Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying: This is the thing which G‑d has commanded (Numbers 30:2)
This verse can also be interpreted as follows: Moses spoke to the children of Israel regarding the heads of the tribes, that they must follow their instructions as one follows the word of G‑d.
(El, "to," can also mean "about"; li, which in this context translates as "of," usually means "to"; thus el rashei hamatot livnei yisrael ("to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel") can also read, "[And Moses spoke] about the heads of the tribes to the children of Israel, [saying: This is the thing that G‑d has commanded] . . .")
(Alshich)
Please click here for a PDF containing laws and customs of the Nine Days (not including Tishah B'Av).
Please remember the following before Rosh Chodesh begins (on Thursday night):
Laundry
Dry-cleaning
To "pre-wear" all required garments
This is in addition to the general restrictions of the Three Weeks, which can be viewed here.
We are grateful to Rabbi Shmuel Lesches of Young Yeshivah for sharing this with us.
May we merit that יהפכו ימים אלו לששון ולשמחה – these days shall be transformed into joy and happiness – with the coming of Moshiach בקרוב ממש.
Regards,
Yeshivah Shule
This Shabbat is Shabbat Mevarchim ("the Shabbat that blesses" the new month): a special prayer is recited blessing the Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") of the upcoming month of Av (also called "Menachem Av"), which falls on Friday of next week.
Prior to the blessing, we announce the precise time of the molad, the "birth" of the new moon. See molad times.
Few professions are as cruel and inhumane as the fattening of calves for slaughter. So when Pinchas slew Zimri, many said: "Look at this holy zealot! He acts as if motivated by the desire to avenge the honor of G‑d and save the people, but in truth he has merely found a holy outlet for his cruel and violent nature. After all, it's in his blood—just look at his maternal grandfather . . ." So G‑d described him as "Pinchas the son of Elazar the son of Aaron" in order to attest that in character and temperament he actually took after his paternal grandfather—the compassionate and peace-loving Aaron.
The true greatness of Pinchas lay in that he acted in complete opposition to his nature, transcending his inborn instincts to bring peace between G‑d and Israel.
(The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
She crushed Balaam's foot against the wall (22:27)
This was the very heap of stones which Laban and Jacob had erected as a testament that "I will not pass over this heap to you, and that you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, for harm" (Genesis 31:52). Balaam, who is Laban, was now violating this covenant by crossing the heap to come curse the descendents Jacob. Therefore the wall was punishing him, for it was the witness for the oath, and it is written (Deuteronomy 17:7): "The hand of the witnesses should be first in [punishing] him."
(Midrash Tanchuma)
Because of the holiness of Shabbat, the fast of Tammuz 17 is this year postponed to today, Tammuz 18. We refrain from all food and drink from "daybreak" (about an hour before sunrise, depending on location) until nightfall. Special prayers and Torah readings are added to the day's services.
The fast day mourns the breaching of Jerusalem's walls and the other tragic events that occurred on Tammuz 17--see "Today in Jewish History" for that date--and repenting and rectifying their causes.
Link: Halachic times for today's fast
During the Three Weeks, from 17th of Tamuz to the 9th of Av, we commemorate the conquest of Jerusalem, the destruction of the Holy Temple and the dispersion of the Jewish people.
Weddings and other joyful events are not held during this period; like mourners, we do not cut our hair, and various pleasurable activities are limited or proscribed. (The particular mourning customs vary from community to community, so consult a competent halachic authority for details.)
