Three Weeks: Difference between revisions

==When does the Three Weeks begin?==

#Many authorities hold that the practices of [[mourning]] begin from the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] (before the actual fast begins). <ref>*The Chida in Sh"t Chaim Sha’al 1:24 writes that one may not make [[Shehecheyanu]] the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]. Kaf Hachaim 551:207 agrees. Tzitz Eliezer 10:26 maintains that the one may not make a wedding the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] and bases it on the ruling of the Chida not to say [[Shehecheyanu]] from the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]. He add that according to some achronim the night of the 17th of tammuz is as strict as the [[Nine Days]]. In regards to weddings the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]], Eshel Avraham Mebutchatch OC 551, Nitei Gavriel (Bein HaMetzarim, vol 1, 14:5), Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 2, 18:5), and Rabbi Soloveitchik (cited by Rabbi Hershel Schachter in Nefesh Harav page 196) agree. Orchot Rabbeinu (vol 2, pg 127) quotes the Steipler about not taking a haircut the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]. See also Rav Elyashiv (cited by Doleh UMashkeh pg 207-208), Divrei Moshe 1:33, [[Shevet Halevi]] 8:168:7 and 10:81:2, Moadim Uzmanim 8:338, and Moadei Yeshurun (pg 128) who agree with this approach.

*However, Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:168, 3:100 (at the end), and 4:112(2) permits in cases of great need (such as performing a wedding on Motzei [[Shabbat]] the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]). Igrot Moshe 3:100 adds that since saying [[Shehecheyanu]] is a dispute there's no need to be strict not to say it the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]. Igrot Moshe 4:112(2) writes for great need one can be lenient to cut one's hair the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]]. Shearim Metsuyanim BeHalacha 122:1 agrees. Sh"t Rivevot Efraim 1:375 writes that later Rav Moshe was asked about performing a wedding the night of [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] and he advised doing the Chupah before [[Shekiyah]]. Rav Elyashiv (cited by Doleh U’mashke pg 208 note 557) says that in a pressing situation once can be lenient.</ref>

#If [[Shiva Asar BeTamuz]] falls out on [[Shabbat]] and is pushed off to Sunday, then everyone agrees that the practices of [[mourning]] apply the night of the fast (Motzei [[Shabbat]]) as some of them apply already on Shabbat. <ref>Sh"t Igrot Moshe 1:168, and 3:100 </ref>

===Wearing New Clothing or Eating New Fruit===

*The Rabbenu Shevet (quoted by the Mordechai Taanit 633) writes that one may not fix or wear new clothes during the week in which [[Tisha BeAv]] falls and adds that it is proper to be strict about this during the [[Nine Days]]. He bases this on the Yerushalmi (Pesachim 4:1) which says that it is a proper minhag not to sew from the beginning of Av. Bet Yosef 551:6 explains that although the Yerushalmi said not to sew during the [[Nine Days]], that's only a minhag, however, there is only an actual prohibition during the week in which [[Tisha BeAv]] falls out. Shulchan Aruch O.C. 551:6 rules that it is forbidden to wear new clothes during the week in which [[Tisha BeAv]] falls out and the Rama adds that the Ashkenazic minhag is to be strict on this starting from [[Rosh Chodesh]] Av (during the entire [[Nine Days]]). The Magen Avraham 551:21 is bothered why there is another prohibition to wear new clothes (Shulchan Aruch 551:6) if one can't wear new clothes anyway because of avoiding making [[Shehecheyanu]] during the entire Three Weeks (Shulchan Aruch 551:17). See there where he gives 2 answers. The Kaf HaChaim 551:88 answers that avoiding [[Shehecheyanu]] is only considered preferable by Shulchan Aruch 551:17, while not wearing new clothes during the week during which [[Tisha BeAv]] falls out is an actual prohibition.

*Nonetheless, in light of Shulchan Aruch 551:17's ruling to avoid [[Shehecheyanu]], Mishna Brurah 551:99 writes that one shouldn't eat a new fruit or wear new clothing during the Three Weeks. Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot p. 129) agrees.</ref>

#During the [[Nine Days]] one should not buy new clothing.<ref>Rama 551:7 writes that buying new clothing is forbidden during the [[Nine Days]] just like fixing new clothing (which is discussed in the previous footnote). The Mishna Brurah 551:49 writes that it's forbidden to buy new clothes even if one will only wear them after [[Tisha BeAv]]. Kaf HaChaim 551:103 agrees.</ref>

# However, a pregnant woman or a sick person is permitted to eat new fruit. <ref>Mishna Brurah 551:99, Yalkut Yosef 551:13 </ref>

#Knitting and needlecraft is prohibited during the [[Nine Days]]. <ref>Rav Shimon Eider Halachos of the Three Weeks page 11. </ref> Repairing a torn garment is permitted <ref>Iggerot Moshe, OC 3:79. </ref>

===Sales===

===Tzitzit and Tefillin===

#One should not purchase a new talit gadol as this would require making a Shehecheyanu. However, one can purchase a new tallit katan since Shehecheyanu is not recited on those.<ref>Iggerot Moshe 3:80</ref> One may also purchase a tallit gadol if it doesn't have strings up until Rosh Chodesh Av.<ref>Moadei Yeshurun pg. 129:13b and pg. 152:34 in the name of Rav Moshe</ref>

===Cars===

#Also, if one's entire family will use it and benefit from it, then one may buy it until [[Rosh Chodesh]] Av and make a bracha of HaTov VeHaMetiev instead of [[Shehecheyanu]].<ref>Sh"t Igrot Moshe 3:80, Sh"t Rivevot Efraim 1:375, Nitay Gavriel Page 51 </ref>

===Furniture and Appliances===

#Some poskim permit buying a closet or cabinet during the [[Nine Days]], while others forbid it.<ref>Torat Hamoadim 5:16 says that buying closets or cabinets doesn't make one joyful and is therefore permitted but Iggerot Moshe 3:82 says a bookshelf does make people happy and is not allowed to be bought. </ref>

#According to Ashkenazim it’s forbidden to cut one’s hair for the entire three weeks, however, according to Sephardim one can cut hair until the week of [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref>The Gemara in Taanit 26b says that one shouldn’t cut one’s hair the week of [[Tisha BeAv]]. This Gemara is brought as Halacha by the Rambam (Taaniot 5:6). The Ramban (Torat HaAdam ([[Aveilut]] Yishana pg 346) explains that this prohibition applies to all hair on the body except the mustache if it interferes with eating. The Tur and S”A 551:3,12-13 rule like the Ramban that during the week of [[Tisha BeAv]] one is forbidden to cut any hair on one’s body except if there’s facial hair interfering with eating. Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 158) and Ben Ish Chai Devarim 12 write that this is Sephardic custom. However, Darkei Moshe 551:5 and Rama 551:4 rules that Ashkenazim should be strict not to cut hair all three weeks like the Sefer Minhagim (pg 74). Levush 3, Chayei Adam 133:8, Mishna Brurah 551:82, Aruch Hashulchan 551:31, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:3. Aruch Hashulchan 551:16 says the reason for this is that if we were allowed to get haircuts until [[Rosh Chodesh]] Av it would not be clear that we grew our hair for [[mourning]], therefore we stop cutting it for the entire three weeks. </ref> One should wait until after [[chatzot]] on the tenth of Av to get a haircut. <ref>Aruch Hashulchan 551:16. </ref>

#For Sephardim it’s permitted to take a haircut during the three weeks even a Sephardic Yeshiva Bachur in a Ashkenazi Yeshiva <ref>Sh”t Yechave Daat 4:36, 3:39, Sh”t Yabia Omer 3:31:5, Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 551(2):11) </ref> however, it’s preferable to be strict not to cut the entire three weeks. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 158-9) </ref>

#If not cutting one's hair will cause great monetary loss, one is permitted to cut it during the three weeks but not during the week that Tisha B'av falls out. If one will not lose money, even if the hair makes him uncomfortable he may not cut his hair. <ref>Iggerot Moshe OC 4:102. see Igros Moshe Choshen Mishpat 93. see also See also Halichos Shlomo Moadim vol. 2 page 414 </ref>

#Some poskim allow a child under the age of six to get a haircut. <ref>Iggerot Moshe YD 1:224 and Aruch Hashulchan 551:31. Mishna Brurah 551:81 and Shaar Hatziyun 551:91 as well as the Chayei Adam 133:18 conclude that children even below 6 should not get haircuts and bring two reasons from the Terumat Hadeshen 142. One being [[chinuch]], in which case it would only apply to older than six and the other being "agmat nefesh," meaning it makes people feel more pain to see children [[mourning]], in which case it would apply to even children under 6. Chanoch lanaar 21:2:1, Nitei Gavriel 20:7, Rivevot Ephraim 1:336:2, 2:155:19  say that if an upsherin falls out during the three weeks one should either push it up or postpone it. Torat Yekutiel 1:47 is lenient. </ref>

#Dancing is forbidden during the three weeks even not in the context of a joyous occasion. <ref>Magen Avraham 551:10 says explicitly that it is forbidden to dance during the three weeks even if not in the context of a joyous occasion such as an engagement. The Eliya Rabba 551:6, Pri Megadim E"A 551:10, Baer Hetiev 551:11, Mishna Brurah 551:16, Ben Ish Chai (Shana Rishona, Devarim no. 5), Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 560, Kitzur S”A 551:9), Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taaniyot pg 149), Simchat Cohen 162, and Lehorot Natan 10:49 all concur that dancing is forbidden during the three weeks. </ref>

==Swimming==

==Bathing and Showering==

{{Listening to Music during the Three Weeks}}

#Although there is a practice that a minority of people have not to have meat and wine all of the three weeks, most only refrains from it for the nine days. All of the details are found on the [[Nine_Days#Eating_Meat_and_Drinking_Wine]] page.

==Miscellaneous==  

#If a Jew has to have a lawsuit with a non-Jew, he should avoid having it with him in Av, as this is a time of ill fortune for a Jew. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 551:1, Taanit 29b. Mishna Brurah 551:2 based on the Magen Avraham 551:2 says that this applies throughout the month of av until [[rosh chodesh]] [[elul]], but at the minimum until [[Tisha BeAv]]. This is the ruling of the Chayei Adam 133:9, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:7. Ben Ish Chai Devarim Halacha 1 says one should preferably wait until the fifteenth of av but really one has to wait until the tenth. </ref>

#During the three weeks one should refrain from going to dangerous places and should be even more careful during the [[nine days]]. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 551:1, 46. Also see [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=1682 Rabbi Eli Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]. </ref>

#If possible, one should avoid flying on an airplane during the nine days.<ref>Halichot Shlomo 14:24</ref>

===Surgery===

==Haftarot==

==Sources==

<references />

[[Category:Holidays]]