Question:
Does the prohibition of buying new clothes apply identically to buying new furniture or appliances?
Answer:
With regarding to buying new clothes or things in the three weeks the following is applicable. Some poskim permit buying a closet or cabinet during the Nine Days, while others forbid it. In sefer Toras Hamoadim 5:16 says that buying closets or cabinets doesn’t make one joyful and is therefore permitted but Iggros Moshe 3:82 says a bookshelf does make people happy and is not allowed to be bought.
Some poskim permit buying any necessary appliance, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, or bed, to replace one that broke during the Three Weeks.
The Ashkenazic custom is not to get married during the three weeks. The Rama 551:2 and Darchei Moshe 551:5 based on the Sefer Haminhagim, the Chayei Adam 133:8, the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:1, Hilchot UMinhagei Ben HaMetsarim (Rabbi Moshe Karp) 3:1, the Nitei Gavriel Bein Hametzarim vol. 1, 14:8. On the night of Shiva Asar Bitammuz itself, Rav Moshe Feinstein (OC 168) is lenient, while it is brought that the Tzitz Eliezer 10:26 is strict.
Among Sephardim, some have just the custom not to get married during the nine days (from Rosh Chodesh Av until Tisha BeAv) and some have the custom not to get married the entire three weeks.
Some say that it is permitted for an Ashkenazi to attend a sefardi wedding before Rosh Chodesh Av, and they may even dance at the wedding. Others hold that it is forbidden. Technically, it is permitted to get married on Motzaei Tisha BeAv, but some have the custom not to. If one is unsure what his custom is, he can be lenient and rely on the ikar hadin that it is permitted.
It is permitted to become engaged or write tenaim during the Nine Days, and even on Tisha BeAv itself as long as there is no meal to celebrate or music and dancing. Until Rosh Chodesh, one is allowed to celebrate the engagement with a festive meal but without dancing.
The chattan and kallah to wear Shabbos clothing to their engagement party. Some poskim allow buying the engagement ring during the nine days, while others are strict unless there will be a financial loss.
Some say that it is forbidden to have meals with friends during the nine days. However, if it isn’t a meal but only desserts, that is okay.
According to Ashkenazim it’s forbidden to cut one’s hair for the entire three weeks, however, according to Sephardim one can cut hair until the week of Tisha BeAv. The Gemara in Taanis daf 26b says that one shouldn’t cut one’s hair the week of Tisha BeAv. This Gemara is brought as Halacha by the Rambam (Taaniot 5:6). The Ramban (Torat HaAdam (Aveilut Yishana pg 346) explains that this prohibition applies to all hair on the body except the mustache if it interferes with eating. The Tur and S”A 551:3,12-13 rule like the Ramban that during the week of Tisha BeAv one is forbidden to cut any hair on one’s body except if there’s facial hair interfering with eating. It is brought in the name of sefardi poskim and the Ben Ish Chai Devarim 12 write that this is Sephardic custom. However, Darkei Moshe 551:5 and Rama 551:4 rules that Ashkenazim should be strict not to cut hair all three weeks like the Sefer Minhagim (pg 74). Levush 3, Chayei Adam 133:8, Mishna Brurah 551:82, Aruch Hashulchan 551:31, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:3. Aruch Hashulchan 551:16 says the reason for this is that if we were allowed to get haircuts until Rosh Chodesh Av it would not be clear that we grew our hair for mourning, therefore we stop cutting it for the entire three weeks. |