The Three Weeks is an annual mourning period that falls out in the summer, when we mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and the start of our exile.
The period begins on the 17th of the Hebrew month of Tammuz (this year on Sunday, July 21, 2019), a fast day that marks the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 CE.
It reaches its climax and concludes with the fast of the 9th of Av ("Tisha B'Av"), the date when both Holy Temples were set aflame. This is the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, and it is also the date of other tragedies spanning our nation’s history.
The Fast of Tisha B'Av runs from sunset Saturday night, August 10 until nightfall Sunday, August 11, 2019.
Observances: There are various mourning-related customs and observances that are followed for the entire three-week period. We do not cut our hair, purchase new clothes, or listen to music. No weddings are held.