The three-week period between Shiva Asar B’Tammuz and Tisha B’Av is kept by Klal Yisrael as a time of mourning. In this article, we will review and explain the halachos that apply during the Three Weeks.
Clothes worn by babies who regularly soil their outfits are not included in the prohibition. Likewise, one may wash sheets and blankets of young children who wet themselves at night.
Even though the Sages prohibited bathing on Tisha Be-Av only, the Rishonim were stringent and would refrain from bathing on the days preceding Tisha Be-Av as well.
A Jewish contractor and Jewish workers may continue building residential homes during the Nine Days in order to sell them, because the units are designed as living quarters and not as luxury homes.
18. The Laws of Business Transactions During the Nine Days
Chapter 8: The Customs of the Three Weeks
We curtail joyous business transactions during the Nine Days. That is to say, one may not buy luxury items like jewelry, clothing, fancy appliances, new furniture, or a car for personal use.
The Sages state in the Mishna (Ta’anit 26b), “When Av arrives, we curtail our joy,” because this is a period of mourning over the Temple’s destruction. Therefore, one should not engage in joyous activities.
Ashkenazim and some Sephardim is to refrain from cutting one’s hair during the entirety of the Three Weeks. Regarding shaving one’s beard, however, a question arises.
It is customary in most Jewish communities that no weddings are held during the Three Weeks. Until the first of Av, one may hold a modest, small-scale engagement party.
One who is presented the opportunity to perform a mitzva that requires one to recite She-heĥeyanu.According to most poskim, one may recite She-heĥeyanu on the Shabbatot of the Three Weeks.
Some of the greatest Rishonim would refrain from eating a new fruit or buying a new garment during the Three Weeks, in order to avoid reciting She-heĥeyanu.
It seems that in practice, according to the lenient view, we should divide all songs into three categories. From the beginning of the Three Weeks, one should refrain from listening to the first category of music. Starting from the first of Av, one should refrain from listening to the middle category as well
