Dear Friends,This coming Sunday marks the beginning of the Tres Semanas, or Three Weeks (Ben HaMesarim) which spans from the 17th of Tammuz to the 9th of Ab. This period is traditionally observed as a time of mourning, remembering the tragedies that befell the Jewish people, culminating in the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem.This year, the 9th of Ab (Tishnga B’Ab) falls on a Sunday, so the Halakhic framework differs from previous years when Tishnga B’Ab occurred on a weekday. Specifically, the week during which Tishnga B’Ab occurs, known as Shabuang She’hal Bo, is not observed as usual. Since the fast is on Sunday, the customary restrictions associated with Shabuang She’hal Bo, such as those concerning bathing, haircutting, shaving, and laundering, do not apply this year under the Sephardic halakhic tradition.The laws of mourning during this period are derived directly from the Talmudic sources (specifically the final chapter of Masekhet Tanganit) and the codification of Rambam, as per the rulings of Haham Yosef Karo, revered within the Sephardic community as Maran and the principal authority of Sephardic Halakha. Originally, these prohibitions applied solely during Shabuang She’hal Bo and not before. However, later Ashkenazic custom, particularly the rulings of the Rama, expanded these restrictions to the entire Nine Days or Three Weeks. This is not adopted by the Sephardic tradition.Furthermore, regarding a year such as this one, where Tishnga B’Ab falls on Sunday, Maran records a dispute among the Rishonim as to whether the preceding week is classified as Shabuang She’hal Bo. The prevailing Halakhic opinion, as clarified by Haham Salomon Rodrigues Pereira, Haham Ngobadia Yosef zt”l, and Haham Yitzhak Yosef shlita, is that it is not. Therefore, Sephardic Jews are permitted to engage in bathing, haircutting, shaving, and laundering throughout this week without restriction. As a result, Sephardim observe a much more minimal mourning during the Three Weeks and Nine Days.Though we refrain from eating meat the day after the fast day of Ab. From the tenth of the month we refer it as Menakhem.Salomon