Reply To: Cooking for Yamim Tovim during the Three Weeks….

The Debretziner in a teshuva about swimming on shiva assar bitammuz (I forget the exact mareh makom right now), discusses an activity that is not inherently “hanah” (in his teshuva, he is discussing bathing in cold water), if it is made enjoyable (in his case swimming) is it prohibited as something which is a pleasurable activity. He concludes that it is not (which is why he says swimming on the fast day is halachicly permitted (he adds, that for hashems house, perhaps we can forgo the swimming anyway). I (not the debritziner) would apply that logic here. Cooking is not inherently an activity that is prohibited by chazal during the three weeks, that it gives you enjoyment is not a reason to prohibit it. That you will have enjoyment from this activity in 2 and a half months, is probably not a reason to forbid it either. Of course, I am just apushatayid. Ask a posek.