Rules of Tisha B’Av

Prohibitions of the Nine Days

With the onset of Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, the intensity of the three week mourning period increases.  In addition to the prohibitions of weddings, live music and haircuts, during the days between Rosh Chodesh and Tisha B’Av, the rabbinic prohibitions are as follows:

• Building or performing alterations in one’s home (unless the work is important repair work. This prohibition includes painting, wall papering and other forms of home decorations.
• Eating meat or drinking wine, except on Shabbat.
• Doing Laundry and wearing freshly Laundered clothing (Children’s clothing, especially babies and infants, may be cleaned during this period. Also, this restriction doesn’t apply to clothing warn directly against the body which requires frequent changing.
• Weaving, knitting and needle craft work (with the exception of repairing torn clothing).
• Swimming and bathing for pleasure.. Taking a bath or shower for hygiene purposes is permitted. Children in camp may go swimming during the instructional swim period. Visiting a Mikveh when necessary is permitted.
• The Shabbat before Tisha B’Av is called Shabbat Chazon because the Haftorah that morning begins with the word Chazon.

Erev Tisha B’Av

The observance of Tisha B’Av begins with the Seudah HaMafseket, the last meal before the fast begins.

Seudah HaMafseket:
Unlike the elaborate feast we have before Yom Kippur, this meal is typically one course, usually consisting of a hard-boiled egg and some bread.

It is customary to eat this meal alone while sitting on a low chair or on the ground.

In addition to allow for an individual to get oneself into the proper mindset for Tisha B’Av, this meal is generally not eaten with others to avoid having a Zimmun (quorum for public blessing) at Birchat HaMazon.

NOTE: During years when the fast starts on Saturday night we do not have a seuda HaMafseket.

Prohibitions on the evening and day of Tisha B’Av

Eating and Drinking

This includes washing one’s mouth or brushing teeth (according the Mishna B’rurah, one who would be extremely uncomfortable otherwise may brush one’s teeth).

Wearing leather shoes

Washing or taking a Shower

• Before davening, one should wash one’s hands by pouring water over the length of one’s five fingers until the middle joint), without washing the body of the hand itself.
• A person whose hands become soiled may wash off the dirt.
• Someone who needs to prepare food on Tisha B’Av may do so even if one’s hands become wet.

Annointing

One may not wear perfume.

Use of deodorant is allowed.

Marital Relations

Sitting on a Bench or Chair

This restriction is observed until Chatzot Yom (midday).  Midday will be 1:04 pm on Thursday.

Greeting Others

This includes statements like “Good morning”, etc.

Studying Torah

One may study:

• Eicha (including commentaries and Midrashim
• Kinot recited both in Ashkenazi and Sefardi siddurim.
• Parts of Yirmiyahu which deal with the destruction of the Beit haMikdash
• Iyov
• Stories in Gittin 54b – 58a and in Sanhedrin, 104a – 104b
• Third Perek of Moed Kattan (dealing with mourning)
• Yerushalmi at the end of Taanit
• Halakhic texts dealing with the laws of Tisha B’Av and of mourning
• The destruction of the Beit HaMikdash as described by Josephus
• The Torah portions read on Tisha B’Av may be prepared on Tisha B’Av.

Wearing Tefillin

Tefillin is not worn at Shacharit because Tefillin are called “Pe’ar” – Glory.  Given that we will be reciting Kinot and it does not represent the glory for the Jewish People, Tefillin is not worn until after mid-day, at the Mincha service.

The 10^th of Av:

Since the Temple continued to burn into the 10^th of Av, the restrictions of the nine days apply until Chatzot on the 10^th of Av.  These include:

• Eating meat or drinking wine
• Swimming
• Washing clothes or wearing freshly laundered clothing
• Planting flowers and plants
• Involving oneself in any risky activities (such as undergoing elective surgical procedures whose postponement would not incur any adverse effects, travel, lawsuits, etc)
• Weddings

• Haircuts

• Shaving
• Learning (except for topics permitted to learn on Tisha B’Av)

*** PLEASE NOTE: Since Tisha B’Av falls out on a Thursday this year, Motzai Tisha B’Av is Erev Shabbat.  Therefore, in honor of the Shabbat…

• Haircuts and washing clothes are permitted immediately following Tisha B’Av.
• Bathing is permitted on Friday morning.

May our prayers and sadness during this period allow us to go, with God’s help, m’yagon l’simcha (from sadness to happiness).  May we merit to see the difficulties facing the Jewish people and humanity end and the speedy rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash, Bimhaira B’Yamainu.

Tisha B’Av, 5769 (Word file)