1323. However, one should, if possible, hear the beracha said by someone else (and answer Amein) to be able to fulfill the mitzvah properly, with a beracha.

Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:8

1324. There are two minhagim of Aveilus during Sefirah. One minhag keeps Aveilus from after Pesach until Lag Ba'omer, and one minhag keeps Aveilus from Rosh Chodesh Iyar until Lag Ba'omer and from the day after Lag Ba'omer until Shavuos, (i.e. three days before Shavuos). Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 493:3

[Unless one is part of Kehilla where everyone keeps one minhag, one may change which minhag one wishes to keep from year to year. SA 493:3, S'U Chasam Sofer 142, S'U Minchas Yitzchok 4:84]

1325. During the days of Sefirah we do not make weddings, listen to music (even pre-recorded on a CD or cassette tape), or cut hair (and shave - without a specific heter for work), because at this time 24,000 talmidim of Rebbi Akiva died; therefore we keep some minhagim of Aveilus. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 493:1

{Re: Music see Aruch Hashulchan 493:2, Igros Moshe OC1:166 & OC3:87 & YD2:137, S'U Minchas Yitzchok 1:111, S'U Yechave Da'as 3:30, S'U Mishnah Halachos 8:188, S'U Oz Nidbiru 10:23}

{Re: Shaving see Biur Halacha 493:1, Igros Moshe OC4:102 & OC2:96, S'U Zera Emes 69, Piskei Tshuvos 493:10}

1326. According to the psak of R' Moshe Feinstein and others, one may make a wedding before Rosh Chodesh Iyar, or after Lag Ba'omer, and invite guests who may be keeping sefirah at that time, and they may participate in the dancing with music. Igros Moshe OC 1:159, 2:95, EH 1:97, Piskei Tshuvos 493:5,13

1327. Before Rosh Chodesh Iyar and from Lag Ba'omer on, one may be lenient and rely upon the opinions of the Poskim who permit music at a Seudas Mitzvah.

Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 493:1, Piskei Tshuvos 493:5

1328. The prohibition on taking a haircut during sefirah applies to women and children, as well as men. However, in an instance of necessity or mitzvah (e.g. a married woman with hair that is difficult to keep under her shaitel) it is permitted for a woman to cut her hair.

Igros Moshe YD 2:137, SV Lehoros Nosson 2:32, see also SA 551:MB79, Piskei Tshuvos 493:7

1329. It is permitted for women to shave their underarms, or trim their eyebrows during sefirah and it is permitted for a man to cut the hair on his mustache if it is causing difficulty eating because these (as opposed to other body hair) are not included in the prohibition against haircutting during sefirah. Bein Pesach L'Shvuos 9:11 citing R' Shloma Zalman Auerbach and R' Shmuel Wosner, Piskei Tshuvos 493:7 fn50

1330. Women are not obligated in the mitzvah of counting the Omer because it is a positive mitzvah that is dependent upon time. However, many women have accepted upon themselves to count, while others have the minhag for women to refrain from counting. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:1, Minchas Chinuch 306, Avnei Nezer 384

1331. Women may, if they wish, count with a beracha, but their husbands should remind them to count so that they do not miss any days. The minhag of the Steipler was for women within his household to count with a beracha. Orchos Rabbeinu 2:pg92, Piskei Tshuvos 489:7

1332. If one forgot to count the Omer at night one should count anytime during the following day without the beracha. One may then continue to count on subsequent nights with a beracha.

Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:1

1333. If one is uncertain as to whether he missed the previous day's counting he may continue to count with a beracha. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:8 see also Bi'ur Halacha

1334. During Sefirah one is permitted to (purchase and) wear new clothing and make a beracha of Shehechiyanu on the new clothing {for those who have the custom to do so}. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 493:1 MB2, Bein Pesach L'Shuvuos 16:1 citing R' Chaim Kanievesky

1335. Nevertheless, there are some who have the minhag to be machmir (stringent) and do not purchase or wear new clothing during sefirah. However, this is a stringency and it is not prohibited as it is during the three weeks (from the 17^th of Tammuz until Tish'a B'Av).

Piskei Tshuvos 493:2,3, S'U Yechave Da'as 1:24

1336. Even for those who have the custom to not wear new clothing during sefirah (or make a Shehechiyanu during sefirah) many are lenient and do wear new clothing (and make the beracha) on Shabbos during sefirah, while others are stringent even on Shabbos. Piskei Tshuvos 493:2,3

1337. All opinions permit the purchase and wearing of new undergarments during sefirah.

Piskei Tshuvos 493:3

1338. The minhag of not listening to music during sefirah includes live music, recorded music, and according to some opinions, even singing songs in a group setting (except for Shabbos zemiros which is permitted, and at a Seudas Mitzva which is a machlokes). Igros Moshe OC 1:166, 3:87, YD 2:137, SV Minchas Yitzchok 1:111, SV Yechave Da'as 3:30, SV Oz Nidbiru 10:23, 8:58, SV Shibolei Haleket 8:127, SV Tzitz Eliezer 15:33:2

1339. According to the psak of R' Shloma Zalman Auerbach one may sing songs in a group setting which are "Dveikus" type songs, which will not lead to dancing. An individual may sing any type of song because generally it will not lead to dancing. Bein Pesach L'Shvuos 15:5, Orchos Rabbeinu 2:pg95

1340. There is a machlokes H'Poskim as to whether one may have music and dancing at a Seudas Mitzvah (i.e. Sheva Brachos, Bris, Pidyon Haben, Bar Mitzvah, Hachnosoas Sefer Torah, Siyum) during Sefirah. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 493:1, Piskei Tshuvos 493:5

1341. The generally accepted practice is to avoid music and dancing between Rosh Chodesh Iyar and Lag B'aomer even at a Seudas Mitzvah. However, those who do have music and dancing at a Seudas Mitzvah "have upon whom to rely" (i.e. Magen Avraham, Mishnah Brurah, Kaf Hachaim, Igros Moshe). Piskei Tshuvos 493:5, Igros Moshe OC2:95, EH1:97

1342. One may count the Omer in any language; however one must understand what he is saying. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:1

1343. One should L'chatchila count while standing. However, bi'dieved, if one counted while sitting he is Yoitze. Shulchan Aruch w/Mishnah Brurah 489:1

1344. This coming Wednesday, the 14^th of Iyar is Pesach Sheni. According to many opinions one does not fast on this day; make Hespedim, or a Hakomas Matzeivah. Piskei Tshuvos 492:1

1345. There are different minhagim regarding the saying of Tachnun, (El Erech Apayim), and Lamenatzeach on Pesach Sheni (as it is not mentioned in Shulchan Aruch to omit these tefillos). Many have the minhag to eat Matzah on Pesach Sheni by day, zecher L'korbon Pesach.

Piskei Tshuvos 492:1, see also Shaarei Tshuva @ SA 131:19

1346. There are several reasons for the Simcha of Lag Ba'omer;

1) On Lag Ba'omer the talmidim of Rebbi Akiva stopped dying. (Mishna Brurah 493:MB8)

2) It is the Yahrtzeit of Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai and on this day he revealed the Zohar. (Sdei Chemed, Chida, Bnei Yissaschar, Chayei Odom, Aruch Hashulchan, Kaf Hachaim)

1347. 3) On Lag Ba'omer Rebbi Akiva gave Semicha to his five talmidim who did not die, and through whom Torah was disseminated, (among them Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai).

(Sdei Chemed, Chida, Kaf Hachaim, Pri Chodosh)

4) On this day The Mann began to fall for Klal Yisroel in the Midbar (S'U Chasam Sofer YD 233)