IMPORTANT : The German government has decided to compensate all Moroccan-born Jews (anywhere in Morocco) born before 1944 for the hardships they faced during the war in the amount of 2,556 Euros. To apply from anywhere in the world, contact Charles Lugassy at 514-299-6279; visit www.juifsdumaroc.com or www.jewishmoroccans.com.

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Maghen Abot – e”H Ribi Mordekhai Lebhar s”t

Laws of the Three Weeks

5. Engagements and Weddings During the Three Weeks

The minhag is not to get engaged or married during the three weeks from the Seventeenth of Tamuz until Tish’a Beab, despite the fact that many Sefaradim permit engagements and weddings until Rosh Hodesh Ab. See Ribi Refael Barukh Toledano zs”l (Qisur Shulhan ‘Arukh 387). This is because throughout this time we should be decreasing our happiness in conjunction with our mourning over the destruction of Jerusalem. As it says, “All those who mourn Jerusalem will merit seeing its redemption,” speedily in our days, Amen!

Netibot Hama’arab – e”H Ribi Eliyahou Bitton s”t

Minhagim of The Three Weeks

1. It is customary to nickname the days of Ben Hamesarim (The Three Weeks – from the 17th of Tamuz until the 9th of Ab) with special names in order to show that we are moving from “light” to “heavy” days: We call, in Arabic, the days from the 17th of Tamuz until Rosh Hodesh Ab “Tiz’a Zghrira” (the Small Nine), the days from Rosh Hodesh Ab until Tish’a Beab “Tiz’a Kbira” (the Big Nine), and the day of Tish’a Beab itself we call “Yom Tiz’a.” Some give this sad day a nice name so as to not call it by its sad name, “Yom Lmbarekh” (The Blessed Day). This is all in order to remind the Nation, the women, men, and children that these days are ones of mourning and the mourner continues his mourning until the bitter day of Tish’a Beab when both Baté Miqdash were destroyed, the crowns on our heads and our glory gone with them.  

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Shi’urim :

* Darké Abotenou Shi’urim Archive

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Our Holy Sages, Hazal, teach us that “One who studies [at least] two laws daily is guaranteed a portion in the world to come.” -Masekhet Meghila 28b