Amigos e Companheiros,Once again I received inquiries about the so-called “nine days” and the “shabuang shekhalbo”. For the good order Rosh Hodesh Ab, the beginning of the fifth month of the Hebrew year, will be on Monday, August 5, 2024. Ab is the fifth month of the Hebrew year and corresponds this year to August on the Gregorian calendar.We Western Sephardim do not observe any particular mourning until outgoing Shabbat, next Saturday evening, August 10th. Contrary to Northern we do use wine for Habdalah. The exception is marriages. Unless strictly necessary we do not get married in the three weeks between 17 Tamuz and the 10th of Menahem (Ab). After Habdalah on August 10th until nightfall on August 14th we refrain from the consumption of meat, poultry and wine, we do not visit the hairdresser/barber and no manicure/pedicure. We do not go to the theatre for happy entertainment. Northern European Jews do not wash and shave in this period but our Hahamim have not enforced that custom, even though there are pious people who will observe it. We do not sit on the floor because of the Misvah defined by the Fifth Commandment to honor your father and mother. The main mourning ends immediately following morning services on the 9th of Ab.Contrary to the Northern European Jews we observe the 10th of Menahem (Ab) as if it is part of the Shabuang Shekhalbo.