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Someone told me that if a person did not swim prior to the three weeks, he may not start swimming during the three weeks? Is there a source for this? (sources)

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What makes you think this is an issue? – Isaac Moses Jul 17 '11 at 2:51
I never heard of it, yet someone told me on Shabbos that there is such a Halacha yet did not know where. I am trying to see if it is accurate or not. – Gershon Gold Jul 17 '11 at 2:56
I think you should probably ask that person for some kind of source since even Google has never heard of such a thing. – WAF Jul 17 '11 at 3:17
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Gershon, please include your "I heard it from someone ..." sourcing in your question. If you're going to ask about halachot whose existence even you aren't sure of, it makes sense to say why you're asking about them. Otherwise, we could have infinite questions like "Are we allowed to eat meat on Wednesdays?" – Isaac Moses Jul 17 '11 at 3:36
Google has heard of it :) Just not with the phrases you used. If your custom is not to swim during the three weeks you shouldn't swim, if it is, you can :) – avi Jul 17 '11 at 9:21
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2 Answers

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Although people say that one may not go swimming for the first time during the Three Weeks, there is no halachic source for this practice. It is therefore not considered a binding custom and it is permitted without Hataras Nedorim (Piskei Teshuvos 551:46).

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That Tshuvah doesn't seem to say anything about swimming for the first time. Is it a different Tshuva, perhaps?: hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=20026&pgnum=233 (it is a new edition, so maybe he changed things around) – Menachem Sep 15 '11 at 19:15
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One may swim during the three weeks, but not after Rosh Chodesh Av. Some however have a custom not to go swimming during the three weeks at all.

It sounds like those who allow one to "Continue swimming" is a subset of those who don't swim during the 3 weeks, but it is not the normal custom.

http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/halacha/TheThreeWeeksBackIssue.pdf

Swimming - Three Weeks (not including nine days)

Some have the custom to refrain from swimming during the three weeks. 121 However, the custom is to go swimming until Rosh Chodesh Av. Nonetheless, one should avoid swimming in dangerous places. 122

  1. Mekor Chaim 551:14:page 289, Orchos Rabbeinu 2:page 129:12. The Steipler zt”l did not change his clothing all week even during the three weeks except for Shabbos and his tallis kotton (Orchos Rabbeinu 2:page 130:17).
  2. Opinion of Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l quoted in Moadei Yeshurun page 128:footnote 12, Halichos Shlomo Moadim 2:14:footnote 7, Teshuvos V’hanhugos 2:263, M’Bais Levi 13:page 22:4:footnote 5 quoting the opinion of Harav Wosner Shlita, Rivevos Ephraim 3:333, 4:135:14, 6:285:2, Shevet Ha’kehusi 1:169:4.
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