Chapter 1. The Laws of the Three Weeks

The Destruction of the Temple

Mourning

alef The Mishnah Berurah wrote1: “And in the kavvanot of the Arizal it is written that during those days, after midday, one should mourn and cry for about half an hour.”

Tikkun Chatzot

bet The Chida wrote in his book Moreh Be’Etzba:2  it is good to recite the order of Tikkun Rachel every weekday during Bein HaMetzarim after midday, and so is the custom in Eretz Yisrael, may it be rebuilt and reestablished speedily in our days, amen. On Erev Shabbat, on Erev Rosh Chodesh, and on Rosh Chodesh — it is not recited.

The Blessing of Shehecheyanu

gimel It is proper to be careful during the days of Bein HaMetzarim not to recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu over a new fruit or a new garment; therefore, one should not eat a new fruit or wear a new garment during these days.3 

On Shabbat

dalet On Shabbat it is permitted to recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu, though the Arizal is stringent regarding this.4 

Garments That Are Not Significant

hei Garments that are not significant, over which Shehecheyanu is not recited, may be purchased and first worn from the Seventeenth of Tammuz until Rosh Chodesh Av.5 

A New Fruit That Will Not Be Available After Tisha B’Av

vav A new fruit that will not be available after Tisha B’Av, and which cannot be kept until Shabbat because it will spoil, may be eaten with the blessing of Shehecheyanu even on a weekday.6 

An Ill Person

zayin An ill person may eat new fruits, but should not recite Shehecheyanu over them.7 

A Pregnant Woman

chet A pregnant woman, too, may eat a new fruit, but she should not recite Shehecheyanu over it.8 

Purchasing Furniture and Electrical Appliances

tet It is permitted to recite the blessing of HaTov VeHaMetiv during the days of Bein HaMetzarim; therefore, until Rosh Chodesh Av, a married person may buy furniture and electrical appliances, over which a married person recites HaTov VeHaMetiv. However, an unmarried person, who recites Shehecheyanu over them, may not buy them during the days of Bein HaMetzarim.9 

Buying an Apartment

yod Buying an apartment is permitted during the days of Bein HaMetzarim for a married person until Rosh Chodesh Av, since HaTov VeHaMetiv is recited over a new apartment. However, an unmarried person, who recites Shehecheyanu, should refrain from doing so from the Seventeenth of Tammuz.10 

Buying a Car

yod-alef  Buying a car for a married person is permitted until Rosh Chodesh Av, but an unmarried person should refrain from doing so from the Seventeenth of Tammuz, since he recites Shehecheyanu over it.11 

Haircutting

yod-bet  Ashkenazim have the custom not to take haircuts from the Seventeenth of Tammuz onward, whether the hair of the head or hair on the entire body.12 

For Sepharadim

yod-gimel Among Sepharadim there are different customs regarding when the prohibition of haircutting applies: some have the custom not to take haircuts from the Seventeenth of Tammuz, some from Rosh Chodesh Av, and some only from the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs.13 

Trimming the Mustache

yod-dalet It is permitted to trim the mustache if it interferes with eating. 14 

Minors

tet-vav The poskim disagree as to whether minors are prohibited from having haircuts from the Seventeenth of Tammuz onward, or whether they are prohibited only during the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs. In practice, one who is lenient has authorities on whom to rely.15 

Women

tet-zayin There are those who are lenient and allow women to take haircuts until Tisha B’Av, and this is the custom of Sepharadim; however, the view of the Mishnah Berurah is to be stringent in this matter, that their law is like that of men. 16 

Listening to Musical Instruments

yod-zayin Ashkenazim have the custom not to listen during these days to musical instruments or to any recorded music. [Regarding vocal singing, see above in the laws of Sefirat HaOmer].