Bein HaMetzarim

The Three Weeks

“Judaism is a religion of memory. The verb zachor appears no fewer than 169 times in the Hebrew Bible. “Remember that you were strangers in Egypt”; “Remember the days of old”; “Remember the seventh day to keep it holy”. Memory, for Jews, is a religious obligation.” — Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

When is Bein HaMetzarim 2026?

17 Tammuz - 9 Av 5786

Begins: Dawn on Thursday 2 July 2026
Ends: Nightfall on Friday 24 July 2026

Videos on Bein HaMetzarim

Jewish Unity: Three Reflections

An engaging tool to open up discussions around Tisha b’Av, and the Three Weeks, featuring three clips from Rabbi Sacks discussing Jewish unity, conflict resolution, and our shared fate.

We are the People that Build

Here is a short message for Tisha B'Av from Rabbi Sacks as we marked this day of mourning on 29th...

Seven Principles for Maintaining Jewish Peoplehood

Starting with the Fast of Tammuz (on the 17th Tammuz), we begin a period in the Jewish calendar known as...

JInsider Videos

Rabbi Sacks on Understanding Jewish Exile

Transcript Rabbi Sacks: It is fascinating that as a people we have a 4,000-year history, but tragically all too little...

Read about Bein HaMetzarim

Seven Principles for Maintaining Jewish Dialogue

This Sunday is the Fast of Tammuz, and with it begins the period of mourning in the Jewish calendar called...

From The Archives

Essays and writings from Rabbi Sacks' extensive body of work

ARTICLES

Creating Freedom Without Anarchy, Order Without Tyranny

Nine days from now Jewish communities around the world will sit in collective mourning on Tisha b’Av, the day of...

From Covenant & Conversation

The series of weekly commentary essays on the Torah by Rabbi Sacks

MASEI • 5774, 5781

Leadership at a Time of Crisis

The parsha of Masei always occurs at the heart of the Three Weeks. This is the time when we engage...

Bein HaMetzarim: Family Edition

Resources from Rabbi Sacks' book Ceremony & Celebration: Family Edition, designed for kids and students of all ages to help them discover new insights within the Jewish festivals and encourage dynamic discussion around your Yom Tov tables.

The Three Weeks and Tisha B'Av

The Three Weeks in a Nutshell The period known as the Three Weeks (also known in Hebrew as Bein ha-Metzarim...

Recommended Books for Bein HaMetzarim

Ceremony & Celebration: Family Edition

For Rabbi Sacks zt”l, the primary institution of education in the life of a Jewish child is the family. The...