before it's too late

I always assumed that the reason we don't eat meat or drink wine during the 9 days is as a sign of mourning. Turns out I was wrong. Over shabbat, my friend's stepmother pointed out that while it's true that during shiva (which the 9 days are supposed to mirror, or at least shavua she'chal bo [the week of tisha b'av itself]), you can't have wine, you definitely can have meat. The real reason of not having meat & wine during the 9 days is actually because it reflects the lack of korbanot (sacrifices), which were most often meat and/or wine.

Who knew!?