By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

Fast Begins 4:05 AM End 9:05 PM
Fourth hour of the day to the ninth hour of the day: 9:23 AM to 4:28 PM [Don’t walk alone]

The period of mourning known as the Three Weeks (or Drei Voch or Bain HaMetzarim) begins with the 17th of Tammuz. Five tragedies occurred on this day. 1] The first set of tablets were shattered when Moshe Rabbeinu witnessed the nation involving itself in the sin of the Golden Calf 2] The Korban Tamid, the daily offering, was stopped in the time of the first Beis HaMikdash. Even though the walls of the city of Yerushalayim were already broken through, the Kohanim could still offer the Korban Tamid. How so? The enemy soldiers were bribed. This stopped, however, on the 17th of Tammuz 3] During the Second Beis HaMikdash the city walls were surrounded on the 17th of Tammuz. According to the Talmud Bavli this same event occurred on the 9th of Tammuz for the First Beis HaMikdash. Why then did we not make a fast on the 9th of Tammuz? The answer is that the sages did not wish to make two such fasts. It would be too much for Klal Yisroel to bear. The Talmud Yerushalmi, however, states that even in the First Beis HaMikdash the walls were surrounded on the 17th – it is just that an error had been made. 4] Apostumus burned the Torah during the Roman occupation in the era of the Second Beis HaMikdash 5] A statue was erected in the Heichal of the Beis HaMikdash. There is a question among the Amoraim whether this refers to the statue erected in the first Beis HaMikdash by Menashe or in the second one by the Greek general Apostumus.

THE REASON FOR THE FAST

The purpose of the fast, however, is not merely to recall these tragic events, but also to awaken us to do Teshuvah. The obligation is therefore to examine our actions and to repent the evil ones. This should be done in three areas: 1] Mitzvos Bain Adam l’Makom – those Mitzvos between Man and Hashem 2] Mitzvos Bain Adam l’Chaveiro – Mitzvos between man and his friend 3] Tikkun HaMiddos – repairing any character flaw we may have. It is wrong to waste away the hours of a fast day on trips, or on shopping.

WHO SHOULD FAST

All healthy adults over the age of Bar or Bas Mitzvah are obligated to fast. There is no Mitzvah of Chinuch to have younger children fast. However, they should not eat or drink excessively and should avoid sweets and candy in order to mourn with the nation (See MB 550:5)

A sick person, however, should not fast. This applies even if the illness is not life-threatening. If someone has a headache he should continue to fast. If, however, it is completely debilitating some Poskim permit the person to break the fast.

Pregnant and nursing women who feel weak should not fast (Tisha B’Av is an exception and of course Yom Kippur). There is a danger of losing the baby.

If someone is eating, however, they should only eat what is necessary to maintain one’s health and not more in order to participate in the nation’s mourning.

If one mistakenly ate this does not mean that the person should continue eating. One must still continue the fast. Some say that one should fast another day as an atonement (See SA 449:3).
The fast does not begin at night, but rather at Amud HaShachar. However, if one went to sleep without having in mind to awaken before the fast then one may not eat prior to Amud HaShachar. When the fast is over one may eat meat and drink wine. Some authorities cite the Zohar as ruling that if one did go to sleep, even if one had in mind to eat, one may only drink before Amud HaShachar.
Eating and drinking are forbidden. Bathing, anointing and wearing shoes, however, are all permitted. A Baal Nefesh, one who is concerned about his spirituality should refrain from bathing and anointing (See MB 550:6).

If a person normally rinses his or her mouth every morning and would suffer anguish if it is not done then it may be done during a fast if one bends forward so that it not enter the mouth inadvertently (MB 567:11)

The verse in Aichah states (1:3), “All who pursued her reached her between the two tragedies..” Our sages understood this to mean between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av. During this time terrible tragedies occurred to the Jewish people including the destruction of both Batei HaMikdash.

During this time we do not get married, but we can get engaged. Indeed, one may even make an engagement party without music.

Generally speaking we do not have dances with musical instruments and singing during this time. Indeed, one should not even listen to recorded music.
However, many Poskim permit playing and practicing music if one is studying how to do so.

Haircuts are also forbidden according to Ashkenazic custom. This includes the beard as well. One may also not give a haircut to a child during these times. A man may trim his mustache if it affects his eating. A woman mat cut excessive side hair (MB 551:79). Fingernails may be cut freely until Rosh Chodesh. For Shabbos they may be trimmed even after Rosh Chodesh. If one has had a boy and is celebrating a Bris Milah he may take a haircut even in the week in which Tisha B’Av falls.

The custom is not to recite the blessing of a Shecheyanu on a new fruit or item during the weekdays. One can and should wait until Shabbos to recite the blessing. This only pertains to Shehecheyanu on an item, but a Shehecheyanu on a Mitzvah should be recited during the week. Therefore, a Shehecheyanu on a Pidyon HaBen is recited on time.

One should be extra careful during these times not to walk alone between the 4th hour of the day until the ninth hour of the day (MB 551:102).

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