Tisha BeAv

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The fast of Tisha B’av is to commemorate five tragedies which occurred to the Jewish nation: 1. The Jews of the desert were told that they would not enter Eretz Yisrael following the sin of the spies. 2 The first Bet HaMikdash was destroyed. 3. The second Bet HaMikdash was destroyed. 4. Beitar, a city filled with over 10,000 Jews was captured and destroyed by the Romans during the Bar Kochva rebellion. 5. Turnus Rufus plowed the area of the heichal. [1] This article is specifically about the fast of the ninth of Av. To learn about any of the other fast days click here.

People who are permitted to eat

  1. Some poskim say that if one is exempt from fasting on Tisha B'av, he need not eat in increments. [2] However, one should not overindulge. [3]
  2. A pregnant or nursing woman must fast on Tisha BeAv.[4]If the woman has a sickness which is Choleh Shein Bo Sakana, she doesn't have to fast. Yet, in these situations it's better to ask an Orthodox Rabbi to assess the situation.[5]

Learning on Erev Tisha BeAv

  1. Some Ashkenazim have the minhag not to learn after mid-day on Erev Tisha BeAv (except for the things which one can learn on Tisha BeAv itself), while others allow learning all day. [6] For Sephardim, it is permissible to learn the entire say of Erev Tisha BeAv. [7]

What one may learn on Tisha BeAv

  1. One should not learn Torah on Tisha BeAv whether it’s Tanach, Midrash, Mishna, Gemara, Halacha, or Aggadata because Torah brings happiness to a person. [8]
  2. However, it is permissible to read Iyov, an explanation of Iyov, the sad parts of Yirmiyahu (prophesy about destruction and rebuke but not consolation or about destruction of the other nations), Midrash Eicha, an explanation of Eicha, the Gemara in the third perek of Moed Katan (which deals with the laws of mourning, excluding the happy parts), [9] the Gemara in Gittin and Sanhedrin which deal with the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash. [10]
  3. When learning the laws of mourning one may not go into the depth of halacha (with questions and answers). [11]
  4. Even in the areas one is permitted to learn one should not learn in a deep analytical way. [12]
  5. One may not even think of how to answer a serious difficulty in learning because one will feel satisfied when the matter is settled. [13]

Eicha

  1. The custom is to read the megilla of Eicha, Lamentations, on Tisha B'av. [14]
  2. Women are required to read the megilla of eicha as well. [15]

Aneinu

  1. According to Sephardim, one recites aneinu at night on tisha b’av. [16]

Wearing Leather

  1. It is prohibited to wear leather shoes on Tisha B'av. [17]
  2. Even those who are more lenient on Yom Kippur and wear comfortable non leather shoes, should be more stringent on Tisha B’Av as we try to minimize comforts on Tisha B’Av as much as possible. [18]
  3. Some poskim permit wearing crocs, while others prohibit them. [19]

Marital Relations

  1. It is prohibited to have marital relations on Tisha B'av. [20]
  2. Some poskim say that a husband and wife should be careful not to touch each other. [21]

Mourning practices on the tenth of Av

  1. According to Ashkenazim one may eat meat, launder clothing, bathe, take haircuts until midday of the tenth of Av. [22] According to Sephardim one may not eat meat until sunset of the tenth of Av. [23]

Fasting

  1. It is forbidden for all men of bar mitzvah age and women of bat mitzvah age to partake in eating or drinking on the Tisha BeAv. The fast begins at shkiat hachamah of the 8th of Av and ends at Tzet Hakochavim of the 9th of Av. [24]
  2. It is forbidden for one to rinse out his/her mouth on Tisha BeAv; although, if one must they may rinse out their mouth with less than a Reviit of water. [25]

Other Halachot

  1. Although leather is not worn, the custom is to say the beracha in birkot hashachar of "sheasa li ko tzorki." [26]
  2. The minhag is not to put on Tefillin for Shacharit of Tisha BeAv and only put it on for Mincha.[27]
  3. Tachanun is not recited on Tisha B'av. [28]

When Tisha BeAv falls out on Sunday

  1. If Tisha BeAv falls out on Sunday, one doesn't say Tzedkatcha at mincha of Shabbat.[29]
  2. If Tisha BeAv falls out on Sunday, one may learn Torah on Shabbat after Chatzot but it's preferable to learn the halachot of Tisha BeAv.[30]
  3. If Tisha BeAv falls out on Shabbat and is pushed off to Sunday, the bracha of Boreh Meorei HaEsh upon a fire is made on Motzei Shabbat before the reading of Eicha, however, the bracha of Havdalah on a cup of wine is delayed until after Tisha BeAv, Sunday night. [31] An adult who is exempt from fasting should recite Havdalah on Motzei Shabbat before eating.[32]
  4. Even if one forgot to recite havdala in the shemoneh esrei, he doesn't repeat it but rather recites the words baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lichol. [33]
  5. Although seudat shlishit is the seudat hamafseket before the fast, one should eat a regular meal. [34] The meal must be finished before sunset. [35]
  6. One may leave on one's leather shoes until right after Barchu at the beginning of Arvit of Motzei Shabbat. If one is taking off one's shoes after Barchu one should take them off with one's feet or by only touching the shoelaces so that one doesn't have to wash Netilat Yadayim. It's proper to have Arvit of Motzei Shabbat 30 minutes after sunset giving people time to change from their Shabbat clothing which they should do 20 minutes after sunset.[36]

Sources

  1. Mishna Taanit 26b, Rambam Hilchot Taaniyot 5:3, Chayei Adam 133:5, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:5, Mishna Berura 549:2
  2. Sh”t Maharam Shick 289 says that just like on Yom Kippur we say that if it will not increase the danger by eating in small increments (S”A 618:7), the same applies to Tisha B’av. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Nishmat Avraham 4 554:1), Shevet Halevi 4:46, and Tzitz Eliezer 10:25:16 disagree and say this isn’t necessary for Tisha B’av.
  3. S:A 554:5, Haghot Maimaniot Hilchot Taaniyot 1:8
  4. S"A 554:5
  5. Yalkut Yosef 554 (HaChayvim VeHitanot #1)
  6. Rama 553:2, Mishna Brurah 553:8
  7. Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 248)
  8. S”A 554:1-2
  9. S”A 554:1-2, Mishna Brurah 554:2
  10. Mishna Brurah 554:3
  11. Mishna Brurah 554:4. On the other hand, Aruch Hashulchan 554:4 permits going into it deeply.
  12. Mishna Brurah 554:4
  13. Mishna Brurah 554:4
  14. S"A 559:2, Masechet Sofrim 18:5, and Eicha Rabbah Parsha 3. Mishna Berurah 559:2 notes that although the prevalent tradition is read to Eicha at night, it is preferable to read Eicha privately during the daytime as well.
  15. Teshuvot Vihanhagot 2:250 says that since women are obligated in all other halachot of mourning on tisha b'av, they are also obligated halachos of aveilus of Tisha B'Av, they are also required to hear Eicha. He says that if they cannot make it to shul, they made read it on the floor in their own homes.
  16. Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 536
  17. S"A 554:1 and 554:16. Kitzur S"A 124:11, Aruch Hashulchan 554:16, Mishna Berura 554:30 say that although shoes made of other materials cover and protect the feet, they are not called a "minal" and therefore aren't part of the prohibition.
  18. Halichot Shlomo 15:footnote 5 quoting the Shaare Teshuva 554:11
  19. Rav shlomo aviner says that since crocs are comfortable shoes even though they aren’t leather some, it is better not to wear them, but whoever does has on who to rely. http://matzav.com/rav-elyashiv-crocs-not-permitted-footwear-on-tisha-bav quotes that this is the ruling of Rav Moshe Shternbuch, Rav Nissim Karelitz as well. However, it also quotes Rav Elyashiv that it Is prohibited to wear them.
  20. S"A 554.1.
  21. Mishna Berura 554:37 raises this possibility but allows for one to be lenient at least during the day, Aruch Hashulchan 554:17 and Taz 615:16 say that one need not be stringent in this at all. Kitzur S"A 124:12 forbids physical contact both in the day and at night.
  22. Rama 558:1, Mishna Brurah 558:3
  23. S"A 558:1, Kaf HaChaim 558:10
  24. Halachot and History of The Three Weeks, The Akkad Edition, Congregation Shaare Rahamim Halachot Series, Mishna Berura 554:1.
  25. Halachot and History of The Three Weeks, The Akkad Edition, Congregation Shaare Rahamim Halachot Series
  26. Mishna Berura 554:31, Rabbi Eli Mansour
  27. S"A 551:1
  28. S"A 559:4 since Tisha B'Av is considered like a moed. Mishna Berura 559:17 points out that this is based on the pasuk in Lamentations 1:15 קָרָא עָלַי מוֹעֵד
  29. Yalkut Yosef 556:3
  30. Yalkut Yosef 556:2
  31. S"A 556:1. Mishna Berura 556:3 adds that an adult can drink this wine.
  32. Rabbi Mansour on Dailyhalacha.com quoting Yechava Daat 3:40, Birkei Yosef OC 556:2. Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata 62:45 writes that Birkei Yosef's ruling only applies to adults who are too ill to fast but a child should not recite havdala himself then, but should wait until after tisha b'av.
  33. Mishna Berura 556:2
  34. S"A 552:10 based on taanit 29b that says one may make a meal as extravagant as he pleases on the shabbat of the eighth or ninth of av. Mishna Berura 552:23 adds though that although we cannot publicly display mourning on Shabbat one's mood should at least somewhat reflect the time.
  35. Rama 552:10
  36. Yalkut Yosef 556:4-5