KollelBoker: Can I buy new clothes during the Nine Days?

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Vol. 1 Iss. 36

פרשת מעסי

Dvar Torah

By: Rabbi Goldman

The gemara (Brachos) says that "When a person experiences difficulties in his life he should analyze his actions".
The gemara is telling us that:
1) Everything that happens is from Hashem.
2) Everything that Hashem does has a reason.
3) When Hashem makes our life difficult it is often in response to something that we have done wrong. (as a punishment and/or as a motivation to do teshuva).
4) If we do the teshuva then Hashem will remove the difficulty.

Since these four principles are true; therefore, the gemara encourages us that when we experience difficuties in our lives, that we should analyze our actions. We should be looking to figure out what area in our Avodas Hashem that we can improve. Through those improvements we will be able to be zoche to have Hashem remove the difficulties in our lives.

When preparing for the nine days; we can use the same approach. Hashem brought the churban and he brought it for a reason. It was in response to our not doing the mitzvos. If we improve our actions we will be zoche to Hashem saving us from problems in our lives.

Dvar Halacha

By: R' Chananya Berman

Question:

Can I buy new clothes during the nine days?

Discussion:

One is not permitted to buy new clothes during the Nine Days (Rema 651:7). This applies to any garments and also includes linens and towels. This is true even if one is buying the item for use after the 9^th of Av (M.B. ibid sk 49). One is also not allowed to buy secondhand clothing if it will make him happy (Sharei Teshuva ibid.).

Exceptions:

The following are some of the exceptions to the above rule. If an item goes on sale at a considerable discount, and wont be available after the 9^th of Av, one may purchase it now (M.B. sk 11). If one forgot to buy footwear for the 9^th of Av before the Nine days may purchase it now. However, one should not buy an expensive pair unless there is nothing else available (Kovetz M'Bais Levi pg. 13).

For all practical questions please ask your Rav.