Dear John & Doves,

We are presently in a very intense spiritual  time as indicated on the Jewish calendar. The 4 key dates in this analysis are July 2, July 15, July 23 & July 25. July 2 started the 3 weeks leading up through July 15, the Rosh Chodesh and onto Tisha B'Av on July 23 and finally to July 25, Vaetchanan/Nachmanu.

I believe that the three days of darkness will be one last chance for unsaved family members and loved ones to hear the Gospel one last time, a Gospel of unconditional love where Jesus paid the full price for our sins by his Cross, Death, Burial & Resurrection.

Below is a detailed outline of the period July 2 through July 25.

All the Best,
Mike

The Three Weeks (Bein HaMetzarim, meaning "Between the Straits") is an annual period of national mourning observed by Jews worldwide. It marks the dynamic countdown to the destruction of the Holy Temples, beginning with a daytime fast and culminating in the 25-hour fast of Tisha B'Av.

In 2026, the Three Weeks began at dawn on Thursday, July 2 and concludes at nightfall on Thursday, July 23. The entire period is framed by two historical dates marking the downfall of Jerusalem:

The Start (17th of Tammuz): A daytime fast commemorating the day the Roman army breached the walls of Jerusalem in 70 CE.

The End (9th of Av): The full 25-hour fast marking the actual burning and destruction of the Temples.

The Levels of Mourning
The laws of mourning are cumulative and become progressively stricter as Tisha B'Av approaches. Customs vary between Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities, but generally follow this trajectory:

1. The First Phase: The Three Weeks (Starting 17 Tammuz)

General mourning practices apply immediately to the entire 21-day period:

No weddings or large celebratory parties.
No live music or dancing.
No haircuts or shaving (primarily Ashkenazic tradition).
No reciting the Shehecheyanu blessing on new fruits or new clothing, to avoid expressions of intense joy.

2. The Second Phase: The Nine Days (Starting 1 Av)

The restriction level intensifies significantly during the first nine days of the month of Av
(beginning at sunset on Wednesday, July 15, 2026):

No eating meat or drinking wine, except on Shabbat.
No laundering clothes or wearing freshly washed garments (except for infants).
No swimming, bathing for pleasure, or beach trips.
No buying or building things for joy, luxury, or home remodeling.

3. The Third Phase: The Week Of Tisha B'Av

The absolute strictest phase occurs during the actual week in which Tisha B'Av falls.

(Note: In 2026, because Tisha B'Av falls on a Thursday, these restrictions apply from the preceding Sunday).
Sephardic Jews, who may not observe all the restrictions of the Nine Days, adopt them fully during this final week, avoiding haircuts and laundry.

The Spiritual Focus

The ultimate goal of the Three Weeks is not simply to feel sad, but to prompt personal reflection and character refinement. Jewish tradition teaches that the Second Temple was destroyed due to Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred) among people. Consequently, the period is heavily focused on increasing Ahavat Chinam (baseless love), charity, and repairing broken relationships.

Av 9, widely known as Tisha B'Av, is definitively the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. It is a major 25-hour fast day that serves as the culmination of a three-week mourning period. In 2026, the fast begins at sunset on Wednesday, July 22, and concludes at nightfall on Thursday, July 23.

The Five Core Historical Tragedies According to Jewish tradition

The Spies' Report (1312 BCE):
Ten of the twelve spies sent by Moses brought back a demoralizing report about the Promised Land, causing the Israelites to weep out of fear and lose faith. God decreed that this generation would wander the desert for 40 years.

Destruction of the First Temple (586 BCE):
The Neo-Babylonian Empire, led by King Nebuchadnezzar, breached and destroyed the Holy Temple built by King Solomon, sending the Jews into exile.

Destruction of the Second Temple (70 CE):
The Roman Empire, commanded by Titus, destroyed the Second Temple, beginning the 2,000-year Jewish diaspora.

Fall of Betar (135 CE):
The Bar Kokhba revolt against the Romans utterly failed when the fortress city of Betar was conquered, resulting in the massacre of hundreds of thousands of Jews.

Plowing of Jerusalem (136 CE):
One year after the rebellion, Roman commander Quintus Tineius Rufus plowed the site of the Temple and its surroundings to erase the Jewish presence.

Later Tragedies Marked on Av 9
Over the centuries, the day became a magnet for further Jewish suffering,
and it now serves as a communal day of remembrance for:

The expulsion of Jews from England in 1290.
The expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492.
Germany’s entry into World War I (Av 9, 1914), which set the geopolitical stage for the Holocaust.
The mass deportation of Warsaw Ghetto Jews to the Treblinka death camp in 1942.

Prohibitions & Customs of the Day
Because it is a day of intense national mourning, enforces five major physical prohibitions from sunset to nightfall:

No eating or drinking (a full 25-hour fast).
No washing or bathing.
No applying creams, oils, or perfumes.
No wearing leather shoes (as leather signifies comfort and luxury).
No marital relations.

Additional Mourning Practices:

Sitting Low: Until midday, observers sit on the floor or on low stools, mirroring the customs of sitting shiva for a deceased relative.

Dim Lighting: Synagogues turn down their lights, and the curtain (parochet) covering the Ark is removed.

Reading Megillat Eichah: The biblical [Book of Lamentations], written by the Prophet Jeremiah during the destruction of the First Temple, is publicly chanted in a unique, somber melody.

Restricted Torah Study: Because studying Torah is considered a joyous activity, it is forbidden on Av 9, except for sad or tragic texts like the Book of Job or the laws of mourning.

On Saturday, July 25, 2026 which corresponds to the Hebrew calendar date 11 Av 5786, the Jewish community observes a highly significant Sabbath combining Parashat Vaetchanan and Shabbat Nachamu. Parashat Vaetchanan (The Torah Portion) Vaetchanan, which translates to "And I pleaded," is the 45th weekly Torah portion read in the annual Jewish cycle.

The Text: It spans [Deuteronomy 3:23–7:11].

The Plot: Moses recounts how he begged God to let him cross into the Promised Land, a request that God denies.

Core Elements: This specific portion is exceptionally famous because it contains the repetition of the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 5:6–18) and the Shema Yisrael (Deuteronomy 6:4–9), the central declaration of Jewish faith.

Shabbat Nachamu (The Sabbath of Consolation)

The Shabbat immediately following the somber fast of Tisha B'Av,the 9th of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the Holy Temples is always designated as Shabbat Nachamu.
 
The Meaning: Nachamu means "Comfort ye" or "Be comforted".
The Prophetic Reading: The weekly Haftarah reading is taken from Isaiah 40:1–26, which begins with the words, "Nachamu, nachamu ami" ("Comfort, comfort My people...").

Significance: It marks the very first of the Seven Haftarot of Consolation. These seven weekly readings lead directly up to Rosh Hashanah, shifting the communal mood from communal mourning to hope, restoration, and renewal.