Nine Days

From Halachipedia

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 Tishba 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

  1. When the month of Av begins one should reduce one’s involvement in activities of happiness. [1]
  2. 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. [2] Similarly, if one has to have a surgery and it can be delayed, one should try to delay it until after Tisha BeAv.[3]
  3. During the Nine Days, one should refrain from buying materials that are needed for a wedding.[4] Some authorities are lenient if the Chatan has not yet fulfilled the mitzvah of Pru Urevu and one will not be able to prepare for the wedding after Tisha BeAv because the wedding is right after Tisha BeAv or if there is a concern that the price of the wedding needs will become expensive after Tisha BeAv.[5]
  4. The minhag is to be lenient to allow one not to reduce one’s regular business during the Nine days. [6]
  5. 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. [7]
  6. If a wall if 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. [8]

Taking Haircuts and Shaving

  1. The Sephardic minhag is not to take a haircut during the week in which Tishba BaAv falls out (Shevua SheChal Bo)[9], while the Ashkenazic minhag is not to take a haircut during the entire Nine Days. [10]
  2. Shaving one’s beard or moustache is forbidden just like it is forbidden to take a haircut. [11] If one moustache interferes with one’s eating, one may cut it. [12]
  3. It is permitted to comb and style one's hair during the Three Weeks and Nine Days and one doesn't have to worry that one will pull out hairs. [13]

Laundering Clothes

  1. The Sephardic minhag is not to launder clothes or wear newly laundered clothes during the week in which Tishba BaAv falls out (Shevua SheChal Bo)[14], while the Ashkenazic minhag is not to launder clothes or wear newly laundered clothes during the entire Nine Days. [15]

Showering, Bathing, and Swimming

  1. Some have the minhag not to bathe during the Nine Days and some only refrain from bathing during the week in which Tishba BaAv falls out (Shevua SheChal Bo). [16]

Eating Meat and Drinking Wine

Weddings

  1. The Sephardic minhag is not to get married during the Nine Days [17], while the Ashkenazic minhag is not to get married anytime in the Three Weeks. [18]
  2. Even if the man has not yet fulfilled the mitzvah of Pru Urevu the minhag is not to get married during the Nine Days including Rosh Chodesh. [19]

Shecheyanu

  1. It is forbidden to buy new clothes during the Nine Days. [20] Most of these halachot are the same as it is for the Three Weeks, so see the Three_Weeks#Saying_Shehecheyanu.

References

  1. S”A 551:1
  2. S”A 551:1, Mishna Brurah 551:2
  3. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 557)
  4. Mishna Brurah 551:11
  5. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 558)
  6. Mishna Brurah 551:11, Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 559)
  7. S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 511:12
  8. S”A 551:2, Mishna Brurah 551:13
  9. S”A 551:3, Yalkut Yosef (Shevua SheChal Bo #1)
  10. Rama 551:3
  11. S”A 551:12
  12. S”A 551:13
  13. Eliya Rabba 551:7, Shaare Teshuva 551:12, Mishna Berura 551:20, Aruch Hashulchan 551:15, Sh"t Yachava Daat 6:35
  14. S”A 551:3
  15. Rama 551:3
  16. S”A 551:16
  17. S”A 551:2
  18. Rama 551:2
  19. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim p. 560)
  20. S”A and Rama 551:7