The 9 Days

9 Days Danger

Maran zt”l was asked whether it is permissible to go to the beach or to the pool in the 9 Days?

And he replied: “It’s a danger.”

9 Days Flight

One of Maran’s associates, zt”l, consulted with Maran z”l whether to go abroad, for an important matter that would bring great benefit in several issues.

At first, Maran replied, if you’ve already gone abroad once, that’s fine.

But when Maran realized that it was about flying abroad on the 9 days, Maran said that it was not worthwhile to fly in the 9 days and that it was necessary to wait until after Tu B’Av, despite the need and the important matter.

9 Days – Until When?

Maran zt”l was accustomed to advising questioners, as it is written in Halacha, to avoid dangerous things on 9 days, such as surgeries and the like.

However, Maran z”l would continue to say abstain until after the 9th of Av, but in fact only allowed after Tu B’Av.

Haircut 9 Days

One of the things that Maran z”l would repeatedly warn about on various occasions is the matter of inappropriate clothing, such as short sleeves, etc., as well as shaving the beard and growing a forelock, as he already wrote in his Sefer “Orchos Yosher”.

In addition it was always repeated by Maran z”l to jokingly say to those with a forelock whose beards are shaved: “Move the hairs from above [of the forelock] to the bottom [to the beard]…

And sometimes even in the 9 days, when it is forbidden to have a haircut, Maran z”l ordered that it was permissible to cut the forelock, since Maran the Chazon Ish z”l directed so.

When will the Moshiach come?

There were periods that Maran z”l evoked much about the Emunah of Biyas HaMoshiach, and about the fact that we stand at the threshold of Geulah.

Thus, as always by rumors, many misconceptions were widespread that Maran z”l “promises” that Moshiach will come by Tisha B’Av.

One man decided to go up and ask Maran z”l whether this was true, and so he asked: Is it true what they say in the name of the Rov that Moshiach will come by Tisha B’Av?

And Maran z”l replied to him in this language: “It is very close that Moshiach will come, but it depends on whether we do Teshuvah.”

Learning Torah is relaxing

A few days before Tisha B’Av, one of the members of Maran’s household asked for a blessing from Maran z”l so that he could fast more easily, since he suffers greatly from fasting. Maren was surprised and said “Everyone has a hard time fasting, who is it easy for?”, But I can’t even learn, he explained what he meant, I fast very hard and I can’t do almost anything and it’s hard for me to learn, so I ask for a Bracha that the fast will be easier for me, he asked again.

Maran z”l said to him, “On the contrary! Learning helps and relaxes, and you forget about the fast!

Kol Sasson and Kol Simcha

A dear Jew close to Maran z”l made a fine habit of writing Seforim about Megilos and publishing them on the occasion of his children’s weddings. After one of the weddings, when he brought the new Sefer to Maran Zt”l, he asked: Now it remains for me to write about Megilas Eicha, and some said that it is not appropriate to publish in honor of a wedding a Sefer on Megilas Eicha, is this indeed the case?

Maran answered and replied: “May the Moshiach come until the next wedding, and Tisha B’Av will become a Yom Tov. In the meantime you should certainly write about Megilas Eicha and prepare the Sefer.”

A generation that is all entitled

One asked Maran z”l, after all, it is said that אין בן דוד בא אלא בדור שכולו זכאי או בדור שכולו חייב (Moshiach Ben Dovid comes only in a generation that either all are entitled or in a generation that all are not entitled), so in our generation there are many B’nei Torah and on the other hand many who hate Hashem, how will the Geulah come?

Maran was מלמד זכות and immediately said, “This generation is all זכאי! They just need to receive one ‘blow’ and everyone will be Tzadikim,” added Maran zt”l, “Therefore, there are so many troubles today, so that everyone will repent and do Teshuvah and there will be a generation that is all entitled and זכאי.”

Fasts in the future to come

As is well known, after Moshiach comes, fasts will turn into Yomim Tovim. Maran z”l was asked, why would the days of fasts and mourning turn to holidays and joy, after all, these are days that were set for tragedy because of the sins of the Jewish people, and what reason should they turn to become holidays?