with that?


 Go only by Hebrew date. If so he was born BEFORE Pessah. Find the date their are websites that convert the date for you. I'm on phone now . if you dpbt find it maybe I'll give you link later. You would probably give haircut some time before Pessah.