Q. Dear Rabbi. I’m a religious Canadian born and now an Israeli Army soldier soon to return after the army service to my family in Canada. Since my background is from a true Torah family, I have a number of Shaalot that I would much appreciate your answer with the background of great Rabanim you represent. Firstly I’m familiar with the new Mossad Chief Roman Gofman and I know well one of the two United Hatzalah medics who saved his life during the October 7 massacre. Are they supposed to celebrate a Seudat Hodaa soon and can they do it during the “Ben Hametzarim” time?
A. Poskim write that it is permitted to celebrate a birthday party during the Three Weeks until Rosh Chodesh Av. (See Halachipedya n.50.)
Tiferet Efraim pp. 481-482 quotes Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky (Kovetz Halachot pp. 15-18) who permitted going to a sports game even during the Nine Days and didn't consider the music to be a problem. Since the music isn't the main focus and is just incidental it is fine. However, he also quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein (Shemaytata Dmoshe 551:6) as holding that it is permitted during the Three Weeks but not the Nine Days. Rav Soloveitchik, as quoted there, held that going to a sports game is forbidden during the Three Weeks because it is a group activity, where being there with others is a simcha shel rabbim.
Some permit music at a meal for a Siyum Masechet of a Gemara (or the like) during the Three Weeks; Yachave Daat 1:45 writes that music is permitted for a seudat mitzvah including a siyum. Torat HaMoadim 5:4 and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim, 5748 edition, pg 554) also agree.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Y. Hirshman, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller, Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu, Horav Kalman Ochs, and Horav Dovid Bartfeld consulting in need Horav Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Berkowitz Shlit’a
Important Numbers
