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ere we are, headed for the Three Weeks — with two long, difficult fast days following in close order.

Now, we all know that Jewish expressions are precise and important. I call my parents after Havdalah for many reasons, but a side benefit is getting to find out when to switch from a gezunte zummer to a gezunte vinter, when a gut yohr gives way to a gutten kvittel. Sephardim have their own blessings: The new year brings "Tizku leshanim rabbot tovot uneimot" and at the Mimouna celebration on Motzaei Pesach, and as they dine on moufletta, they wish each other “Tirbehu v’tisa’adu,” which is Judeo-Arabic for “LOL, Ashenazim are waiting on line at pizza shops.”

Anyhow, in the correct-wishes-for-each-season era in which we grew up, people wished each other “gut voch” at the start of a new week. Recently, though, I met someone on Motzaei Shabbos who told me to “make it a great week,” showing all his teeth and patting me on the shoulder like some kind of private life coach following me around. Huh? A gut voch to you too, buddy. Shavuah tov.

(This is part of a general strangeness that has taken over parts of our community, in which otherwise normal people call Shabbos “the weekend,” the Catskills “upstate” and Lakewood “Jersey,” as if they live in Cape May rather than Seventh Street.)

One of the more interesting new-agey wishes is “Have a meaningful fast,” which seems to be the go-to greeting on Erev Taanis. I’m all for meaning. Meaning is good. Especially on a fast day, as the Rambam (Hilchos Taaniyos 5:1) reminds us.

But back when people weren’t so correct, they said “Have an easy fast,” a leichten taanis. And I don’t remember those people marking the days in a less meaningful way than we do today, or in general, leading less meaningful lives.

The Chasam Sofer cautioned people against wishing each other an easy fast before Yom Kippur; since the day is meant to be one of “inuy,” affliction, it’s not meant to be easy. But for the other fasts, it would appear, the blessing can be appropriate.

So let me take the opportunity to wish you a meaningful summer — but do me a favor and have an easy fast. (Originally featured in Mishpacha, Issue 715)