בין המצרים – גזירות חז”ל

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כל הימים שבין שבעה עשר בתמוז לבין תשעה באב, נקראים ימי “בין המצרים”, על שם הפסוק (במגילת איכה פרק א פסוק ג) “כָּל רוֹדְפֶיהָ הִשִּׂיגוּהָ בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים”, ואמרו רבותינו זכרונם לברכה, שְאֵלוּ הימים, הם הימים שבין שבעה עשר בתמוז לתשעה באב, שבהם נכנסו האויבים לירושלים עיר קדשנו ותפארתנו, ופרעו פרעות בישראל, עד יום תשעה באב, שבו החריבו את בית המקדש בעוונות הרבים, ומאז ועד היום עם ישראל אינו יושב בטח, ותמיד קמים עליו אויבים מבית ומחוץ.

אולם אילו היו אלה הפרושים רוצים רק להחמיר על עצמם, אין בכך כלום, אלא שאותם הפרושים רצו שינהגו כן כל ישראל, ולא ראו בעין יפה את מי שאוכל בשר ושותה יין.

חכמי ישראל, לא רצו לגזור על ישראל גזירות קשות כמנהג הפרושים, מפני שידעו רבותינו, שאין גוזרים גזירה על הציבור אלא אם כן רוב הציבור יכול לעמוד בה. לכן נטפל רבי יהושע בן חנניה לאותם הפרושים. אמר להם, מפני מה אינכם אוכלים בשר ואינכם שותים יין? אמרו לו, וכי אפשר שבית אלוקינו שמם ואין קרבנות ואין ניסוך היין ואנו נאכל בשר ונשתה יין? אמר להם רבי יהושע, אם כן, מדוע אתם אוכלים פירות? הרי אין לנו כעת מצוות ביכורים שהיו מביאים לבית המקדש, נכון וראוי לכם לפרוש גם כן מאכילת פירות! השיבוהו הפרושים, נכונים דבריך! נדיר את עצמינו מפירות שבעת המינים שמהם מביאים ביכורים, ונאכל רק מיני פירות אחרים!

אמר להם רבי יהושע, אם כן, מדוע נאכל לחם? הרי אין לנו מנחות על גבי המזבח! מדוע נשתה מים? הרי אין ניסוך המים על גבי המזבח! שמעו הפרושים את דבריו ושתקו. אמר להם רבי יהושע, בודאי חייבים אנו להתאבל ולהשתתף בצער השכינה, אך להתאבל יותר מדאי גם כן לא ראוי, כי הציבור לא יוכלו לעמוד בגזירות כאלה. גם אדם שלא יאכל בשר, ילך ויחלש, ויתרשל לאחר מכן בלימוד התורה. לכן אין לנהוג אבלות בכל השנה בתוקף גדול כל כך, אלא בקצת דברים שתיקנו רבותינו זכר לחורבן, וכפי שביארו בגמרא שם.

מזה למדנו, שאף על פי שאנו אוכלים בכל השנה בשר, ושותים יין, מכל מקום בימים הללו נהגו ישראל מעצמם בכמה וכמה מנהגי אבלות על החורבן, וכפי שנבאר. ואף על פי שרוב המנהגים הללו לא באו מכח תקנת חכמינו, אלא ישראל נהגו בהם מעצמם, מכל מקום חובה קדושה לשמור על המנהגים הללו, שהוקבעו כדין ממש בכל תפוצות ישראל.

לפיכך, אין לברך ברכת שהחיינו על בגד חדש או פרי חדש בימי בין המצרים. ובשבתות שבימי בין המצרים, אפשר להקל בדבר. ובשבת שחלה אחר ראש חודש אב, יש להחמיר בזה לגבי בגד חדש, אבל לגבי פרי חדש, אפשר מן הדין להקל.

ופסק מרן רבינו עובדיה יוסף זצוק”ל, שמותר לקנות בגדים חדשים בימי בין המצרים, עד ראש חודש אב. אך אין ללובשם עד לאחר תשעה באב.

The three-week period between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av is dubbed by our Sages “Between the Straits,” based on the verse (Eicha 1, 3), “All of her enemies overtook her between the straits.” Our Sages tell us that these three weeks between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av are when our enemies entered the holy city of Jerusalem and massacred countless Jewish people until the Ninth of Av when they finally succeeded in destroying the Bet Hamikdash. From that day on, the Jewish people no longer dwell securely, and we must endure enemies attacking us from the outside as well as from within.

The Perushim and Rabbi Yehoshua
The Gemara (Baba Batra 60a) states that after the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash, the Perushim (a group of G-d-fearing Jews) enacted that meat and wine should no longer be consumed claiming that since sacrificial meat was no longer offered on the altar and wine was no longer be libated on it, how can our table be full while Hashem’s remains lacking?

Would these Perushim want to institute this stringency only among themselves, that would have been just fine. The problem was that they wanted to impose this on the entirety of the Jewish nation, and they frowned upon those who continued to eat meat and drink wine.

The Sages did not wish to impose such difficult decrees upon the Jewish nation as they understood that decrees that cannot be undertaken by a majority of the population should not be enacted. Rabbi Yehoshua therefore decided to engage these Perushim. He asked them, “Why do you not eat meat and drink wine?” The replied, “Is it proper for the house of Hashem to lay desolate without the sacrifices or libation offerings while we eat meat and drink wine?” Rabbi Yehoshua retorted, “If so, why do you eat fruit? Since the Bikkurim (first fruits) are no longer brought to the Bet Hamikdash any longer, it is inappropriate for you to be eating fruits either!” They replied, “How correct you are! We shall abstain from the fruits of the Seven Species (from which Bikkurim were brought) and consume only other types of fruits.”

Rabbi Yehoshua told them, “Why do you eat bread when there are no longer any meal-offerings being brought upon the altar?! Similarly, why do you drink water when the water libation is no longer performed on the altar during the Sukkot holiday?!” The Perushim were unable to reply to his claim. Rabbi Yehoshua meant to teach them that although we are obligated to mourn and participate in the suffering of the Shechina, nevertheless, mourning too much is also not recommended because these are decrees that the Jewish nation simply cannot withstand. Furthermore, if one does not eat meat, one will become weak and unable to engage in Torah study with ample strength. Thus, one should not engage in such intense mourning throughout the year; rather, one should observe the few mourning customs instituted by our Sages in commemoration of the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash (see Gemara ibid).

Based on the above, although we customarily eat meat and drink wine throughout the year, nevertheless, during these days, the Jewish nation has accepted several mourning customs upon themselves, as we shall explain. Although most of these mourning customs are not rooted in the words of our Sages and were merely adopted by the Jewish nation themselves, one must nonetheless observe these customs carefully as they have been accepted as actual laws.

The Levels of Mourning during this Period and the Laws of the Week during which Tisha Be’av Falls Out This Year
In the following Halachot we shall, G-d-willing, discuss the laws of the “Three Weeks” (based on what we have written in previous years along with some new additions). There are various degrees of mourning observed during this period: From the Seventeenth of Tammuz until Rosh Chodesh Av, few mourning customs are observed. From the day of Rosh Chodesh Av, some more mourning customs are added. During the week during which Tisha Be’av falls out, even more mourning customs are observed.

Reciting the “Shehecheyanu” Blessing During the “Three Weeks”
It is proper to abstain from reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing during the three weeks between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av on a new fruit or a new garment. One should leave the new fruit or garment for after Tisha Be’av rather than to eat the fruit or wear the garment without reciting “Shehecheyanu.”

The source for this custom can be found in the Sefer Chassidim who writes that they would not eat a new fruit during the “Three Weeks,” for how can one recite the blessing of “Who has given us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this time,” during such a tragic period? Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch likewise writes that it is preferable to abstain from reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing on a new fruit or garment during the “Three Weeks.” Rabbeinu Ha’Ari z”l rules likewise, as do the consensus of the Acharonim. (Chazon Ovadia-Arba Ta’aniyot, page 129)

On Shabbatot that fall out during the “Three Weeks,” one may recite “Shehecheyanu” on a new fruit or garment. Nevertheless, following Rosh Chodesh Av, it is preferable to abstain from reciting “Shehecheyanu” on a new garment even on Shabbat. However, regarding reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing on a new fruit on the Shabbat following Rosh Chodesh Av, one may act leniently and do so. (Responsa Yechave Da’at, Volume 1, Chapter 37)

Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l  writes that it is permissible to purchase new clothing during this period until Rosh Chodesh Av; however, the clothing should not be worn until after Tisha Be’av.

מנהגי ימי בין המצרים בקצרה

כתב מרן רבינו עובדיה יוסף זצ”ל, שבימי בין המצרים יש להמנע משמיעת מוזיקה מוקלטת. ומכל מקום, בשמחת מצוה, כגון שמחת חתן וכלה, או בשמחת ברית מילה, או בסעודת פדיון הבן, או בר מצוה, או סיום מסכת, מותר לשמוע שירי קודש המלווים בכלי נגינה, שכל שהיא שמחה של מצוה, יש להקל בדבר.

The three-week period between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av is referred to by our Sages as “Between the Straits,” based on the verse (Eicha 1, 3), “All of her enemies overtook her between the straits.”

Reciting the “Shehecheyanu” Blessing During the “Three Weeks”
It is proper to abstain from reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing during the three weeks between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av on a new fruit or a new garment. One should leave the new fruit or garment for after Tisha Be’av rather than to eat the fruit or wear the garment without reciting “Shehecheyanu.”

The source for this custom can be found in the Sefer Chassidim who writes that they would not eat a new fruit during the “Three Weeks,” for how can one recite the blessing of “Who has given us life, sustained us, and allowed us to reach this time,” during such a tragic period? Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch likewise writes that it is preferable to abstain from reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing on a new fruit or garment during the “Three Weeks.” Rabbeinu Ha’Ari z”l rules, likewise, as do the consensus of the Acharonim. (Chazon Ovadia-Arba Ta’aniyot, page 129)

If a pregnant woman sees a new fruit during the “Three Weeks” and craves it, she may indeed eat this fruit during this time and she should recite the “Shehecheyanu” blessing before eating it.

On Shabbatot that fall out during the “Three Weeks,” one may recite “Shehecheyanu” on a new fruit or garment. Nevertheless, following Rosh Chodesh Av, it is preferable to abstain from reciting “Shehecheyanu” on a new garment even on Shabbat. However, regarding reciting the “Shehecheyanu” blessing on a new fruit on the Shabbat preceding Rosh Chodesh Av, one may act leniently and do so. (Responsa Yechave Da’at, Volume 1, Chapter 37)

Listening to Music During the “Three Weeks”
All forms of dancing are forbidden during the three weeks between the Seventeenth of Tammuz and the Ninth of Av, even when there is no musical accompaniment.

Although during the rest of the year one may listen to music from a tape recorder, cassette, CD, and the like (recorded music), especially songs with holy words that are accompanied by musical instruments, Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l writes that during the “Three Weeks”, one should refrain from doing so. Nevertheless, when it comes to a celebration of a Mitzvah, such as a wedding, Berit Milah, the festive meal of a Pidyon Haben (redemption of the firstborn), Bar Mitzvah, or conclusion of a tractate of the Talmud, one may listen to songs composed of holy words and musical accompaniment, for as long as it is in celebration of a Mitzvah, one may act leniently regarding this matter.

Singing During the “Three Weeks”
Singing, without musical accompaniment, is permissible during this time. One may certainly act leniently regarding this matter on the Shabbatot that fall out during the “Three Weeks;” indeed, even on Tisha Be’av that falls out on Shabbat, one may sing songs in honor of Shabbat.

One Whose Livelihood Depends on Playing a Musical Instrument
If one’s job requires him to play a musical instrument for non-Jews, one may continue to play music until the week during which Tisha Be’av falls out. Similarly, regarding a music teacher who teaches students to play musical instruments, such as the violin and the like, if one will incur a monetary loss by not teaching during this period, one may indeed continue to teach playing music until the Sunday before Tisha Be’av. It is preferable, nonetheless, to act stringently regarding this matter beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av. Just as music teachers may act leniently regarding this matter, so too, a student learning to play a musical instrument may continue doing so during this period.

Playing Music in Camps
Camps or Daycare programs which operate during the “Three Weeks” and play songs with musical accompaniment as part of their daily routines may act leniently and continue to do so during the “Three Weeks.” Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef zt”l and Hagaon Harav Yaakov Kamenetzky zt”l rule likewise

Laundering Clothing
We will, G-d-willing, discuss the laws of laundering clothing and wearing freshly-laundered clothing closer to Rosh Chodesh Av.