The nine days, begin Tuesday night, July 21st (Rosh Chodesh Av), and are the beginning of the most intense season of national mourning, as the Talmud states [Ta'anit 26]: "When the month of Av begins, we reduce our joy."
From Rosh Chodesh (Sunday night 8/4) and until after Tisha B'Av: • We avoid purchasing any items that bring great joy (see below for more information) • We suspend home improvements and the planting of trees and flowers. • We avoid litigation with non-Jews, since this period is not considered a time of "fortune" for the Jewish people. • We abstain from eating meat (including poultry) and drinking wine - foods which are symbolic of the Temple service and are expressions of celebration and joy. On Shabbat, meat and wine are permitted. This applies also to any other seudat mitzvah, for example, at a Brit Milah or at the completion of a tractate of Talmud. Some have the custom to let a child drink the wine from Havdalah this Saturday night. • We refrain from wearing newly laundered garments, or laundering any clothes, even if done by a non-Jew or in preparation for Tisha B'Av. (If the "freshness" has been taken out of a garment prior to the Nine Days, it may be worn.) Fresh clothes may be worn for Shabbat and young children's clothing, which is frequently soiled, may be laundered during the Nine Days. • We do not bathe for pleasure. However, it is permitted to bathe in order to remove dirt or perspiration, and bathing in warm water is permitted on Friday in honor of Shabbat.
Shopping During the Nine Days During the “Nine Days” it is forbidden to make a major purchase or to buy clothing. The reasons for this prohibition are: • Such a purchase may require a person to recite a "shehechiyanu" - a bracha that we avoid reciting during the Three Weeks, and especially during the Nine Days [Orech Chaim 551:17; Aruch Hashulchan Orech Chaim 551:38]. • If the purchase is clothing, there are additional prohibitions related to buying new clothing, even if they are intended to be worn AFTER the Nine Days [Mishna Berura ibid. notes 45 and 49].
However, the following leniencies apply: • An item that is forbidden to be bought during the Nine Days because of the "shehechiyanu" restriction may be bought during the Nine Days if it requires assembly (or in the case of clothing - alterations) and if the assembly will be done after the Nine Days. The same rule applies to a utensil that requires immersion/tevila in a mikvah. If the immersion will not take place until after the Nine Days, no shehecheyanu is said at the time of purchase [Mishna Berura Orech Chaim 223 note 17; Shaar HaTziyun, ibid. note 21]. • If delaying the purchase will cause one a substantial loss (i.e. a very special sale is in progress and will end before Tisha B'Av) [Zichron Shlomo, Hilchot Chol HaMoed pg. 94 in the name of R' Moshe Feinstein and R' Yaakov Kaminetzky; Nitei Gavriel Bein HaMeitzarim vol. 1 17:9 ] or if the item will not be available after Tisha B'Av, it is permitted to buy the item during the Nine Days [Mishna Berura Orech Chaim 551 note 11 and 13; Kaf HaChaim Orech Chaim 551 note 29]. • One who does not have appropriate shoes to wear on Tishah B'Av may buy them during the Nine Days [Iggrot Moshe Orech Chaim vol. 3, number 80]. If one will run out of clothing for small children, one may either wash the clothes or buy new clothes [Orech Chaim 551:14].
DVAR TORAH Beginning last week, and leading up to Tisha B'Av we read the three special haftarot, known as the T'lata d'Puranuta [lit. "the three of calamity"], in which Yirmiyahu HaNavi urges the Jewish people towards repentance. However, these haftarot offer more than a mere foretelling of doom; they contain a profound message.
Rabbi Mosheh Twersky, hy" d, the grandson of Rav Soloveitchik who was murdered in a terror attack in Har Nof fgound a connection between these haftarot and the parshiyot we read during this period. Parshat Pinchas, with its intricate descriptions of the korbanot, reminds us of the sacrifices we can no longer offer in exile. Yet, it also beckons us to find new ways to connect with the Divine, to offer the sacrifices of a contrite heart. Parshat Mattot-Masai, delineating the boundaries of Eretz Yisrael, highlights the spiritual boundaries we must maintain even in the absence of physical ones. And Parshat Devarim, recounting the sin of the spies, serves as a stark reminder of the power of words and the destructive potential of doubt and negativity.
But even more, the opening words of each haftarah, "divrei," "shimu," and "chazon," offer a roadmap for our personal and communal journey. "Divrei," meaning "words," reminds us of the impact our speech has on ourselves and others. We must choose our words carefully, ensuring they build bridges of understanding rather than walls of division. "Shimu," meaning "hear," urges us to listen attentively to the voices of those around us, to seek out diverse perspectives, and to engage in meaningful dialogue. And "chazon," meaning "vision," calls upon us to look beyond the present moment, to envision a future where unity and compassion prevail.
The three weeks are not merely a time of mourning; they are a time of reckoning, a time to confront our shortcomings and resolve to do better. It is a time to remember the power of words, the importance of boundaries, and the enduring hope that springs from faith. By heeding the lessons embedded within these Three Haftarot of Calamity, we can transform this time of sadness into a catalyst for personal and communal growth.
Tuesdays @ 8:30 pm - KINS Women's Tehillim Group each week at a different home. To stay informed - CLICK HERE
Receive a daily 3 Minute Thought directly to your whatsapp. Click here to enroll
MAZAL TOV * to Yoel and Yehudit Goldberg and Dudi and Shira Berkowitz on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Gav and Gayil Goldberg. Special Mazal Tov to great grandparents Norman and Malke Goldberg. * to Avrumi and Rena Katzenstein on the birth of a son. * to David and Rochie Porush on the birth of a grandson. The proud parents are Gavi and Nechama Porush (Israel). Special Mazal Tov to the great grandparents, Israel and Esther Porush and Dr. Yudi and Phyllis Garden. * to Hesh and Mimi Granek on the birth of a granddaughter. The proud parents are Moe and Batsheva Stern (Passaic.) * to Morris and Malka Loterstein on the recent Bar Mitzvah of their grandson, Chaim Samberg.
CONDOLENCES * to Rita Horovicz, Jeffery Horovicz, Evelyn Horovicz, Judy (Oron) Domsky and Avi (Devorah) Horovicz, on the loss of their husband, father and grandfather, George Horovicz z’l. Shiva is being observed at 2852 W. Pratt through Sunday morning. Please no visitors 12:30-2:30 p.m., 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. or after 9:30 p.m.
THANK YOU * to Daniel Peikes, Reuven Gottesman and Etan Bleichman for all of their help with the KINS Summer BBQ.
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund -please click here.
Kiddush at KINS North is sponsored in honor of Mark, Linda and Julie Freedman, wishing them Tzetchem L’Shalom on their making Aliyah.
Seudah Shlishit at KINS North is sponsored by Dr. Avy and Yisraela Dachman in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Avy’s father, Albert Dachman z’l – אליהו חיים בן שלמה ז'ל.
DAILY & WEEKLY SHIURIM DAF YOMI – Mon.-Fri. after 6:25 Shacharit; Sunday - 6:45am PARSHA PERSPECTIVE – RECORDED Sunday-Friday MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays - 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - Tuesdays - 12:30pm DAYTIME DIALOGUES - is on summer hiatus
ANNIVERSARIES Alan and Dvora Gold (8/4) Dr. Dean and Juli Bell (8/5) Jonathan and Ilana Dress (8/5) Dovid and Ricky Gelerinter (8/8) Irwin and Deedie Gold (8/8) Richard and Rachel Silverman (8/8)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
MONDAY NIGHT SEDER - Mondays - 8:00-9:00pm
PARSHAT HASHAVUA - 
SEFER MELACHIM 
SEMICHAS CHAVER PROGRAM 
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - Shabbat 5:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – Shabbat 45 minutes before mincha
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays at 9:00pm