Hitting children during the Three Weeks

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 Not to hit kids:[1]

From the 17th of Tamuz until the 9th of Av one is to beware from hitting his students [or his children[2], even with a belt[3], and certainly not with a stick or rod[4]]. [Some Poskim[5] however rule one may hit a child using his hands. Other Poskim[6] however rule that even using one’s hands to hit is included in the prohibition. Some Poskim[7] rule that this restriction does not apply in a room with a Mezuzah. Some Poskim[8] rule that there is no restriction to hit on the outer limbs such as the hand and leg, and the restriction is only with regards to areas of the inner limbs. Some Poskim[9] rule that the above restriction only applies between the 4th and 9th hour [of the day]. Other Poskim[10] rule that one is to be stringent through the entire period of time.]

 

Summary:

One is not to hit children for educational purposes during the three weeks. Various opinions are given regarding the exact form of hitting which is to be avoided, and at what times or areas this applies to. We thus find leniencies in the following cases:

1.       Some allow using the hands.

2.       Some allow in a room that has a Mezuzah:

3.       Some allow on the outer limbs:

Some prohibit only between the 4th and 9th hour of the day.

 

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[1] Michaber 551/18; Hagahos Maimanis; Rokeiach  309; Midrash Eicha Rabasi; Midrash Tehillim 58

[2] Levush 551; Kaf Hachaim 551/230

[3] Taz 551/18; Levush 551; Mamar Mordechai 551/17; M”B 551/103; Kaf Hachaim 551/231

[4] Piskeiy Teshuvah 551/57

[5] Ashel Avraham of Butshetch 551

[6] Peri Megadim 551 M”Z 18 “Even any type of hitting should be avoided.”; Kaf Hachaim 551/232

[7] Ashel Avraham of Butshetch 551

[8] Ashel Avraham of Butshetch 551

[9] Peri Megadim 551 M”Z 18; Levush 551; Siddur Yaavetz

[10] Tosefes Chaim Chayei Adam 133/17

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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