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Nine Days: Difference between revisions

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The Nine Days is time period from the beginning of the month of Av until [[Tisha BeAv]] during which there are a number of practices of [[mourning]] described below. While many of the laws below apply to the entire period of the Nine Days, some of them only apply during the week in which Tisha BaAv falls out (Shevua SheChal Bo). Additionally, these practices are very similar but generally more stringent than those that observed during the [[Three Weeks]].  
The Nine Days is time period from the beginning of the month of Av until [[Tisha BeAv]] during which there are a number of practices of [[mourning]] described below. While many of the laws below apply to the entire period of the Nine Days, some of them only apply during the week in which Tisha BaAv falls out (Shevua SheChal Bo). Additionally, these practices are very similar but generally more stringent than those that observed during the [[Three Weeks]].  
==Business==
==Business==
#From the beginning of the month of Av one should reduce one’s involvement in activities of happiness. <ref>S”A 551:1</ref>
#From the beginning of the month of Av one should reduce one’s involvement in activities of happiness. <ref>S”A 551:1</ref>
#If one has a lawsuit with a non-Jew one should delay it until the [[month of Elul]] or at least until after [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref>S”A 551:1, Mishna Brurah 551:2</ref> Similarly, if one must have a surgery and it can be delayed, one should try to delay it until after [[Tisha BeAv]].<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 557)</ref>
#If one has a lawsuit with a non-Jew one should delay it until the [[month of Elul]] or at least until after [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref>S”A 551:1, Mishna Brurah 551:2</ref> Similarly, if one must have a surgery and it can be delayed, one should try to delay it until after [[Tisha BeAv]].<ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 557)</ref>
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#One may not build houses or buildings for business purposes during the Nine Days. However, one may hire a non-Jew before the Nine Days with a fixed sum for the entire project and then, he may work during the Nine Days and even on [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref>S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 511:12 </ref>
#One may not build houses or buildings for business purposes during the Nine Days. However, one may hire a non-Jew before the Nine Days with a fixed sum for the entire project and then, he may work during the Nine Days and even on [[Tisha BeAv]]. <ref>S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 511:12 </ref>
#If a wall is going to fall, even if there isn’t a concern of danger but only a concern of loss, one may restore it during the Nine Days. <ref>S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 551:13 </ref>
#If a wall is going to fall, even if there isn’t a concern of danger but only a concern of loss, one may restore it during the Nine Days. <ref>S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 551:13 </ref>
==Buying and Gifting==
#If there is a need, one may buy furniture if it is going to be delivered after the [[nine days]].<ref>Halichot Shlomo (p. 426, 14:22)</ref>
#If there is a need, one may buy furniture if it is going to be delivered after the [[nine days]].<ref>Halichot Shlomo (p. 426, 14:22)</ref>
#One shouldn't buy important items such as furniture or appliances during the [[nine days]] since it brings a person a lot of pleasure.<ref>Guidelines of the [[Three Weeks]] by Rabbi Elozor Barclay (p. 47) citing Igrot Moshe 3:80 and MeBeyt Levi p. 8 n. 4</ref>
#One shouldn't buy important items such as furniture or appliances during the [[nine days]] since it brings a person a lot of pleasure.<ref>Guidelines of the [[Three Weeks]] by Rabbi Elozor Barclay (p. 47) citing Igrot Moshe 3:80 and MeBeyt Levi p. 8 n. 4</ref>
#Some Ashkenazim have the practice not to give gifts during the nine days unless there is a need<ref>Nitai Gavriel Ben Hametzarim 1:18:4</ref> but for a mitzvah such as for a bar mitzvah boy it is permitted.<ref>Nitai Gavriel Ben Hametzarim 1:18:6</ref>


==Taking Haircuts and Shaving==
==Taking Haircuts and Shaving==
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#One should not refrain from eating meat on Shabbat during the nine days, or even if Tisha B'av falls out on Shabbat and is pushed off until Sunday, one should eat meat on that Shabbat.<ref>Mishna Brura 551:59 </ref>
#One should not refrain from eating meat on Shabbat during the nine days, or even if Tisha B'av falls out on Shabbat and is pushed off until Sunday, one should eat meat on that Shabbat.<ref>Mishna Brura 551:59 </ref>
#One is permitted to buy meat and wine during the [[Nine days]] for use after the [[Nine days]] if there is a sale, or he won't have time afterwards. <ref>Iggerot Moshe 4:112 </ref>
#One is permitted to buy meat and wine during the [[Nine days]] for use after the [[Nine days]] if there is a sale, or he won't have time afterwards. <ref>Iggerot Moshe 4:112 </ref>
#One should refrain from eating food cooked with meat.<ref>Although SA 551:10 says that some allow you to eat foods cooked in a meat pot, Mishna Brura 551:63 and Kaf Hachaim 551:142 say that the custom is to refrain from doing so. Ish Matzliach footnotes to Mishna Brura 551:10:note 4 agrees</ref> Nevertheless, one is permitted to eat food that was cooked in meat pots, as long as no meat was cooked with it, and one cannot taste the taste of the meat in his food. <ref>Mishna Brurah 551:63, Kaf Hachayim 551:142, Orchot Chaim 31, Nitei Gavriel 38:5. Shaar Hatziyun 551:68 writes that even if a small piece of meat that will not be tasted fell into a dish, it may still be eaten. </ref> Parve food which looks like meat may be eaten during the Nine Days. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 38:6</ref>
#One should refrain from eating food cooked with meat.<ref>Although Shulchan Aruch 551:10 says that some allow you to eat foods cooked with meat, Mishna Brura 551:63 and Kaf Hachaim 551:142 say that the custom is to refrain from doing so. Ish Matzliach footnotes to Mishna Brura 551:10:note 4 agrees.</ref> Nevertheless, one is permitted to eat food that was cooked in meat pots, as long as no meat was cooked with it, and one cannot taste the taste of the meat in his food. <ref>Mishna Brurah 551:63, Kaf Hachayim 551:142, Orchot Chaim 31, Nitei Gavriel 38:5. Shaar Hatziyun 551:68 writes that even if a small piece of meat that will not be tasted fell into a dish, it may still be eaten. </ref> Parve food which looks like meat may be eaten during the Nine Days. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 38:6</ref>
#If, by mistake, one recited a blessing over meat or wine, he should taste a bit so that his blessing will not have been in vain. <ref>Sdei Chemed (Bein ha-Metzarim 1:4). See also the topic of mistakenly making a Bracha on food on a fast day at [[Fast_Days#Other_Halachas_of_fast_days]]. </ref>
#If, by mistake, one recited a blessing over meat or wine, he should taste a bit so that his blessing will not have been in vain. <ref>Sdei Chemed (Bein ha-Metzarim 1:4). See also the topic of mistakenly making a Bracha on food on a fast day at [[Fast_Days#Other_Halachas_of_fast_days]]. </ref>
#Since the minhag is not to drink wine, a question arises as to what we should do with [[Havdalah]]. For Sephardim one is permitted to use wine and drink it as usual <ref>Shulchan Aruch 551:10. Yalkut Yosef page 574 adds that one may drink the entire cup. </ref> while for Ashkenazim there are several possibilities. <ref>The Aruch HaShulchan 551:26 says some people have the Minhag to drink beer or another drink that qualifies as Chamar Medina. The Eshel Avraham 551 and the Chazon Ish (quoted in Imrei Yosher, pg. 4) says that those who say [[Havdalah]] every week over wine or grape juice should do the same during the Nine Days as well. Rav Moshe Harari in his Mikraei Kodesh 1:14 say it is preferable to use grape juice as this doesn't cause any joy, and Rav Moshe Karp in Hilchot UMinhagei Ben HaMetsarim chapter 4 note 74 says that in this situation an adult can drink it lechatchila. Rama 551:10 says to preferably give it to a child. Mishna Brurah 551:70 says that it should be a minor above the age of [[chinuch]] but doesn't fully comprehend the concept of [[mourning]] the destruction of the beit hamikdash. Rav Moshe Feinstein quoted in Moadei Yeshurun page 154 says the adults should drink the [[Havdalah]] wine. Darkei Moshe 551:9 says in the name of the Maharil that this can be done lechatchila. See piskei teshuvot 551:35 and Hilchot UMinhagei Ben HaMetsarim chapter 4 note 74 for more poskim who say this. </ref>
#Since the minhag is not to drink wine, a question arises as to what we should do with [[Havdalah]]. For Sephardim one is permitted to use wine and drink it as usual <ref>Shulchan Aruch 551:10. Yalkut Yosef page 574 adds that one may drink the entire cup. </ref> while for Ashkenazim there are several possibilities. <ref>The Aruch HaShulchan 551:26 says some people have the Minhag to drink beer or another drink that qualifies as Chamar Medina. The Eshel Avraham 551 and the Chazon Ish (quoted in Imrei Yosher, pg. 4) says that those who say [[Havdalah]] every week over wine or grape juice should do the same during the Nine Days as well. Rav Moshe Harari in his Mikraei Kodesh 1:14 say it is preferable to use grape juice as this doesn't cause any joy, and Rav Moshe Karp in Hilchot UMinhagei Ben HaMetsarim chapter 4 note 74 says that in this situation an adult can drink it lechatchila. Rama 551:10 says to preferably give it to a child. Mishna Brurah 551:70 says that it should be a minor above the age of [[chinuch]] but doesn't fully comprehend the concept of [[mourning]] the destruction of the beit hamikdash. Rav Moshe Feinstein quoted in Moadei Yeshurun page 154 says the adults should drink the [[Havdalah]] wine. Darkei Moshe 551:9 says in the name of the Maharil that this can be done lechatchila. See piskei teshuvot 551:35 and Hilchot UMinhagei Ben HaMetsarim chapter 4 note 74 for more poskim who say this. </ref>
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#Although the custom is not to drink wine during the nine days, one may drink beer, whiskey, liquor, cognac and arak. <ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=2730 Drinking Liquor, Beer and Cognac During the Nine Days] by Rabbi Eli Mansour, Ish Matzliach footnotes to Mishna Brura 551:9:note 5 </ref>
#Although the custom is not to drink wine during the nine days, one may drink beer, whiskey, liquor, cognac and arak. <ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/m/halacha.aspx?id=2730 Drinking Liquor, Beer and Cognac During the Nine Days] by Rabbi Eli Mansour, Ish Matzliach footnotes to Mishna Brura 551:9:note 5 </ref>


==== Children ====
=== Children ===
 
#One who needs to eat meat for health reasons such as a child, a pregnant woman, a nursing woman, or an elderly or sick person is permitted to eat meat, but if he can eat chicken that is preferable. <ref>Mishna Brurah 551:64. Yechave Daat 1:41 adds that if they do, they are not required to make a [[hatarat nedarim]]. </ref>
#One who needs to eat meat for health reasons such as a child, pregnant woman, nursing woman, or an elderly or sick person is permitted to eat meat, but if he can eat chicken that is preferable. <ref>Mishna Brurah 551:64. Yechave Daat 1:41 adds that if they do, they are not required to make a [[hatarat nedarim]]. </ref>
#It is preferable not to feed children meat during the [[nine days]], but if you do you may have on who to rely. <ref>Magen Avraham 551:31 says you can give children meat even during the week of tisha b'av because we never had the minhag for kids to mourn. However, he adds that this is only true for a child below the age of [[chinuch]], meaning a child who doesn't understand what we mourn. [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/890440/rabbi-hershel-schachter/are-children-obligated-in-observances-that-commemorate-the-destruction-of-the-beis-hamikdash-/ Rav Hershel Schachter ]explains that although normally a child is not obligated to observe practices of a mourner, even when he reaches the age of chinuch, the practice of not eating meat is not a function of mourning (as a mourner during shiva is allowed to eat meat and drink wine.) Instead, it is part of the obligation to mourn and remember the Beit Hamikdash. (See Gemara Baba Batra 60b). Children do not have an obligation to observe the laws of mourning, but they do have an obligation to remember the beit hamidkash. Therefore they refrain from eating meat and drinking wine during the nine days once they have reached the age of chinuch.<br>
#It is preferable not to even feed children meat during the [[nine days]], but if you do you may have on who to rely. <ref>Magen Avraham 551:31 says you can give children meat even during the week of tisha b'av because we never had the minhag for kids to mourn. However, he adds that this is only true for a child below the age of [[chinuch]], meaning a child who doesn't understand what we mourn. Mishna Brurah 551:70 and Shaar Hatziyun 551:76 say that although there is no requirement for the child to mourn for the beit hamikdash, the prohibition of feeding children prohibited items discussed in SA OC 343 extends to things that are only prohibited by custom and therefore one shouldn't feed meat to his kids unless for health reasons and the reason the Rama permitted [[Havdalah]] wine for children was for a mitzva. Iggerot Moshe 4:21:4 says even to feed the children meat on Friday afternoon before [[shabbat]] would not be allowed unless they usually eat their [[Friday night meal]] at that hour. Based on the Magen Avraham 551:31, Rabbi David Yosef in torat hamoadim Siman 5 page 190 says there is ample room to be lenient in this case. Aruch Hashulchan 551:26 as well says there is room to be lenient, especially in a case where it is a weak child who can gain a lot from eating the meat.
Mishna Brurah 551:70 and Shaar Hatziyun 551:76 say that although there is no requirement for the child to mourn for the beit hamikdash, the prohibition of feeding children prohibited items discussed in SA OC 343 extends to things that are only prohibited by custom and therefore one shouldn't feed meat to his kids unless for health reasons. The reason that the Rama permitted [[Havdalah]] wine for children was because Havdala is a mitzva. <br>
 
Shu"t Iggerot Moshe 4:21:4 says even to feed the children meat on Friday afternoon before [[shabbat]] would not be allowed unless they usually eat their [[Friday night meal]] at that hour. <br>
Rabbi Eider (The Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 7) writes that generally the minhag not to eat meat even applies to children. But if it is hard to feed a child dairy and he is used to eating meat every day he can continue to eat meat in the Nine Days. </ref>
Based on the Magen Avraham 551:31, Rabbi David Yosef in Torat Hamoadim Siman 5 page 190 says there is ample room to be lenient in this case. Aruch Hashulchan 551:26 as well says there is room to be lenient, especially in a case where it is a weak child who can gain a lot from eating the meat.
<br> Rabbi Eider (The Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 7) writes that generally the minhag not to eat meat even applies to children. But if it is hard to feed a child dairy and he is used to eating meat every day he can continue to eat meat in the Nine Days. </ref>


===Seudat Mitzva===
===Siyum and Seudat Mitzva===


#One may eat meat at a meal for a mitzvah such as the meal of a [[Brit Milah]] and this includes the relatives and friend invited to the meal however, it doesn’t include those who just walk in to eat. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 196-7). Rama 551:10 allows eating meat for a seudat mitzva, and the Taz there explains that only someone would normally be invited to this seuda, may partake in this meat seuda during this time. If the bris is scheduled to be performed before the [[nine days]], even if it has already been postponed, Shaare Teshuva 551:10 says you cannpot postpone any further to allow eating meat, and one who does this is considered someone who breaches fences.  </ref>
#One may eat meat at a meal for a mitzvah such as the meal of a [[Brit Milah]] and this includes the relatives and friend invited to the meal however, it doesn’t include those who just walk in to eat. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 196-7). Rama 551:10 allows eating meat for a seudat mitzva, and the Taz there explains that only someone would normally be invited to this seuda, may partake in this meat seuda during this time. If the bris is scheduled to be performed before the [[nine days]], even if it has already been postponed, Shaare Teshuva 551:10 says you cannot postpone any further to allow eating meat, and one who does this is considered someone who breaches fences.  </ref>
#One may eat meat at a meal held for a siyum and this includes the friends and family invited to the meal. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taaniyot pg 196-8). Although the Rama 551:10 writes that one should minimize the amount of guests invited to this meal, Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (cited in Nitei Gavriel 18:7), rule that if the one who completes the masechet eats in a communal dining room (such as a camp or hotel), all those who eat with him may participate. Rav Moshe Feinstein quoted in Moadei Yeshurun page 132 says that preferably one shouldn't hold a siyum of a masechet after the sixth of av. Aruch Hashulchan 551:28 says that since nowadays we do not properly celebrate the Torah, preferably no siyums should be held during the [[nine days]]. </ref>
#One may eat meat at a meal held for a siyum and this includes the friends and family invited to the meal. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taaniyot pg 196-8). Although the Rama 551:10 writes that one should minimize the amount of guests invited to this meal, Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (cited in Nitei Gavriel 18:7), rule that if the one who completes the masechet eats in a communal dining room (such as a camp or hotel), all those who eat with him may participate. Rav Moshe Feinstein quoted in Moadei Yeshurun page 132 says that preferably one shouldn't hold a siyum of a masechet after the sixth of av. Aruch Hashulchan 551:28 says that since nowadays we do not properly celebrate the Torah, preferably no siyums should be held during the [[nine days]]. </ref>
# A siyum can be made on a masechta of gemara, seder of mishna, or book of Tanach studied with the rishonim.<ref>Rav Eider in Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 7</ref>
#Some say that from the 7th of Av they shouldn't serve meat at a siyum.<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (cited by Rav Eider in Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 7) holds that after the 7<sup>th</sup> of Av they should not serve meat even at a siyum.</ref>
#Some say that from the 7th of Av they shouldn't serve meat at a siyum.<ref>Rav Moshe Feinstein (cited by Rav Eider in Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 7) holds that after the 7<sup>th</sup> of Av they should not serve meat even at a siyum.</ref>
#One may eat meat a meal held for a [[Bar Mitzvah]] only if it’s held the day that the son becomes 13. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 200), Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 2 pg 415), Yad Yitzchak 3:230, Yad Efrayim 551:31, Divrei Yatziv 2:238. Even though this is not mentioned by the Rama 551:10 as one of the meals you can eat meat for, Magen Avraham 225:4 says that a bar mitzva meal is a seudat mitzva, because just like siyum on a masechet is the celebration of the culmination of a mitzva, so too a bar mitzva is celebrating culminating the mitzva of [[chinuch]]. </ref>
#One may eat meat a meal held for a [[Bar Mitzvah]] only if it’s held the day that the son becomes 13. <ref>Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 200), Halichot Shlomo (Moadim vol 2 pg 415), Yad Yitzchak 3:230, Yad Efrayim 551:31, Divrei Yatziv 2:238. Even though this is not mentioned by the Rama 551:10 as one of the meals you can eat meat for, Magen Avraham 225:4 says that a bar mitzva meal is a seudat mitzva, because just like siyum on a masechet is the celebration of the culmination of a mitzva, so too a bar mitzva is celebrating culminating the mitzva of [[chinuch]]. </ref>
# If a person missed hearing the siyum itself a rav should be consulted.<ref>Rav Eider in Halachos Of The Three Weeks p. 8 writes that it seems to him to be permitted to eat from the meal even if he missed hearing the siyum but he concludes that a rav should be consulted.</ref>


==Weddings==
==Weddings==