Parshas Chukas-Balak 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jun 25
- 2 min read
Halachos and Hanhagos of the Three Weeks (1)
Next week begins the period of time in the Jewish calendar known as "בין המצרים" - “Three weeks.” It is a time of mourning over the destruction of the Bais HaMikdosh and the exile of Bnei Yisroel. In the times of the Mishnah and Gemara, many of the halachos were more lenient; as the golus grew longer and more debilitating, added customs of mourning were incorporated into halachah. (Ashkenazim generally keep more while Sephardim generally keep less restrictions.) Let us review some halachos.
Reciting the beracha of Shehechayanu. One should not make a Shehecheyanu during the three weeks (1), since the thrust of the beracha is to thank Hashem for allowing us to reach this time-period; yet many unfortunate things occurred during this time and it would seem inappropriate to give thanks. Accordingly, one should not buy new items that necessitate this beracha. (Clothing and shoes are permitted until Rosh Chodesh Av.) The appropriate beracha for a new family car, for example, is "הטוב והמטיב" that is said during the three weeks. A new fruit, however, which requires a Shehecheyanu should not be eaten until after Tisha B’av, or only on Shabbos, according to some poskim who permit it on Shabbos (2). If one doesn’t have these options, he may recite Shehecheyanu during the three weeks (3).
Bentching During the Three Weeks. The Gemara says that the fourth beracha of bentching - "הטוב והמטיב" - was added by the Sages to thank Hashem that the bodies of those Jews who were killed in the huge metropolis of Beitar and were left out for a long time, did not rot and were eventually buried (4). The Meshech Chochma (5) asks: For happy salvations like Pesach, Chanukah and Purim, we give thanks a few days a year. How come for this sad but beneficial salvation, we thank Hashem hundreds of times a year in bentching? He answers that after the churban, the
Yidden weren’t sure whether Hashem was still with them. Thus, Hashem sends little rays of light in the middle of the darkness (like the Beitar burial) to remind us that He is still with us. This important but easy to forget rule, gives us hope in our golus and must be remembered and thanked for every time we bentch.
(1) או"ח שם:יז (2) מ"ב שם:צח (3) רמ"א תקנא (4) תענית לא. (5) משך חכמה פרשת עקב