Halacha Guidelines for the Three Week

(This guide addresses many of the most common questions. Please feel free to reach out with any follow-ups.)

  1. The Three Weeks Begins this Motzei Shabbos. As such, even though the fast does not begin until Sunday morning, haircuts and shaving should be completed before Shabbos.
  2. For Ashkenazim it’s forbidden to shave or cut one’s hair for the entire Three Weeks. For Sephardim one can cut hair until the week of Tisha BeAv. For everyones, one should wait until after midday on the tenth of Av to get a haircut.
  3. It is permissible for women to cut/style her sheitel during the three weeks (since it is a garment, not her hair.) Shaving body hair is permissible.
  4. One should refrain from making a shehechiyanu during the Three Weeks. However, it is permissible to purchase an item during the three weeks that will be used afterwards. During the Nine Days, one should not buy new clothing unless it will no longer be available at that price afterwards. Replacing a piece of furniture or an appliance is permissible.
  5. It’s forbidden to listen to live music from musical instruments during the three weeks. Recorded music is debated by the poskim, with the following guidelines:
    1. A cappella music which is relaxed and not past faced is permissible.
    2. Music which serves a purpose, for example: keeping one awake during a drive, maintaining rhythm during exercise is permissible.
    3. Music that one needs to maintain a healthy and balanced emotional state is permissible.

A Note About Chinuch: Chinuch for children under the age of Bar/Bas Mitzvah requires nuance during this time. On the one hand, we want our children to understand that the world is not the way is should be. Until the Beis HaMikdash is rebuilt, and Hashem's presence is felt in our midst, we are still in a state of exile. There are chayalim who are currently risking their lives, and hostages still in captivity. Children should be encouraged to learn about and pray for the rebuilding of Yerushalayim, and the redemption of Klal Yisrael. However, on the other hand, while most Chinuch is training children to be proficient in mitzvah observance for when they are older. It is our deepest wish that our children never need to observe the mourning of the Three Weeks. Please take a moment to have this conversation with your children in a way that they can understand.