ASK THE REBBE from the virtual desk of the OU Vebbe Rebbe 
The Orthodox Union – via its website – fields questions of all types in the areas of kashrut, Jewish law and values. Some of the questions are answered by Eretz Hemdah, the Institute for Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem, founded by HaRav Shaul Yisraeli, zt"l to prepare rabbanim and dayanim to serve the National Religious community in Israel and abroad.

The Ask the Rabbi project is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... 

Question: Am I allowed to continue construction on my house during the Three Weeks? I took down a wall between my living room and dining room and moved it to extend the dining room. Am I allowed to pick out wallpaper, carpeting, but not have them installed until after the three weeks?

Answer: The prohibition of purchasing and building is during the Nine Days, not all of the Three Weeks (Shulchan Aruch 551:2). Some Achronim extend the prohibition to the entire Three Weeks, and we try to conform to that practice (Bi’ur Halacha, ibid.). However, if it would cause a significant inconvenience or a loss to delay the purchase or building then one can certainly be lenient (Mishna Brura 551:11 and Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim III:80 say that in such cases there is room for leniency even during the Nine Days).

Regarding what type of building is prohibited, the gemara in Megilla 5b distinguishes between “building of happiness” like a home for a wedding to be held in, which is forbidden, and preventing a wall from falling, which is permitted. There is a machloket in the Rishonim about cases in between these extremes.

Mishna Berura 551:12 distinguishes between the needs of a home and those for beautification or extra, unnecessary improvements. Thus, one should not plan to expand their dining room or paint during the Three Weeks. However, if one started before the Three Weeks, and the work dragged on, then he can finish the job if it is difficult to stop in the middle (see Piskei Teshuvot 551:8).

It is certainly less of a problem to buy wallpaper than to have it installed, because it is the installation which brings happiness (see Igrot Moshe, Orach Chaim III:82). Installation may even require a bracha of shehecheyanu (there are many customs on the matter), which is forbidden during the Three Weeks (Shulchan Aruch OC 551:17). 

“Ask the Rabbi” Q&A is part of Hemdat Yamim, the weekly parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at ww.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. If you would like to receive Hemdat Yamim by email, on a weekly basis, please send an email to lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message: Join Hemdatya - Please leave the subject blank.

Speaking of the Three Weeks...
One should avoid significant purchases of the type that would require a SHE'HE'CHE'YANU. If such a purchase is needed for one's livelihood, then it can be made during the Three Weeks – and even during the Nine Days – and the bracha should be said after Tish'a b'Av (Igrot Moshe). Delivery or pick-up of items bought or ordered before the Three Weeks began are allowed. Some authorities suggest that in these cases, one should make a condition with the seller that he is not yet acquiring the item as his own, and then to make a KINYAN after Tish'a b'Av and say SHE'HE'CHE'YANU. If an item you would like to buy will not be available after Tish'a b'Av – or even if it will be available, but at a higher price – one may buy the item and hold it for after Tish'a b'Av. This can be done before Rosh Chodesh Av. If it is the Nine Days, a Rav should be consulted. 

Hasidic Wisdom, from the book by Simcha Raz (Elkins/Elkins)
I bind myself to the entire Jewish People: To those who are greater than I — to be uplifted; to those who are less than I — so they can raise themselves along with me
- Rabbi Yechiel Michel of Zlotchov

G-d commanded the Israelite people to borrow golden and silver objects from the Egyptians (Shmot 12:35) so that they would always be afraid to return to Egypt because of their debts.
- Rabbi Moshe of Kobrin

Giving in to those greater than you is easy. Giving in to those beneath you is also easy. That is what is called being humble. But it is very hard to give in to a colleague who is your equal.
- Rabbi Avraham of Slonim

Rite and Reason by Shmuel Pinchas Gelbard
The Three Weeks (actually 22½ days) from 17 Tammuz through Tish'a b'Av (and until noon of the 10th of Av) are known as Bein HaMetzarim.
REASON The name is taken from the pasuk in Eicha (1:3), Her pursuers overtook her bein ha-metzarim. MEITZAR - an expression of sorrow... as in T'hilim 118:5, MIN HA'MEITZAR KARATI Y'AH... from (dire) straits do I call out to G-d.
Some refrain from eating meat during the Three Weeks (the prevalent custom is to refrain only during the 9 days, excluding Shabbat)
REASON Because the calamity of the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash really begins with the breach of Jerusalem.
REASON On the 17th of Tammuz the daily sacrifices (T'MIDIM) ceased, as well as the wine libation.
REASON Daniel mourned and did not eat meat or drink wine during these three weeks.

G'MATRIYA MATCH
HINENI NOTEIN LO ET BRITI SHALOM (BAMIDBAR 25:12)
G-d says, I hereby give him (Pinchas) my Covenant of Peace. What is this covenant? In the following pasuk it is referred to as BRIT KEHUNAT OLAM, The eternal covenant of the kehuna (the blessing of SHALOM is transmitted to the People via the kohen). (Assuming the two covenants are the same.)
KOL ZACHAR BAKOHANIM YOCHALENU B'MAKOM KADOSH YEI'ACHEIL KODESH KADASHIM HU (VAYIKRA 7:6)

This is one of many p'sukim that describe who and what kohanim are. This pasuk is a G'matriya-Match (2050) for the words on the top line of this box, serving (perhaps) as a numeric confirmation of the connection between the Covenant of Peace and the Kehuna. 

From the Desk of the Director
Parshat Pinchas teaches us that while there are individuals capable of shaping a nation’s destiny, there are also people who thwart their potential to take on the mantle of communal leadership. Pinchas was such an individual.

The rabbis tell us that Pinchas had the potential to succeed Moshe. For it was he who “zealously took up My cause among the Israelites” by killing the erring prince Zimri and the Midianite maiden Kozbi. Nor did Pinchas flinch for a moment as he performed his murderous duty in full view of Zimri’s fellow tribesmen.

Chazal, however, are confused as to whether Pinchas’ brazen act was exemplary. Pinchas was an unknown individual, neither a great sage nor of impeccable lineage. From where did he have the authority to commit such an act? Apparently, thrusting the spear through the licentious partners was technically legal; it was the fulfillment of a virtually unknown Sinai tradition, forgotten even by Moshe. 

The Kotsker Rebbe noted, however, that although Pinchas was rewarded for his deed with the covenant of peace and everlasting kehuna, his dramatic and impetuous behavior invalidated him from the leadership of the people. And even though Pinchas exhibited extreme loyalty to Hashem, it is the more moderate and flexible Yehoshua who takes over from Moshe. This definitely gives us food for thought.
Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center

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