Introduction

The walls of Yerushalayim were breached on the seventeenth of Tammuz by Titus, King of Rome at the time of the second Bet HaMikdash (it stood for 420 years). Terrible fighting ensued, culminating in the destruction of the Temple on Tishah B’Av, the ninth of Av, three weeks later.

The three week period between the seventeenth of Tammuz and the ninth of Av is called “בין המצרים“from the verse in Eichah(1:3) כל רדפיה השיגוה בין מצרים, "all her enemies captured her between the boundaries”. The words בין המצרים  literally mean “between the boundaries” and homiletically are interpreted “in the days of distress”. This interpretation is based on the fact that during this three week period our enemies pursued and overtook us (as well as other terrible things which will be discussed). A tragic consequence of the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash was that we no longer had a place to bring offerings (קרבנות) to Hashem to atone for our transgressions. As long as there was a Temple the Divine Presence blessed us by dwelling in our midst. With its destruction all the blessings that we received as a result of the Bet HaMikdash ceased and Shechinah no longer had a place to “dwell” here on earth. 

The loss of life suffered by the Jewish People was enormous during this three week period — over one million men, women and children (this toll includes both Temples). After our defeat we were exiled from our land and tormented by our oppressors. Tens of thousands of Jews were killed. Many became slaves to the Romans. The Jewish People no longer ruled their land or had the Bet HaMikdash. For almost 2000 years the Jewish nation was forced to wander or escape from country to country because of the conditions they were forced to endure. Over the course of time we have been subject to such horrors as the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, World War I and the Holocaust. All of these had their roots in the period of בין המצרים

Because of these many tragedies and misfortunes our Sages have established this three week period as a time of mourning — (weddings and celebrations are not held; music and dancing are prohibited, as will be discussed).

Hazal have written that Yaakov Avinu merited to have control over the months of Nissan, Iyar and Sivan, while Esav dominated the months of Tammuz, Av and Elul. Eventually, Yaakov gained control over Elul, leaving Esav with Tammuz and Av. Consequently, Esav and his descendants (including Rome) have been able to prevail and dominate us specifically in these months. Many of our worst tragedies and misfortunes have occurred in Tammuz and Av. 

Additionally, evil forces (מזיקין) are considered to be more prevalent during Tammuz and Av, and we should be more careful to observe the Halachot so they cannot dominate. The Shulchan Aruch writes that during this period a person should not go out alone during certain hours of the day (from the end of the fourth hour until the end of the ninth hour) because that is when the evil forces rule.

However, it is within our control to change this through repentance, mitzvah observance and good deeds — specifically by properly mourning the destruction of the Temple by observing the halachot of the Three Weeks. If Hashem will see our sincere mourning it will prove how much we want to rebuild the Bet HaMikdash. When we will merit to rebuild the Temple, then “the fast of the fourth month, the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh and the fast of the tenth shall become to the house of Judah times of joy and gladness and happy festivals…” (Zechariah 8:19). The month of Av (av also means father and first) will become the “first” month of all our joy during the year.

On the verse in Proverbs, נצר תאנה יאכל פריה, "the protector of a fig tree will eat its fruit” (Mishlei 27:18) the Ben Ish Hai says that the gematriah (numerical value of letters) of תאנה is the same as Tammuz, Av (אב / תמוז) — (both are 456. Therefore we may interpret the pasuk to mean that one who protects the תאנה ) refering to Av and Tamuz), in the future they will eat its fruits. Similarly, the verse in Tehillim, בא יבוא ברנה נשא אלומותיו,"will return in joy, a bearer of sheaves” (126:6) may be explained as follows: In the merit of returning — בא, which refers to the month of Av, אב  when transposing the letters of בא it spells אב) — we will receive many good things (יבא ברנה נשא אלומותיו).

We, therefore, see how tremendously important it is to observe the Halachot of the Three Weeks and how great will be the reward. Specifically, in our community where many people are on vacation at that time, the reward for observing these laws will be considerable. As Hazal said: לפום צערא אגרה, "according to the pain so is the reward.” Hazal have told us that “Whoever mourns the destruction of Jerusalem will surely rejoice in her rebuilding.” In the zechut of our community observing the Halachot of the Three Weeks may we merit to see the coming of Mashiah, speedily in our days, Amen!