The Three Weeks & 17th of Tamuz

The Three Weeks

  1. The Three Weeks Begins tonight at Sunset (8:17pm in Boca).

  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 B’Av. For everyone, 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 of body hair is not included in this prohibition.

  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. Each person is encouraged to use their judgement, and reach out for rabbinic advice if need.

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 Jews around the world who are feeling the rising storm of anti-semitism.

Children should be encouraged to learn about and pray for the rebuilding of Yerushalayim, and the redemption of Klal Yisrael. However, it is important to note that 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.

Shiva Asar b’Tamuz

  1. Shiva Asar BeTamuz commemorates 5 things: 1) The Luchos were broken. 2) The Korban Tamid in the First Beis Hamikdash was abolished. 3) In the time of the Second Beis Hamikdash, the walls Jerusalem was breached. 4) A Sefer Torah was burned by Apostomus. 5) An idol was put in the Beis Hamikdash.

  2. All men and women over the age of Bar/Bas Mitzvah are obligated to fast.

  3. Pregnant and nursing women are exempt, as are people who are sick – even if it is not life threatening.

  4. Children under the age of Bar/Bas mitzvah are exempt from fasting. Some have the custom to fast three fasts before they become bar/bas mitzvah, but this custom has no source (See Halichos Shlomo Moadim Vol. II, page 399, footnote 11.)

  5. The fast begins at Alos HaShachar (dawn).

  6. If one went to sleep at night and wakes up before dawn one may not eat or drink, unless one stipulated before going to sleep that this was one’s intention.

The primary purpose of a Fast is to inspire a person to do Teshuva and remember our failures which caused the tragedies we are commemorating. Additionally, it’s customary to give Tzedaka at Mincha on a fast day, the value of the amount of food one would have eaten that day.

May we merit to see the rebuilding of the Beis HaMidkash and the Geulah Sheleimah במהרה בימנו.