The three-week period that begins with the fast of the 17th of Tamuz and climaxes with Tish’ah B’Av is known as “The Three Weeks.” It is a time of mourning and reflection for the destruction of both the First and the Second Temples in Jerusalem, as well as many other tragedies that befell klal Yisrael over the course of history. In order to internalize and grow from the memory of these calamities, Chazal instituted increasing degrees of mourning practices during this period.
For example: We don’t conduct weddings, play musical instruments, listen to music, and recite the She’hecheyanu blessing; most Ashkenazim don’t get haircuts or shave.
Rav Soloveitchik explains that the period of The Three Weeks is designed to gradually bring the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash into the center of our consciousness. Proper observance of these halachos prepares us to take the next step and begin to experience a true sense of aveilus during The Nine Days and through Tish’ah B’Av. It is only through the meticulous observance of the halachos of mourning for the Beis HaMikdash that we can reasonably hope to merit seeing the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash in our lifetime.
There is a story told of Napoleon walking through the streets of Paris on Tish’ah B’Av. As he passed a shul, he heard the sounds of mourning. “What’s this all about?” Napoleon asked. An aide explained that the Jews were mourning the loss of their Temple. “When did this happen?” Napoleon asked. The aide replied, “About 1,700 years ago.” Napoleon replied, “Certainly a people that has mourned the loss of their Temple for so long, will merit to see it rebuilt!”
List of People Who Need
a R’fuah Sh’leimah
(a complete recovery)
Please recite Psalms 20, 30, 88, 121, and 130.
Ezra Refael ben Taoos Miriam
Shmuel ben Monavar
Efraim ben Leah
Chaim Hillel ben Rivkah
Yisrael Chaim ben Tamar
Asher ben Rima
Chaim Shmuel ben Leah
Yechiel Nasan ben Sarah
Tinok ben Peninah Esther
Moshe Chai ben Shoshanah
Yaakov ben Esther
Chaim Refael ben Chanah
Mikol ben Nigoria
Boris Baruch ben Frecha Frida
Alter Shmuel ben Chavah Leah
Chaim Avraham ben Shifrah Zisel
Chaim ben Malkah
Yehudah Yudel ben Miriam Gittel
Sarah bas Leah
Rus Victoria bas Tehilah
Esther Malkah Rinah bas Simchah
Malkah bas Tauba
Ronit bas Olga
Perel bas Nechamah
Rachel Leah bas Sarah
Tehilah Hadasah bas Elanah
Hadas bas Orah
Malkah bas Nechamah
Tziporah Stella bas Shirin
Tovah Yocheved bas Esther Bukas
Chayah Shoshanah Tovah bas Esther
Ruchamah Perel Malkah Leah bas Chanah Serel
Gittel bas Sarah
Esther Hadasah bas Devorah
To add names of individuals who need a r’fuah sh’leimah to next week’s T’hilim column, please email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and complete the Google form.