HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Yosef, the Nasi of the Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah, published a halachic letter on Thursday regarding holding chasunos during the three weeks this summer.
The letter comes amid Israel’s war with Iran and the resulting missile attacks on Israel. Due to the Home Front Command’s orders banning gatherings, many chasunos have been delayed or canceled.
There is a shortage of chasunah halls in Eretz Yisrael, and finding a hall for a later date on short notice is very difficult.
In response to many shailos he received, HaRav Yosef paskened that this year, it is permissible and even desirable to hold chasunos during the three weeks.
HaRav Yosef wrote that for Sephardim, who follow the pesikos of the Shulchan Aruch, it is muttar and even “a mitzvah to get married during these days.” He noted that this is also the Minhag Yerusalayim for generations, and there is no difference if the chasan already fulfilled pirya u’rivya or not.
HaRav Yosef emphasized that this p’sak is valid for every year, but this year is even more valid. Addressing those who are noheig to be machmir on the issue, he stated that due to the delay of chasunos and the logistical difficulty of finding available halls after Tisha B’Av, an additional delay is liable to cause obstacles and stumbling blocks, chalilah.
In a sharply worded statement, he said: “המחמיר בזה יוצא שכרו בהפסדו.”
HaRav Yosef also addressed Ashkenazim, who pasken according to the Rema—that chasunos are forbidden from the 17th of Tammuz. HaRav Yosef wrote that one can be mattir this year, especially those who did not yet fulfill the mitzvah of piryah v’rivyah.
In his p’sak, HaRav Yosef relied on Acharonim like the Aruch HaShulchan, who wrote that when it’s necessary, one can get married during the three weeks except for the week in which Tisha B’Av falls. He also quoted HaRav Aryeh Leib Grossnas in Lev Aryeh, who paskened “בשעת הדחק יש להתיר.” HaRav Yosef added that there’s no more שעת הדחק than this time.
HaRav Yosef ended his historic letter with a call to Am Yisrael to be mechazeik in Torah and tefillah. “עת צרה היא ליעקב וממנה יוושע.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
10 Responses
This psak is only dramatic to a total am haaretz.
Especially this year with NO שבוע שחל בו תשעה ב”אב according to ALL opinions
Why is this “dramatic Psak” even necessary for Sefardim? According to normative Sefardic practice, this is basic Halacha every year – not just this year.
an Israeli Yid
@besalel
well said! what’s crazy is that the article itself spells out clearly why the headline is absurd.
Especially this year that we’ll be marking the geula hasheleima on tisha b’av בע”ה
147, keep your current job, klal yisroel needs you as a posek vie ah toteh bankes.
I find it “dramatic” that the shortage of chasunah halls make it a שעת הדחק to overturn a minhag of רמ”א. Can a wedding not be preformed in a park or backyard (as during COVID)? Would it be a שעת הדחק if sushi is only available during the 3-weeks? If the popular singer is all booked but would be available Rosh Chodesh Av? The $9,000 custom sheitel isn’t ready before the 3-weeks? After all, how can we make a chasunah without a sheitel, huge hall, sushi and the famous singer! Is that also שעת הדחק?!
Reply to Rebbitzen Goldenpickanicerscreenname.
I tend to agree with you line of reasoning, but I’m not sure if halacha does. There is a concept: ‘Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo’ This means if a Jew is used to a certain lifestyle let’s say on level 10 of luxury and now he falls from that to let’s say level 7, it is a mitzva to provide him with level 10 luxury stuff/services (fattened swans, servants, and horses are examples in the talmud) even over another Jew on level 2 but that’s what he is used to. Even over yourself if you are not used to that level. In a general sense the current generation is used to a certain lifestyle and according to the chacham halacha bends to that.
daweedh123 – ‘Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo’ is a din exclusive to tzedakah. Do not use it to encourage lives up to the Joneses weddings standards (unless it is a poor kallah or chosson that needs it for their dignity). The halachos that allow leniency b’sha’as ha’dchak do not include shortening davening to the need to get to a baseball game because attending the game is Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo, lowering the standard of kashrus for the beef on the smorgasbord because without it one will miss Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo or a wedding during the 3-weeks due to Shweky’s availability, because how can one have a wedding without it!
‘Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo’ applies exclusively to tzedakah. Sha’as hadchak allows leniencies in halacha, even in kashrus or shabbos or tefillah. But I doubt it would be sha’as hadchak to shorten tefilah to get to a ball game. I doubt having beef on the smorgasbord is a sha’as hadchak to be lenient on the kashrus standards. Even if Dei Machsoro Asher Yechsar Lo includes the need to see the Superbowl or having geshmak beef served at the kiddush.