[Avodah] BaOmer vs. LaOmer

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, Apr 27, 2011 at 09:56:13PM +0300, Doron Beckerman wrote:
: Mipninei Harav (page 102 in my version) cites RYBS as saying the same vort -
: that the girsaos depend on whether it is D'oraysa or D'rabbanan...

At first glance, I would say it looks like it's related to the old
chestnut about whether the boy who turns bar mitzvah mid-omer can
count. If you say it's all one count, then today is the 7th day ba'omer
-- within that one mitzvah. However, if each day is bifnei atzmah,
then each one belongs la'omer.

The SA (489:1) has neither -- "hayom shiv'ah yamim sheheim shavua echad",
to which the Rama adds "ba'omer". The SA, if he would have said anything,
probably would have said "la'omer", as he refers to Lag laOmer (493:2).
The MB (489 s"q 8) says "ba'omer" is rov posqim, but the issue is only
lekhat-chilah since you don't need to actually say either. See also
the Shaarei Teshuvah (389 s"q 8) who brings sources for both ways, but
argues that the grammar, common speech, minhag and the Ari would justify
"la'omer".

R Nachman Bulman explained (probably based on the ST) that the name
"Lag Ba'omer" comes from the Arizal and the Mequbalei Tzefas (except
for the Mechabeir, it would seem). It was they who turned R' Shim'on
bar Yochai's hillula into a measurable overvance. And so, it's no raayah
WRT Ashkenazi practice.

: count both ways - saying LaOmer second, so that the juxtaposition to
: Harachaman etc., i.e. that it is a Zecher Lamikdash, makes sense.

Since you don't need either, I am not sure why "getting it wrong" and
counting as though it's deOraisa when it's really derabbanan (or visa
versa) is enough reason to repeat anyway.

And, given that there were specific minhagim -- such as the "bemidinoseinu"
of the Shaarei Teshuvah who say "la'omer" or the Rama's recording the pre-Ari
"la'omer" -- why do we even open the question and not just follow minhag?
Have we shifted the burden of proof from needing to prove a minhag is
likely beta'us before changing it to needing to prove its valid before
upholding it?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Today is the 8th day, which is
micha at aishdas.org        1 week and 1 day in/toward the omer.
http://www.aishdas.org   Chesed sheb'Gevurah: When is holding back a
Fax: (270) 514-1507                           Chesed for another?