Halachot and Customs
Is it permitted to buy books during the Three Weeks?
Question
Is there a prohibition against buying books during the period of the Three Weeks?
Thank you
Answer
Greetings,
It is permitted to buy books until Rosh Chodesh Av; however, from Rosh Chodesh Av onward one should refrain, unless they are sacred books for the purpose of studying from them.
Sources: See Chazon Ovadia, Four Fast Days (page 168, s.v. It is permitted to buy) and Piskei Teshuvot, part 6 (siman 551, seif 10). Likewise, this was ruled by the gaon Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Waldenberg zt"l, author of Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer (Av 5761), that it is permitted to buy sacred books during the Nine Days in order to study from them.
With blessings,
Hillel Meirs
