A ASHKENAZIM are rather more stringent about the mourning period of the Three Weeks than Sephardi Jews.

The reason, historically, is that Ashkenazi Jewry suffered terrible tragedies - more so than our brethren in other parts of the world - and as a result the heavy mourning at this time has become part of our practice.

The law of not shaving - or, indeed, cutting one's hair - is brought by the Shulchan Aruch Siman 551 of Orach Chaim as applying both to men and woman but relevant only to the week on which Tisha b'Av actually falls.

Accordingly this year, where the ninth of Av is on the Sunday, the limitation would not apply at all - except on the fast day itself.

The Rama - one of our sages - points out, however, that Ashkenazi custom is to mourn from the 17th day of Tammuz onwards until noon on the 10th of Av.

Custom and practice are important halachic considerations and are not to be taken lightly.

An Ashkenazi is obligated to follow the custom of his forefathers and therefore all the rules of mourning apply to the time period pointed out by Rama.

The following should also be considered:

Rav Soloveitchik opined that our sages structured these laws of mourning over the loss of Jerusalem and other national calamities to be the equivalent in status to the mourning for one's parent.

Accordingly, the Three Weeks are the parallel to the year of mourning for a parent.

In the year of mourning for a parent, one is allowed to get a haircut when "a friend rebukes him" about his appearance.

Rav Soloveitchik held that when it comes to shaving, this happens automatically every two days. In other words, two days' growth looks a mess.

The Torah also requires an observant Jew to look respectable and presentable. So the Rav held that one should shave every two days during the Three Weeks.

The Rav - in America - was responding to a similar society to ours where, when engaging with non Jews or less observant Jews, the impression one makes can reflect upon the image of the Torah itself.

Following his aliyah, my Rosh Yeshivah, Rav A Lichtenstein, ruled that in Israel it takes a little longer to reach this point. So he shaved every three days.

Soon afterwards, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, his local mentor, told him that if he really felt that he should, he could shave for Shabbat during the sefira (the Omer) - but not during the Three Weeks.

In a society where being unshaven during the Three Weeks is the norm, this practice of doing so would not apply.

In short, one should not shave during the Three Weeks at all since this is the general practice within the Torah observant community.

If this makes you very uncomfortable and could endanger your livelihood then I suggest the following: Initially, shave in honour of Shabbat. If this is still not enough, then shaving every two days would be allowed.

However, during the week of Tisha b'Av one should refrain from shaving.

And it goes without saying that the day of national mourning itself is a day of grief and sorrow where cutting hair of any kind is prohibited.

May this question be theoretical only and may we rejoice together on the ninth of Av in rebuilt Yerushalyim.

E-MAIL: askrabbi@jewishtelegraph.com