Spirituality
HOLIDAY 101
The Three Weeks
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E
Elizabeth Applebaum
Special to the Jewish News
W
hat It Is: The Three Weeks is
a period of mourning begin-
ning on the fast day of the
17th day of Tamuz, continuing to the first 3
nine days of the month of Av ( (The Nine
Days') and culminating in the fast day of
Tisha b'Av.
When We Observe: This year, the Three
Weeks begin at sunrise on Sunday morn-
ing, July 20. The ninth day of Av begins
Saturday night, Aug. 9, and continues until
sundown on Sunday, Aug. 10.
Name Of The Events: The 17th of
Tamuz and the ninth of Av are three weeks
apart. Tisha b'Av: In Hebrew, tisha means
`nine'; Av is the name of the month; b
means `in: Thus Tisha b'Av means 'nine
[days] in Av.'
Why We Observe: To commemo-
rate and mourn the destruction by the
Assyrians of the first Jewish Temple in
Jerusalem and the destruction by the
Romans of the second Temple. The walls
of Jerusalem were breached on the 17th of
Tamuz, and both Temples were destroyed
on the ninth of Av. In ancient times, the
Jerusalem Temple was the focal point of
Jewish national religious observance. Its
destruction was accompanied by national
disaster.
After the fall of the First Temple, most
of the Jews were deported to Assyria
(which later became Babylonia). The
destruction of the Second Temple was
Man praying on the Ninth of Av — Rothschild Mahzor, Italy, 1492
followed by the exile of the Jewish people,
mostly to Europe. Other calamities also
have befallen the Jewish people on the 9th
Traditions Of The Three Weeks:
ing for a public fast day (Exodus 32:11-14;
of Av.
During the Three Weeks, we do not get
34:1-10). Three persons are called up.
What We Observe: The 17th of Tamuz
haircuts, buy new clothes or have wed-
Selichot are also recited.
is a partial-day fast — that is, it begins
dings, parties or other joyous events. A
In the afternoon Minchah service, the
at sunrise and ends at sunset (although
stricter approach is not to listen to music
same Torah portion is read and a Haftorah
abstention from food and drink is total).
(although some allow recorded music).
portion is added: Isaiah 55:6 -56:8.
Tisha b'Av and Yom Kippur are the only
During the Nine Days — beginning with
Tisha b'Av: Before the fast begins on
two full fasts, with no eating or drinking
Rosh Chodesh Av (the first day of Av, this
Tisha b'Av, we eat a last meal consisting
from sunset to sundown. Also on Tisha
year on Saturday, Aug. 2) until the ninth
of bread, water and an egg. Synagogues
b'Av we do not wear leather shoes or use
of Av — we intensify the mourning by
take down the parochet — the curtain on
perfume, bathe for pleasure or engage in
abstaining from meat and wine, except for the ark — and lower the lighting in the
marital relations. We do not participate
Shabbat.
sanctuary.
in enjoyable activities, even the study of
The Services: On the 17th of Tamuz,
Those who come to pray in the syna-
Torah, with the exception of the Book of
Aneinu ((Answer Us') is inserted into the
gogue sit in a manner appropriate for
Lamentations, the Book of Job and other
Amida (Shmona Esrei) prayer. The Torah is mourners, that is, on the floor or on
literature of a mournful character.
read, the portion being the standard read- low stools or benches. During Ma'ariv
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(evening) service, Eichah (the Book of
Lamentations) is recited.
At the conclusion of the reading of
Eichah, we recite a number of dirges, or
kinot.
At Shacharit, the morning service,
talit and tefillin are not worn. Aneinu is
inserted into the Shmona Esrei. The Torah
reading is Deuteronomy 4:25-40, which
focuses on Moses' warning to the children
of Israel of their fate should they forsake
the Torah (though in the end, they are told
God will have mercy and forgive them).
Three persons are called up. The Haftorah
is Jeremiah 8:13 - 9:23.
After the morning service, kinot again
are recited, usually until midday (about
1:30 p.m.), or at least until noon. Many
of the kinot focus on the destruction
of the Temples, but many others recall
disasters that befell the Jewish people,
such as the Crusades, expulsions, the
Chmelnicki Massacres of 1648 (in Poland
and Ukraine) and other massacres, and
the Holocaust.
The Jewish house on Tisha b'Av is quiet-
er than usual, as television, DVDs, videos,
computer games, music CDs and other
forms of entertainment will not be on.
Swimming is not permitted. It is custom-
ary to visit a cemetery. To keep children
occupied, many parents take them to a
public park or playground.
At Minchah, the afternoon service, tallit
and tefillin are worn. The Torah read-
ing is the standard fast-day portion, plus
Haftorah (as read on the 17th of Tamuz).
By this time of day, it is permitted to sit on
ordinary chairs.
There is no special ceremony to end
Tisha b'Av. As soon as the fast is over,
regular activities may begin although it
is traditional to wait until after midday of
the next day to get a haircut. At the conclu-
sion of evening services, it is customary to
recite Kiddush Levana, the prayer for the
new moon.
Because this year Tisha b'Av begins on a
Saturday night, we do not recite Havdalah
at the conclusion of Shabbat. Instead, we
postpone Havdalah to Sunday night, after
Tisha b'Av, although without spices and a
candle (which mark the end of Shabbat
only), but with a cup of wine (or grape
juice). ❑