By Rabbi Yair Hoffman

As Erev Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on a Friday this year, many are wondering: can one take a haircut in the midst of Sefirah — and if so, what about Thursday night?

The Friday Heter 

The Mishna Brurah (493:5) permits getting a haircut when Rosh Chodesh Iyar falls on Friday, Erev Shabbos. The rationale is straightforward: one is getting the haircut for two reasons simultaneously — in honor of Rosh Chodesh and in honor of Shabbos. When both reasons converge, even those who keep the first half of Sefirah may shave and get a haircut. This ruling even overrides the custom of avoiding haircuts on Rosh Chodesh itself (Rav Yehudah HaChassid).

What About Thursday Night?

Now this is where it gets a bit more interesting. The Thursday night question was addressed directly by Poskim in the context of Lag BaOmer falling on a Sunday — the parallel leniency that permits haircuts on the preceding Friday for Kavod Shabbos. The following views, while stated in that context, logically extrapolate to our case as well, since the underlying heter in both situations rests on the same foundation: a Shabbos-adjacent leniency that creates a Friday haircut permission during Sefirah.

Rav Shteinman zt”l — According to Rav Mordechai Bunim Silverberg, Rav Shteinman permitted haircuts even on Thursday night.

Rav Chaim Kanievsky zt”l — Kikar Shabbos reported a ruling from Rav Chaim Kanievsky similarly permitting Thursday night.

Rav Shmuel Vosner zt”l — Was stringent and held that one may not take a haircut on Thursday night (MiBais Levi, Nissan 5758, p. 87, note 3).

It must be emphasized that these rulings were stated regarding the Lag BaOmer leniency, and their application here to Rosh Chodesh Iyar on Friday is an extrapolation. One should ask one’s own Rav whether the Thursday night extension applies in this case as well.

What time on Thursday Night?

Shkiya in New York in 2026 tonight is 7:36 PM. If you want to wait 42 minutes that would be 8:12 PM. For Rav Moshe’s Rabbeinu Tam it would be 8:20. For standard Rabbeinu Tam – 8:42 PM

Bottom Line

On Friday itself — absolutely permitted, and the barbers can expect a busy morning. Thursday night — there is strong support among major Poskim, though it is an extrapolated application and Rav Vosner dissented. This author’s personal view is to only do it if one cannot do it on erev Shabbos or it will cause too many shalom Bayis issues. As always, ask your own Rav or Posaik.

The author can be reached at [email protected]