[Avodah] Dancing Around A Bonfire & Concern of Foreign Practices: Rav Wosner’s Responsum

[Zev Sero]

On 03/05/18 10:01, Prof. Levine via Avodah wrote:
> 
> Don't the Sefardim hold all of the 33rd day and stop the Minhag of 
> Aveilus on the 34th day?  If so,  how can Sefardim go to Meron on the 
> night of the 33rd?

The same way they can go during the day.   Haircuts and weddings are 
still forbidden, but the celebration of Rashbi doesn't involve either of 
those things.  (There is no issur on music during sefirah; that seems to 
be a modern invention, presumably because in modern times we've become 
lenient on the prohibition against music at any time, so we need to 
impose a restriction during sefirah, whereas earlier generations who 
were strict with the general prohibition didn't feel a need to 
strengthen it now.)



> I would like to know when the minhag originated to end the aveilus at 
> Tzeis and who started it.

As I wrote earlier, it seems associated with the adoption of the 
Rashbi's celebration on top of the earlier marking of the end of the 
plague among R Akiva's students.  Thus it would probably have started in 
Tzfas in the late 16th century and spread into Europe in the 18th 
century together with the AriZal's kabbalah. (Note that according to the 
AriZal, not cutting hair is not connected to avelus, and applies on Lag 
Ba`omer as well, except for upsherenishen. But not having weddings is 
because of avelus, so if we're celebrating Yom Simchas Rashbi they 
should be permitted.)

-- 
Zev Sero            A prosperous and healthy 2018 to all
zev at sero.name       Seek Jerusalem's peace; may all who love you prosper