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The Three Weeks 5786 in Tucson
We're still building our Tucson listings for The Three Weeks 5786. The Three Weeks (Bein HaMetzarim, literally 'between the straits') is the 21-day mourning period that runs from the 17th of Tammuz through the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av). The phrase is drawn from the verse in Lamentations 1:3 describing Jerusalem's pursuers overtaking her 'between the straits.' Historically, the period spans the time between the Romans breaching Jerusalem's walls in 70 CE and the subsequent destruction of the Second Temple. Throughout the Three Weeks, traditional Jewish law observes mourning customs: weddings are not held, live music is avoided, haircuts and shaving are restricted, new clothes are not purchased, and the Shehecheyanu blessing is generally not recited on new fruits or garments. The mourning intensifies in the final Nine Days, from Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha B'Av, when meat and wine are also avoided by most communities and laundering, swimming, and bathing for pleasure are added to the restrictions. The period is meant to draw Jews into a state of communal reflection on what was lost and what is yet to be rebuilt.
Traditional The Three Weeks Foods
Find these classics at Tucson kosher restaurants and caterers.
Three-Weeks Restaurant Dining
Most kosher restaurants remain open throughout the Three Weeks but adjust their operations: live music is paused, restaurant openings and launches are typically pushed to after Tisha B'Av, and many publish updated menus that emphasize traditional, comforting dishes over celebratory fare.
Nine Days Dairy Menus
During the Nine Days (the final stretch from Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha B'Av), many communities avoid meat and wine. Kosher dairy restaurants, pizza shops, sushi spots, and bakeries experience their busiest week of the summer. Many meat restaurants pivot to dairy or fish-only menus for the period.
Fish-Forward Dishes
Fish is permitted throughout the Three Weeks and Nine Days, making it a popular choice. Kosher sushi spots, seafood restaurants, and dairy cafés that serve fish see strong demand. Salmon, tuna, branzino, and tilapia preparations are common features on Nine-Days menus.
Pre-Tisha B'Av Seudah Hamafseket
The final meal eaten before the Tisha B'Av fast (the seudah hamafseket) is intentionally austere. The traditional version is a hard-boiled egg dipped in ashes, eaten alone while seated on the floor. Many communities prepare lentil soup as well, another traditional food of mourning.
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