Q & A
THE 3 WEEKS & TISHA B'AV
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What is forbidden during the three weeks?
- Weddings
- Playing or listening to music
- Haircuts
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Are engagements permitted?
- One may become engaged during the entire three weeks
- A festive meal may be held until Rosh Chodesh
- Only light refreshments may be served between Rosh Chodesh & Tisha B'av
- In eiither case, music may not be played
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Which type of music is forbidden?
- One may not play or listen to any musical instrument during the three weeks
- It is also forbidden to listen to music on the radio or on a cassette
- According to most opinions, this applies even to a seudas mitzvah such as a Brism, Pidyon
Haben, Sheva Brachos, Siyum or Bar Mitzvah
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May one learn or teach to play an instrument?
- This is usually forbidden
- However, if the cancellation of lessons will cause a financial loss to the teacher, some opinions are lenient until the week of Tisha b’Av
- A student may only practice to play the instrument if extra lessons would be required due to
the breal & he is not playing for his enjoyment - You may not practice during the week of Tisha b’Av
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Can you without musical accompaniment?
It is permitted to sing
- On Shabbos
- At a Seudas Mitzvah
- Songs of praise or arousal to serve Hashem
- To young children
- Singing for pleasure is permitted until Rosh Chodesh but it is preferable to refrain
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Could you dance without musical accompaniment?
- Dancing is usually forbidden
- However, at a seudas mitzvah some opinions allow dancing without music
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Can a women have a haircut?
- Generally speaking, both men & women are forbidden to have a haircut during the three
weeks - However, a married woman may remove excess hair that protrudes out of her hair covering
if necessary.
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Can children have a haircut?
- Ideally, children should also not have a haircut
- If necessary, a child may have a haircut until the week of Tisha b’Av
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Could a boy have his first haircut
when reaching the age of three during the 3 weeks?
- Although some opinions permit it, the custom is to give the first haircut before or after the
three weeks.
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Can I trim my beard?
- A man is forbidden to shave or trim his beard during the three weeks
- A man who shaves daily & is liable to incur a financial loss if he refrains may shave until the week of Tisha b’Av
- Nevertheless, he may not shave simply to avoid embarrassment
- A rav should be consulted about shaving during the week of Tisha b’Av
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Could I trim my mustache?
- This is permitted only if it interferes with his eating
- According to some opinions, even this is forbidden in the week of Tisha b’Av
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Can I shave my legs?
- This is usually forbidden
- However, according to some opinions, a married woman or a girl of marriageable age may
be lenient, if she considers it to be necessary
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Could I pluck my eyebrows?
Yes
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Is it ok to buy new shoes for Tish B’Av?
- It is best to buy shoes for Tisha B'Av before Rosh Chodesh Av
- It is preferable if one would wear them on Yom Kippur for the first time
- But if you don't have shoes which are permitted to wear on Tisha B'Av & you forgot to buy
them before Rosh Chodesh, it is permitted to buy them after Rosh Chodesh & even in the
week of Tisha B'Av - (Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3, 80. Kaf Hachaim 551, 96).
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Can I shave my beard during the 3 weeks
if I just finished mourning my father?
Since you were unable to shave or have a haircut before the three weeks,
you may do so until Rosh Chodesh
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Chart of the Laws of the 3 Weeks
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