בס"ד

Laws & Customs: 9 Days and Tishah B’Av For the year 5780 According to Nittei Gavriel, Mishna Berurah and Shulchan Aruch Harav All times listed are for Jerusalem only as per www.myzmanim.com Based on Rabbi Shmuel Lesches's Halachah Sheets Compiled by Yossi Fraenkel in memory of his grandparents

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 THE MONTH OF AV insists on working during the Nine Similarly, it is customary to refrain from traveling during the Nine When Days, and he even turns down a“ – משנכנס אב ממעטים בשמחה Days. If travelling is absolutely the month of Av enters, we reduce small bonus to delay the job; when necessary, one should at least our joy.” The entire month of Av is necessary for a , such as a begin the preparations (such as considered inopportune. One who Shul, or for a couple’s first marriage packing) beforehand. is scheduled to have a court soon after .] hearing, or anything of a similar Moving into a new home should be  SWIMMING & BATHING nature, should try to postpone it deferred until the month of Elul, or One may not shower or bathe until after the month of Av, or at at least until after the 15th of Av. one’s entire body, even in cold least until after the Nine Days. However, one may enter into contract to purchase or lease water. However, one may wash the  THE NINE DAYS property. face, hands and feet in cold water. Similarly, one may rinse any soiled In addition to the activities One may not plant trees or flowers areas. prohibited in the three weeks, for the sake of shade or fragrance, there are many additional but one may tend to these if One should not go swimming. prohibitions during the Nine Days, already planted prior to the Nine One may bathe as usual for the beginning on Tuesday evening at Days. One may also plant for the sake of a Mitzvah (such as Mikvah) sunset (7:47pm). sake of producing fruit. or medical purposes. One may not take a haircut. [Even One should not arrange or attend a There is room to be lenient if one so, a moustache may be trimmed if feast or party (such as a farewell suffers from perspiration and the it gets in the way of eating. party) – even for a Mitzvah that like, and he is not washing for Similarly, a woman may groom her does not have a fixed time. pleasure. [Where possible, this legs or eyebrows etc.] Therefore, a Siyum Sefer or should be done with colder water An Opshernish should be deferred Chanukat Habayit should be than usual, and only for as long as until after the Nine Days. [Other deferred until after the Nine Days. absolutely necessary, to minimize practices associated with an One may arrange a gathering with any unintended enjoyment.] Opshernish – such as training the light refreshments, especially if the One may not use a spa or sauna. child to wear and recite gathering is associated with a One may cut nails. [Even those who Brachot, Shma and Birchat Mitzvah. are stringent permit it for the sake Hamazon – should not be Although one may become of Shabbat or for the sake of a deferred.] engaged during the Nine Days and Mitzvah.] Weddings should not be even on Tishah B’Av, nevertheless,  NEW CLOTHING & ALTERATIONS celebrated during the Nine Days. a festive meal should not be held One should not purchase new One may not eat new fruit, unless until after the Nine Days. However, clothing or shoes during the Nine for health purposes. one may mark the occasion with light refreshments, but without Days – even if it will not be worn One may not listen to live music. singing and dancing. until after the Nine Days. [This Listening to recorded music for applies even to children’s clothing Kiddush Levana is postponed until enjoyment or festive purposes and shoes.] should also be avoided. Motzei Tishah B’Av. One may be lenient if the item is When possible, medical One should not build, remodel, substantially discounted and it procedures should be avoided, renovate or paint one’s home. cannot be purchased later for a especially during the week of [One may be lenient if repairs are similar price. urgent or constitute an emergency; Tishah B’Av. One may not wear new clothing when waiting carries a risk of It is customary to avoid engaging in during the Nine Days, even if it was significant financial loss; when a perilous activities during the Nine purchased on sale, or before the non-Jewish contractor who was Days. three weeks began. Nevertheless, engaged before the Nine Days ~ 2 ~ if one forgot to buy shoes needed A launderer by profession should One should not even partake of a for Tishah B’Av, one may do so consult a Rav regarding what may dish which is merely flavoured with during the Nine Days. and may not be done. meat or gravy, grape-juice or wine. [However, one may use wine One may not engage a tailor or  WEARING FRESH CLOTHING seamstress to create new clothing vinegar.] It is forbidden to wear freshly – even if it will not be worn until One may eat Parev foods that were laundered clothing or use freshly after the Nine Days. [One may be prepared in a clean Meaty pot or laundered tablecloths, linens and lenient if necessary for the sake of utensil. towels – even if laundered prior to one’s own wedding and there is the Nine Days. Accordingly, before Other alcoholic beverages are not enough time after the Nine the Nine Days begin, one should permitted, but one should be Days.] wear or use (even for a short time) mindful of the “spirit of the law”. One should not knit or embroider a all the items that one intends to When performing a Mezuman, one new garment. use during the Nine Days. should not use a Kos, even if he is One may not make alterations to If one neglected to do so, there is ordinarily accustomed to doing so. new clothing or shoes, but may room to be lenient and allow these  LEARNING & SIYUMIM make minor alterations to used items to be worn or used after clothing or shoes. leaving them on the ground for a During these days, it is appropriate A tailor or seamstress by while. for both men and women to increase in one’s Torah studies, profession should consult a Rav The above does not apply to with special focus on the Halachot regarding what may and may not undergarments and socks; the of the Nine Days, as well as learning be done. accepted practice is to change about the Geulah and the Beit them as necessary, even if they are  LAUNDRY Hamikdash (e.g. chapters 40-48 of freshly laundered. It is forbidden to launder or iron Yechezkel, tractates Middot and One may provide a guest with fresh garments, undergarments, Tamid, and Hilchat Beit Habechira linens and towels. tablecloths, linens or towels – even in the Rambam). if they will not be used until after One should not wear Shabbat It is also appropriate to increase in the Nine Days. clothing during the weekdays of and Ahavat Yisrael. the Nine Days, even if not freshly One may not even give these items These activities should especially laundered. However, on the to a non-Jewish launderer or dry- be performed in association with occasion of a Brit, freshly cleaner during the Nine Days. Siyumim. laundered Shabbat clothing are [However, one may give it in As we closer to the days of worn by the Mohel and Sandak, the before the Nine Days, even if it will Moshiach, we start to focus on the parents of the newborn, as well as be laundered during the Nine Days. inner purpose of the destruction, the woman who serves at the Similarly, one may be lenient if he which is to bring us to an even kvater. Similarly, in the event of a will otherwise not have clean higher level – the third Beit Pidyan Haben, the parents of the clothing to wear on Shabbat.] Hamikdash. Therefore, we baby and the Kohen wear freshly moderate the sadness with One may launder the clothing of laundered Shabbat clothing. permissible expressions of joy. As young children – who soil their Likewise, a Bar-Mitzvah boy and such, one should try to participate clothing constantly – as necessary. his parents may wear Shabbat in a Siyum every day of the Nine Similarly, a married woman may clothing. launder and use Levanim as Days, including Shabbat, and if th needed. [When washing by hand, it  MEAT & WINE possible, until the 15 of Av. is best to launder only a few items Meat and wine are associated with The Siyum should preferably be at a time. However, when washing joy. Additionally, the Avodah in the done on a Masechta of Gemara (as with a machine, it is best to reduce Beit Hamikdash – which was opposed to Mishnayot). The Siyum the number of loads by washing as interrupted in the Nine Days – may even be made by a child. many items together as possible. involved primarily meat and wine. Some have the custom to recite the Even so, one may only include Therefore, one may not eat normal D’rabannan at the items which are permissible to chicken and meat, nor drink grape- conclusion of the Siyum, but most wash.] juice and wine, unless there are recite the “Kaddish Hagadol” health concerns. printed in the back of the Gemara. ~ 3 ~ Ideally, the Siyum should be on a It is a Mitzvah to publicize in the who learn daily should complete Masechta whose conclusion is easy name of R’ Levi Yitzchak of their learning before midday. for all the participants to Berditchev that this Shabbat is A Siyum can be made as per the understand. The one making the called “Chazon” (vision), because rest of the Nine Days. If after Siyum should present it in an easy the Neshama is shown a vision of midday, it should be performed on and well-understood manner. the Beit Hamikdash. The purpose a topic which may be learned on of this vision is to arouse a yearning The Siyumim should involve as Tishah B’Av (such as the conclusion to actually see the Beit Hamikdash, many participants as possible. On of Moed Kattan). several occasions, the Lubavitcher and to do all that is necessary to Rebbe encouraged women, and realize this dream. One should eat and drink even very young children, to Havdallah is recited on wine. In the sufficiently well in preparation for participate in a Siyum. first instance, the wine should be the fast, but not in a festive manner, nor in excessive amounts. If it is not possible to participate in drunk by a child who understands This meal (along with Birchat person, one should at least strive the concept of Brachot (the Hamazon) should occur before to participate via telephone, or younger, the better). If that is not Mincha. other communication methods. an option, the wine is drunk by the one who recited Havdallah. If possible, the Siyum should be  MINCHA / SEUDAT HAMAFSEKET associated with food. Shabbat clothing is worn on Motzei Shabbat, as usual. Mincha is davened earlier, to leave Many hold that one should eat sufficient time for the Seudat meat and drink wine when  5TH OF AV Hamafseket. [According to the celebrating a Siyum during the 9 This day is the yohrtzeit of the Chabad custom, a Chiyuv recites days. The Chabad custom is not to Arizal. One should mark the day by the usual Mishnayot prior to the eat meat or drink wine at the increasing one’s efforts in last Kaddish.] siyum. spreading the inner dimension of Tachanun is omitted from this  SHABBAT CHAZON – 4TH OF AV Torah. point onward until after Tishah One may bathe on Friday in honour  TRAGEDIES B’Av. of Shabbat, don freshly laundered Five tragedies occurred on Tisha The Seudat Hamafseket consists of clothing, and use freshly laundered B’Av: bread and cold hard-boiled eggs tablecloths. [However, one should dipped in ashes. One may drink • The sin of the Meraglim. not change the linens.] water, tea, coffee and other non- If necessary, one may taste the • First Beit Hamikdash destroyed. alcoholic beverages, but should meaty food when preparing it for • Second Beit Hamikdash drink less than he usually would. Shabbat, provided that it is destroyed. expelled without swallowing. Apart The Seudat Hamafesket is eaten from that, one may not partake of • The fall of Beitar. when sitting on a low chair. One may still wear leather shoes. any meaty Shabbat foods on Erev • The site of the Beit Hamikdash Shabbat, even if one is normally and the surrounding area was Shir Hamaalot is recited before accustomed to doing so. ploughed. Birchat Hamazon, but a Mezuman Shabbat clothing is worn as usual is not made. Ideally, three adult and care is taken not to display any  EREV TISHAH B’AV men should avoid eating this meal signs of mourning. In fact, one A Brit or Pidyan Haben (including together in the first place. should be even more joyous than the Seudah) should be conducted Before Birchat Hamazon, one usual. before midday. should verbally stipulate that he One may – and should – eat meat One shouldn’t engage in enjoyable might still eat or drink again before and drink wine on Shabbat. activity. the fast begins. [If one neglected to It is customary for the Gabbaim to do so, it is still permissible to eat arrange a Kiddush with the purpose Starting from midday (12:45pm), and drink.] of increasing resolutions in one learns only those parts of After Birchat Hamazon, one may learning Torah, keeping Mitzvot Torah which may be learned on resume sitting on a regular chair B’hidur, and rejoicing in the Tishah B’Av (see section “Learning until Tishah B’Av begins. completion of the Torah. on Tishah B’Av” on page 4). Those ~ 4 ~ After Plag Hamincha (6:11pm), if  LEARNING ON TISHAH B’AV any soiled areas, but only as one accepted to begin the fast – necessary. Similarly, one may On Tishah B’Av, one may learn only whether verbally or in his mind, wash his hands up to the those parts of Torah which discuss one may no longer eat, and all the knuckles after exiting the the laws of mourning, the prohibitions of Tishah B’Av are restroom or touching an area of destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, applicable – the exception being the body that is normally or the tragedies which befell the that leather shoes may still be covered. One may also rinse Jewish people throughout history. worn. one’s hands as usual before and One should learn these in a cursory during food preparation. All the manner, and not delve into it  TISHAH B’AV EVENING above may be done with soap (Drush v’Pilpul). Similarly, one when applicable. One may also Tishah B’Av begins at 7:42pm. should not consult a Rav regarding wash dishes, but it is best to do Halachic matters irrelevant to so whilst wearing gloves.] The Parochet is removed from the Tishah B’Av. Aron HaKodesh (or moved to the • Apply makeup, ointment, side). As during the rest of the Nine Days, lotions, perfumes or creams – one should endeavour to hear a unless necessary for medical or The lights in Shul are dimmed to a Siyum. This should be done on a therapeutic purposes, or for bare minimum. Nonetheless, the topic which may be learned on pain-relief. Chazzan lights the usual amount of Tishah B’Av (such as the conclusion candles; according to their custom. of Moed Kattan.) • Brush one’s teeth or rinse one’s mouth. After The Amidah, the Chazzan Needless to say, the obligation to recites Kaddish Titkabel. learn Torah at every opportunity • Sit on a normal-height chair Eicha is recited along with the applies fully on Tishah B’Av. [Many until Tishah B’Av midday Chazzan. One should not recite it Achronim bemoaned the lax (12:45pm) – unless one is frail or standing, but rather should sit on a attitude some people sadly adopt infirm, pregnant, while nursing, low chair. The Chazzan recites it towards learning on Tishah B’Av.] or when sitting in a vehicle. unhurriedly, pausing between each One should give increased Passuk, and raising his voice • Intimacy – Harchakot must be Tzedakah, especially before kept even during the day. slightly at the beginning of each Mincha. It is proper to give the Perek. value of the forgone meals – • Greet another. If one was The last Passuk (i.e. the second especially if one is exempt from greeted, he may return the “Hashivenu”) is recited aloud with . greeting in a subdued manner, the Chazzan, followed by Kinot. or explain that it is Tishah B’Av.  LAWS OF TISHAH B’AV One who davens without a Minyan • Give gifts (unless it is Tzedakah). On Tishah B’Av, it is prohibited to: still recites Eicha and Kinot. • Study, go to work, engage in • Wear festive clothing or festive V’Atah Kadosh is recited, followed business activity, or perform a jewellery. by the full Kaddish – excluding the job or task that requires line beginning Titkabel – and • Wear footwear containing any concentration, as these will Aleinu. leather. One may wear non- distract him from mourning. [Technically, these are According to the Chabad custom, a leather footwear, including crocs. [If absolutely necessary permitted after midday, but it is Chiyuv recites the third Perek of best to refrain even then.] Mishnayot Moed Kattan prior to for work purposes, a Rav should be consulted.] Nevertheless, one may do these the last Kaddish. in order to prevent a financial Some have the custom to sleep on • Go to Mikvah, bathe or wash loss or to retain his job. Even the floor, some sleep without their any part of the body – even in then, one should defer any pillow or place a stone under the cold water. Similarly, one may publicly performed work until pillow. This is not the Chabad not wipe himself with a cloth after midday, if this is possible. sufficiently damp to moisten custom • what it touches. [One may rinse Instruct a non-Jew to work if necessary for medical or publicly on his behalf (such as therapeutic purposes, or for construction). However, one

pain-relief. One may also rinse may instruct a non-Jew to do ~ 5 ~ any other work, even if it will be a slightly different way as a i.e. Ha’one B’eit Tzara V’shomea performed in one’s own home. reminder not to wash one’s hands Tefillah; as usual.] One should not idle away one’s • if he already concluded the time, go on trips, read novels or One wipes his eyes with the towel Brachah of Sh’ma Koleinu, he partake in any other pleasurable moistened by the hands. Someone recites Aneinu as a separate pastimes or activities. who washes the flakes out of his Brachah immediately after the eyes every morning may do so on Brachah of Sim Shalom. One should not smoke at all. At the Tishah B’Av as well. very least, one should do so in The Chazzan does not recite private only, and keep it to a After getting dressed, one washes Birchat Kohanim. their hands again – with a Brachah minimum. [Of course, smoking is Tachnun, Selichot and Avinu – only up to the knuckles. discouraged in general.] Malkeinu are not recited. The Brachah of Sheasa Li Kol Tzorki One should be especially careful One who is not fasting (or who is omitted until the following not to become angered. anticipates that he won’t be able to morning. finish the fast) must still hear Kriat  WHO MUST FAST? and are not worn until Hatorah, but is not called up for an The ill/elderly, a woman who gave after midday. Similarly, a Brachah Aliya. [If he is the only Kohen or birth within the past month, or a is not recited on the Tzitzit, nor are Levi, he should absent himself.] If pregnant or nursing woman who they held and kissed during Baruch he is called up, he may accept the feels (or anticipates) excessive Sheamar and Shmah. Aliya. He should not serve as the difficulty, should consult a Rav. Chazzan or the Ba’al Koreh either, The Chazzan lights candles as unless there is no one else to do so. A Rav should be consulted usual; according to one’s custom. regarding medicines. Kaddish is recited between the last During Shacharit, only the Chazzan Aliyah and Haftorah. During Gelilah recites Aneinu. Therefore, one If one inadvertently ate during the and Haftorah, the Magbiha holds who is not fasting (or who fast, one must immediately resume the while sitting on a anticipates that he won’t be able fasting. regular-height chair. The Sefer to finish the fast) shouldn’t serve Torah is returned to the Aron One may not taste food to as Chazzan. determine whether it requires HaKodesh immediately after salt/spices, even for a Seudat [In the unlikely event that the Haftorah. Chazzan is not fasting, or less than Mitzvah. Afterwards, Kinot is recited. One three congregants are fasting: should not recite it standing, but Anyone below Bar/Bat Mitzvah Instead of reciting Aneinu should rather sit on a low chair. need not fast. From the age of nine between Goal Yisrael and R’faeinu, upwards, the custom is to train the Chazzan includes Aneinu in the One should refrain from casual children to fast at night, and for Brachah of Sh’mah Koleinu, and conversation or other unnecessary several hours during the day, as per concludes the Brachah regularly; interruptions during the recital of the child’s abilities. i.e. Shomea Tefillah.] Kinot. An individual exempt from fasting A Chazan who forgot to recite After Kinot, the following are should eat in private only, and Aneinu: recited: Ashrei, Uva L’tziyon (with avoid delicacies or excessive the omission of the Passuk that • if he remembered before intake. Similarly, children old begins Va’ani Zot Briti), and Aleinu. reciting Hashem’s name at the end enough to understand the concept Everything else (including Tehillim) of the Brachah of R’faeinu, he of a fast day should avoid is postponed until Mincha time. delicacies. [Bread is best avoided, recites Aneinu immediately, and so as to sidestep a number of then repeats the Brachah of After Uva L’tziyon, the Chazzan disputes regarding how to wash R’faeinu; omits the line beginning Titkabel and Bentch.] • if he already concluded the from Kaddish. Brachah of R’faeinu, he recites  TISHAH B’AV MORNING One should recite the book of Eicha Aneinu in the Brachah of Sh’ma after Kinot (and the conclusion of Washing one’s hands as one does Koleinu, and concludes the davening). in the mornings is only up to the Brachah with a double conclusion; knuckles. [Tip: Prepare the water in ~ 6 ~ Where possible, one should time The passage of Vayechal is read, in Bonei Yerushalayim, and also his morning with the aim of provided that at least three recites Birchat Kohanim toward the concluding Kinot (and Eicha) congregants are fasting. end of The Amidah. shortly before midday, as opposed One who is not fasting (or who According to the Chabad custom, a to long beforehand. anticipates that he won’t be able to Chiyuv recites the usual Mishnayot A Brit should be postponed until finish the fast) must still hear Kriat prior to the last Kaddish. Hatorah of Vayechal, but is not after Kinot. The baby’s parents and Those who wear Rabbeinu Tam called up for an Aliya. [If he is the Baalei Habrit may wear Shabbat Tefillin put them on after Mincha, only Kohen or Levi, he should absent clothing for the duration of the and recites the usual selections himself.] If he is called up, and Brit, but not leather shoes. The recited with them. Sandak sits on a regular-height refusing the Aliya will cause him embarrassment and minimize the chair whilst the Brit is performed. One should ensure that he puts on honour of the Torah, he may accept The Brachah is recited on wine, but Tefillin before sunset (7:41pm). If the Aliya. He should not serve as the is drunk by a child who one davens with a Minyan which will Chazzan or the Ba’al Koreh, unless conclude only after sunset, he understands the concept of there is no one else to do so. should change into Rabbeinu Tam Brachot (the younger, the better). Tefillin before Mincha. The Seudah takes place at night, When the congregation recites the after the fast. verses aloud, the Ba’al Koreh waits  CONCLUSION OF FAST for silence before resuming. The one  TISHAH B’AV AFTERNOON receiving the Aliya begins reciting The fast concludes at 8:06pm. In the afternoon, the intensity of these verses with the congregation One washes Netilat Yadayim mourning lessens and some but concludes with the Ba’al Koreh. (covering the entire hand with restrictions are relaxed. After Haftorah, most communities water) without a Brachah, and rinses one’s mouth as soon as possible It is customary to wait until midday return the Torah to the Aron Kodesh and then say Kaddish. The Chabad after Maariv, and certainly before before preparing for the post-fast Kiddush Levanah or breaking the custom is that the Chazzan slowly meal. However, one may begin fast. preparations for a recites Kaddish while the Torah is before midday. returned to the Aron Kodesh, similar If the moon is visible, Kiddush to Mincha on Shabbat. Levanah is recited. Ideally, one After midday, it is permitted to sit should first change into leather on chairs of regular height, unless If an individual forgot to recite shoes, rinse one’s face to freshen up, one will still be finishing Kinot. Nacheim in the correct place, he may and taste something, unless this will recite it in Sh’ma Koleinu after negate his participation in a Minyan.  MINCHA Aneinu; in Retzei before V’techezena; or in Modim before The Beit Hamikdash was set ablaze The Parochet is restored to its usual V’al Kulam. [In any of these cases, he on the afternoon of the 9th of Av, and place on the Aron HaKodesh after recites the conclusion of the Brachah burned through the 10th. Therefore, midday, before Mincha. as usual, and does not add the words the custom is to extend all Mincha is longer than usual; care Menachem Tziyon Uvoneh restrictions of the Nine Days should be taken to conclude before Yerushalayim.] If one didn’t (including – but not limited to – sunset (7:41pm). remember until he concluded The consuming meat or wine, having a Amidah, he does not repeat it. haircut, bathing, wearing freshly Before Mincha, one puts on Tallit laundered clothing, or doing the and Tefillin and recites the entire If an individual forgot to recite laundry) until midday (12:45pm) of Shmah. This is followed by the Aneinu in Sh’ma Koleinu, he may the 10th of Av. selections omitted from the recite it in the passage of Elokai conclusion of Shacharit. [I.e. Shir N’tzor, before the second Yih’yu  15TH AV Shel Yom, Ein Kelokeinu, Tehillim.] L’ratzon. If one didn’t remember Tachnun is not recited on These should be recited with a even then, he does not repeat The Wednesday the 15th of Av, nor Minyan, and Kaddish is said at the Amidah. during Mincha on the day appropriate places. An individual who is not fasting beforehand. It is forbidden to fast on th Ideally, Kriat Hatorah should not omits Aneinu but still recites the 15 of Av, even a Chattan and begin prior to Mincha Gedolah Nacheim. Kallah. (1:19pm). The Amidah may certainly The Chazzan recites Aneinu between not begin before then. Goal Yisrael and R’faeinu, Nacheim