Buying a Car During Sefirat HaOmer - Shehecheyanu or HaTov VeHaMeitiv

Can I buy a new car during the sefirat haomer?

Thank you for your question.

During Sefirat HaOmer, there are those who have the custom not to recite Shehecheyanu . The reason for this is, that we compare the days of sefirat HaOmer to the three weeks. And like during the three weeks we don’t recite shehechyanu, same too we also don’t do so during Sefirat HaOmer.

The reason for this is that in the bracha, we thank Hashem for reaching ‘this time’

שהחיינו וקימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה

Who has kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time .

Since the Three Weeks has been a time of פורענות (calamity) for Am Yisrael, it is not appropriate to express joy over reaching such a period. (This is brought by the Magen Avraham, Siman 551, Se’if Katan 42).

Therefore, there are those who extend this halacha to the days of Sefirat HaOmer and refrain from wearing new clothing, such as a new suit, that would bring them joy and require them to recite Shehecheyanu .

It is important to note that even according to those who do not recite Shehecheyanu during the Sefirah, on Shabbos it is permitted, and so, one may wear new clothing and recite the bracha on Shabbos (unlike during the Three Weeks).

The Mishnah Beruah writes as follows:

משנה ברורה סימן תצג

ומ"מ אם נזדמן לו איזה ענין שצריך לברך עליו שהחיינו יברך

Mishnah Berurah, Siman 493
Nevertheless, if a situation arises in which one needs to recite 'Shehecheyanu', he may recite it.

We see that, according to the Mishnah Berurah, one may recite Shehecheyanu if the situation arises. For example, one should not deliberately buy a fruit that would require saying Shehecheyanu during the Sefirah. However, if he is invited somewhere and is served a fruit he has not yet eaten, he may recite Shehecheyanu (if he knows he will not have this fruit on Shabbos) .

Le’halcha, HaGaon HaRav Fried, shlit”a, writes that me’ikar ha’din (according to the letter of the law), one may buy a new fruit or suit during Sefirat HaOmer. Nevertheless, there are those who refrain from doing so, as explained above.

When do we say Shehecheyanu ?

שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן רכג סעיף ג

בנה בית חדש, או קנה כלים חדשים, אפילו היה לו כיוצא באלו תחלה, או קנה וחזר וקנה, מברך על כל פעם, שהחיינו,

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Blessing on Fruits, Siman 223, Se'if 3:

If one built a new house or bought new utensils……he recites 'Shehecheyanu'.

משנה ברורה על שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן רכג סעיף ג

- בין מלבושים ובין כלי תשמיש ושתיה ואכילה וכיו"ב אם הם דברים שלב האדם שמח בהם עני בראוי לו ועשיר בראוי לו

Whether garments, or utensils used for drinking and eating, or similar items,if they are things that bring a person joy… so it would depend a poor person would bless on items that brings him joy and if he is a wealthy person, then he would bless according to what brings him joy.

The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 223, Se’if 5) writes that if the item one purchased benefits not only himself, but also other members of ones household, for example, someone installed a new conditioning system in his house, then one does not recite the bracha of Shehecheyanu . Instead, one recites the bracha of HaTov VeHaMeitiv , meaning; Hashem is good to me and is good to others as well.

Therefore, even according to the opinion that one should not recite Shehecheyanu during Sefirat HaOmer, as mentioned above, nevertheless, one may recite HaTov VeHaMeitiv . Since the reason we refrain from saying Shehecheyanu is that it is not appropriate to recite this bracha in a time that has been of suffering for Am Yisrael, as explained above in the name of the Magen Avraham. However, this does not apply to HaTov VeHaMeitiv , and therefore it is permitted.

Circling back to your question, It would depend. if you live alone, then me’ikar ha’din (according to the letter of the law), it is permitted to buy the car during Sefirat HaOmer, although there are those who refrain from doing so.

However, if you are married, so you would not recite Shehecheyanu but rather the bracha of HaTov VeHaMeitiv . In that case, according to all opinions, it would be permitted to buy the car during Sefirat HaOmer.

Wishing you all the best.

Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 223:3
Mishnah Berurah 223:3
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 223:5
Magen Avraham, Orach Chaim 551:42
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 493
Azamroh Lishmecho moadim