Is it Permissible to Buy a Car During the Three Weeks?

Greetings,

1. According to the Ashkenazi custom, it is advisable to refrain from purchasing a car during the Three Weeks; however, if the car is purchased for the use of family members as well, it is permissible until Rosh Chodesh Av.

For Sephardi custom, it is permitted to buy a car until Rosh Chodesh Av because their custom is not to recite "shehechiyanu" upon purchasing a car. Nevertheless, if one takes new clothing and recites "shehechiyanu" on it to exempt the car (as is appropriate to do), it is best to refrain from doing so from the 17th of Tammuz.

2. For all customs, one should avoid purchasing a car starting from Rosh Chodesh Av—even if it is for the use of family members.

3. If the car is necessary for his livelihood, it is permitted to buy a car even during the Nine Days.

4. If he has the opportunity to purchase a car at a lower price during the Nine Days, and after Tisha B'Av it will become more expensive, it is permissible to buy during the Nine Days.

Sources:

1. The Ashkenazi custom is to recite "shehechiyanu" upon purchasing a new car, see Responsa Igrot Moshe (Orach Chaim part 3, section 84, comment on "and a car"), and in the book Asheri Hayish part 1 (chapter 39, section 22) in the name of Rabbi Yisroel Halevi Soloveitchik zt"l. The Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (section 399, paragraph 17) already wrote that it is advisable to be careful not to say "shehechiyanu" during the days of Bein HaMetzarim. Also, in the aforementioned Igrot Moshe it is explicit that one should not purchase a car during the Three Weeks.

However, when the car is also used by family members, it is permitted until Rosh Chodesh Av, as in this case one would recite "Hatov Umeitiv" as explained in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim (section 262, paragraph 5). The opinion of most poskim is that it is permitted to recite "Hatov Umeitiv" during the days of Bein HaMetzarim, as noted in the Siddur Yaavetz (fifth section, the Harsit, laws of Bein HaMetzarim, paragraph 9) and in Birkhat Hamazon (section 399, paragraph 10) and in Moed LeChai (section 9, paragraph 24) and in Kaf Hachaim (section 399, paragraph 122) and in Shede Hemed (אסיפת דינים, מערכת ב' סימן ב' אות ג), and in Responsa Yisa Yosef part 4 (section 143) in the name of Rabbi Yisroel Halevi Soloveitchik zt"l, and in the book Or LeTzion part 3 (chapter 25, paragraph 4), and the book Nechamat Yisrael (chapter 4, paragraph 5 and note 81) in the name of Rabbi Nissim Karelitz shlit"a, and there (note 96) in the name of Rabbi Shlomo Dablichi shlit"a in Responsa Shomea UMe'Adds, and there (note 98) in the name of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a. Thus it is elucidated in the aforementioned Igrot Moshe that if one purchases the car also for the use of family members, it is permitted until Rosh Chodesh Av.

However, Kaf Hachaim (section 196, paragraph 11) cites the Halachot Ktanut part 2 (section 196) and Zachor LeAvraham (paragraph 2, system 5) and Chesed LeAlafim (section 196, paragraph 6) that one should not recite "Hatov Umeitiv" even during the Three Weeks. (Seemingly, Kaf Hachaim contradicts itself since it permits in section 399, paragraph 122, as mentioned above), but as stated, the opinion of most poskim is to allow it. The book Nechamat Yisrael (chapter 4, paragraph 11) notes that this is indeed the custom to be lenient.

However, the Sephardi custom is not to recite "shehechiyanu" on the purchase of new utensils, and therefore they do not recite "shehechiyanu" on the purchase of a car. Nonetheless, it is appropriate for them to wear new clothing and recite "shehechiyanu" on it, and they should intend to exempt the new car through this. If also family members benefit from the car, then when reciting "Hatov Umeitiv" on a change of wine, they should intend to exempt the car. Or in the "Hatov Umeitiv" recited in Birkhat Hamazon, they should intend to exempt the car, see the book Halacha Berura (section 262, paragraph 31).

2. See Responsa Igrot Moshe (there) and in the book Hazon Ovadia, Four Fast Days (page 667). Also see Responsa Viybarech David part 1 (section 619).

3. Igrot Moshe and Hazon Ovadia there.

4. Hazon Ovadia there.

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs