Mourning Mid-day

Many poskim mention that after the mid-day point of every day during the three weeks one should take some time out to mourn over the destruction of the Bais Hamikdosh.17 Nonetheless, this should not be done on Erev Shabbos, Erev Rosh Chodesh Av, Rosh Chodesh and Erev Tisha B’av.18 

Restricted Activities

There are basically four main activities which are customarily restricted during the three weeks. 1. Joy, such as a wedding, dancing or music. 2. Haircuts. 3. Reciting a shehechiyanu. 4. Dangerous situations. We will now begin to discuss these activities in the order in which they appear in the Shulchan Aruch. 

Weddings

The custom of Ashkenazim19 is to refrain from making weddings from the night of Shiva Asar B’tamuz until after Tisha B’av.20 This is even if one has not fulfilled the mitzvah of having children21 (see above in regard to making a wedding the night of Shiva Asar B’tamuz). One is permitted to get engaged (vort)22 or write a tenayim during the three weeks but only without a seuda23 or dancing). 24 One is permitted to make a seuda for a bris milah or pidyon haben during the three weeks.25

Some say that at a sheva berochos which takes during the three weeks, one may not have dancing or music.26 Others permit dancing but no music,27 and others permit both dancing and music.28

Compiled by Rabbi Moishe Dovid Lebovits who can be reached at [email protected]

Reviewed by Rabbi Ben-zion Schiffenbauer Shlita

All Piskei Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita are Reviewed by Harav Yisrael Belsky Shlita