Halachos for 9 days and Tisha B'Av

ChossidMom

Thu, Aug 07 2008, 9:20 pm

By Rav Dovid Weinberger, as published on thefivetowns.com
Read it in pdf form here: http://www.thefivetowns.com/Im.....r.pdf

HALACHOS OF THE THREE WEEKS
The following are some of the more prevalent laws pertaining to the Three Week period.
A) FAST OF SHIVA A'SAR B'TAAMUZ
1) All adult men and women must fast except:
a) One who is ill (even though not life threatening)
b) Women, for thirty days after childbirth
c) Pregnant and nursing mothers who will feel weakened by fasting.
2) It is proper to refrain from bathing or showering with hot water. Although one should not go
swimming on the fast day, there is no restriction the night before.
3) One may rinse the front part of his mouth on this fast day
(I.e. with mouthwash) exercising caution not to swallow any liquid.
4) Even if one ate or drank by accident, they should still continue to fast.
B) THE THREE WEEKS
1) The accepted minhag is that haircutting and shaving are prohibited during the Three Weeks. A
person may get a haircut or shave if this will cause him a financial loss or create difficulty in his
business.
2) A married woman or one of marriageable age may shave her legs even during the Nine Days.
3) Dancing and playing musical instruments is forbidden during this period. It is the custom to
refrain from listening to any music, whether live or recorded.
4) On Shabbos one should sing the usual "Zemiros".
5) It is customary not to recite a Birchas She’hecheyanu during the Three Weeks. Hence, one
should not purchase or wear for the first time a garment that would require such a brocha (I.e.
suits, gowns etc.) Clothing that do not require a She’hecheyanu I.e. shoes, socks shirts, pants
etc. may be purchased and worn until Rosh Chodesh Av.
6) Cutting nails is permitted during the entire period.
C) THE NINE DAYS
Beginning with sunset before Rosh Chodesh Av, the Nine-Day period commences.
1) Except for Shabbos, one may not eat meat, poultry, or consume any food containing meat or
poultry.
2) Food cooked in a clean meat pot may be eaten.
3) One who is ill, pregnant or nursing may eat meat if so needed. Chicken would be preferable if it
will suffice.
4) Wine or grape juice may not be consumed during this period except for Shabbos or a Seudas
Mitzvah. On Motzoei Shabbos when making Havdala, many Poskim permit drinking of the wine.
There are some who are accustomed to give the wine to a child who is older than 5 but less than
9 years old. Others use beer for Havdala.
5) The prohibition of meat and drinking wine includes boys and girls above the age of 6 if they are
healthy.
6) During the Nine Days a person may not shower or bathe for one's pleasure even in cold water.
Swimming or using a sauna is likewise forbidden. If however a person is perspired or dirty, he
may shower or bathe in lukewarm water and even use soap or shampoo if he or she will not
become clean otherwise.
7) Under any circumstance washing one's hands, face and feet in cold water is permitted.
8) On Erev Shabbos during the Nine Days including Erev Shabbos Chazon, there are numerous
Poskim who permit showering or bathing in hot water with soap and shampoo. Other Poskim
forbid the use of soap or shampoo unless one cannot become clean otherwise.
9) Any form of home decorating should not be done during the Nine Days.
10) It is forbidden to wash or dry clean one's clothing during the Nine Days even if it is done by a
non-Jew. Ironing clothing is also prohibited.
11) Even giving the garments to a dry cleaner during the Nine Days to be picked up after the Nine
Days is not allowed. However, one may give clothing to the cleaners before Rosh Chodesh if they
pick them up after Tisha B'av.
12) Children's clothing may be washed during the Nine Days.
13) One may not wear new or freshly laundered clothing during the Nine Days except for
underwear or socks. Some permit wearing freshly laundered shirts. It is preferable however, to
wear all shirts briefly before the Nine Days commence. Suits, blouses etc. from the dry cleaners
must also be worn for a short period of time before the Nine Days.
14) According to most Poskim one may wear freshly laundered or cleaned suits for Shabbos even
when Tisha B'av occurs on Shabbos.
15) Purchasing new clothing is forbidden during the Nine Days even if they will be worn after the
Nine Days. This prohibition includes all types of clothing even those upon which a She’hecheyanu
is not recited. However, Tisha B'av sneakers may be bought if one was unable to buy them
previously.
D) THE WEEK OF TISHA B'AV
Due to the fact that Tisha B’Av is Sunday, there are no Halachos of the “week of Tisha B’Av”.
E) EREV TISHA B'AV
1) Prior to mincha, one should eat a regular meal so as to be properly prepared to fast.
2) This year since Erev Tisha B'Av is on Shabbos, there is no Seuda Ha'mafsekes.
3) This year Shabbos being Erev Tisha B'Av one must stop eating prior to sunset, which is
7:55 PM
4) Non-leather shoes should be bought to shul prior to or after Shabbos.
F) TISHA B'AV
1) It is forbidden to wear shoes or sneakers that contain any leather in their construction.
(Ornamental strips of leather are permitted.)
2) It is forbidden to wash any part of one's body, even with cold water. Upon rising in the morning
or after using the washroom, one should wash their hands three times to the end of the knuckles.
3) There is no prohibition to wash any part of the body that became soiled with dirt. Similarly,
women who are preparing food for after the fast many wash a piece of meat etc. even if their
hands will get wet.
4) If one is accustomed to sleep with two pillows, he should only use one pillow.
5) Sitting on a chair is permissible after midday, which this year is 1:01 P.M. There is no problem
of sitting in a car prior to that time.
6) One does not greet his fellow man on Tisha B'av. If you are greeted by someone you should
nod your head in response, or respond softly, thus indicating that regular greeting is not
permissible.
7) Perfumes or colognes are not permissible. Anti-perspirants are permitted to prevent
unpleasant odors.
8) It is generally osur to use mouthwash or brush one's teeth on Tisha B'av. In a situation of great
distress, a shaila should be asked.
8) On Erev Shabbos during the Nine Days including Erev Shabbos Chazon, there are numerous
Poskim who permit showering or bathing in hot water with soap and shampoo. Other Poskim
forbid the use of soap or shampoo unless one cannot become clean otherwise.
9) Any form of home decorating should not be done during the Nine Days.
10) It is forbidden to wash or dry clean one's clothing during the Nine Days even if it is done by a non-Jew. Ironing clothing is also prohibited.
11) Even giving the garments to a dry cleaner during the Nine Days to be picked up after the Nine
Days is not allowed. However, one may give clothing to the cleaners before Rosh Chodesh if they
pick them up after Tisha B'av.
12) Children's clothing may be washed during the Nine Days.

13) One may not wear new or freshly laundered clothing during the Nine Days except for
underwear or socks. Some permit wearing freshly laundered shirts. It is preferable however, to
wear all shirts briefly before the Nine Days commence. Suits, blouses etc. from the dry cleaners
must also be worn for a short period of time before the Nine Days.
14) According to most Poskim one may wear freshly laundered or cleaned suits for Shabbos even
when Tisha B'av occurs on Shabbos.
15) Purchasing new clothing is forbidden during the Nine Days even if they will be worn after the
Nine Days. This prohibition includes all types of clothing even those upon which a She’hecheyanu
is not recited. However, Tisha B'av sneakers may be bought if one was unable to buy them
previously.
D) THE WEEK OF TISHA B'AV
Due to the fact that Tisha B’Av is Sunday, there are no Halachos of the “week of Tisha B’Av”.
E) EREV TISHA B'AV
1) Prior to mincha, one should eat a regular meal so as to be properly prepared to fast.
2) This year since Erev Tisha B'Av is on Shabbos, there is no Seuda Ha'mafsekes.
3) This year Shabbos being Erev Tisha B'Av one must stop eating prior to sunset, which is
7:55 PM
4) Non-leather shoes should be bought to shul prior to or after Shabbos.
F) TISHA B'AV
1) It is forbidden to wear shoes or sneakers that contain any leather in their construction.
(Ornamental strips of leather are permitted.)
2) It is forbidden to wash any part of one's body, even with cold water. Upon rising in the morning
or after using the washroom, one should wash their hands three times to the end of the knuckles.
3) There is no prohibition to wash any part of the body that became soiled with dirt. Similarly,
women who are preparing food for after the fast many wash a piece of meat etc. even if their
hands will get wet.
4) If one is accustomed to sleep with two pillows, he should only use one pillow.
5) Sitting on a chair is permissible after midday, which this year is 1:01 P.M. There is no problem
of sitting in a car prior to that time.
6) One does not greet his fellow man on Tisha B'av. If you are greeted by someone you should
nod your head in response, or respond softly, thus indicating that regular greeting is not
permissible.
7) Perfumes or colognes are not permissible. Anti-perspirants are permitted to prevent
unpleasant odors.
8) It is generally osur to use mouthwash or brush one's teeth on Tisha B'av. In a situation of great
distress, a shaila should be asked.
G) AFTER TISHA B'AV
1) On Motzoei Tisha B’av, Sunday evening August 10, 2008, Havdala is recited on a cup of wine.
Only the brocha of Borei Pri Hagofen and Hamavdil is recited. Beer or any other Chamar Medina
(national beverage) can be used instead of wine.
2) It is forbidden to bathe, wash clothing, take a haircut or shave, eat meat or drink wine until
midday of the Tenth of Av. This year it would be at 1:00 P.M., Monday August 11th.