Dear Lakewood community,
I’m not looking to criticize, just to understand.
My husband works in a local retail store in the center of Lakewood. Like most businesses, they have busier seasons and quieter ones. How is it every day this week so far he is coming home saying it’s busier than ever! What happened to the 9 days being a time where we don’t shop? Yes, the store owner is thrilled, but we just keep saying we don’t get it.
Any explanations are welcome!
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Rule #1 in the 9 days: Be Dan L’Kaf Zechus
Agree 100%
Great comment!
We are realistic where we are holding in Ruchniyos
Because Pools are closed and it’s hot
I personally never understood it either
The Sefaradim don’t have 9 days this year. We only keep the halachos of the 9 days the week of Tisha B’Av, and since Tisha B’Av falls out on Sunday this year there is no shavua shechal bo.
Also I would venture to guess that since next week is going to be full of weddings and everything else, many people are permitted to go shopping now during the 9 days if they will need things for the wedding or after the wedding etc.
and many are told they can shop if sales are big ..here in Monsey at least the stores that I typically cannot afford are 70 percent off and we still have 2-3 months to wear these summer items this year..yiddish gelt …
@anon. factually incorrect. Sfardim are just allowed to shower & haircut this week. They are NOT allowed to shop and eat meat. Get your facts straight
Factually incorrect. Sfardim DO NOT shop or eat meat this week
Lots of clothing stores are closed during the 9 days. Today as we approach the coming of Moshiach, the Door is very schwach. For example, I see people swimming, not Sefardim. So sad
very!
Your judgement is sad.
Exactly as the sefardi said it and be Dan L’chaf zechus
All the stores have sales. Not sure why this week but in this economy i understand why they are full!
It’s called the Yetzer Harah
Stores have sales people get heterim simple
Probably the big nine days sale your husband’s boss is having to get people to shop there.
It’s terrible!
for 1 week don’t shop! seriously! Follow Halacha…
(yes, a few have reasons they may, but very few, stores should be empty)
I went to a shop today and the sales people would not let me shop unless I got a heter from a rov. They said the store was open because they were working…. I didn’t thing undergarments is an issue at all. The rav said if kid needs something and is going to camp before 9 av, then it’s ok, or if there is big sale. So we did not shop. I would never dream to ask Shaina. Kol hakavod to the store owners.
Wow!! I’m impressed with that store! Kol hakavod!
terrible
So vague.
Are you talking about clothing stores? Are you talking about grocery stores? Are you talking about restaurants?
Retail doesn’t have to mean clothing… If it’s things people are allowed to shop for – clothing or otherwise , within the considerations of where they’re holding and what they’ve been told they can do, then maybe this is just the time they have to do it. Many people are off and aren’t swimming or traveling or doing other types of shopping so this is their time for errands. And shopping isn’t actually a pleasurable pastime for many people, might just be something to check off to do list.
Gonna agree with all the dan lekaf zechus comments.
i have a different question to you: why do the stores NEED to do sales davka in 3 weeks? we keep שבוע שחל בו, so for us there is no 9 days, but for Ashkenazim -why are stores doing it?why davka 3 weeks have to be weeks of Major Summer Sales?
They do sales in order to bring people in. During the 9 days business would be slow, so they have sales and business is busy.
I asked a rav from a hashkafik point of view if it was acceptable to host sales during the 3 weeks, for a clothing business I was involved in. The response was “if your doing it to clear inventory to make room for the new season(which possibly is the reason many stores do it) than its not a problem, however if your sole intention is to encourage foot traffic (since the consumer can now shop as its a davar ha’avud) while it may not be assur, it’s not hashkafikally correct”.
When SHOULD they have the sales, on Chol Hamoed?
I do not understand it either. I am not trying to judge them but I was just wondering. When I first moved here and for about a decade after that all stores were closed during the nine days. That was the only time of year that the store owners went on vacation and had off. I wonder if the money they get during the nine days brings Brocha or if they even make a profit in the end. כל המתאבל על ירושלים זוכה ורואה בשמחתם. It could be they asked a שאילה and got a פסק they could be opened. The question I guess is why the need is to be open? Or why are people going shopping for things other than food and other necessities during the nine days? Even during the 3 weeks you are not supposed to get new things unless they are on sale and will not be available after ט באב.
Why aren’t you having a Havasu yisrael in the 9 days?
Why don’t you think about local families trying to earn a fair parnasssah in the 9 days & not rely on donations?
On Chol Hamoed some stores are open with the shutters half closed.
Do they do that in the 9 Days too?
Someone makes a siyum in every store when it opens.
Hi I am totally maskim, how low have we gone? The 9 days are that we shouldn’t be going shopping or doing anything of the sort, but then you go to many stores around and there all packed I just don’t get it, it’s very sad!
we need the geula!!!