Brief Guidelines for Shabbat Tisha B’Av

Brief Guidelines for Tisha B’Av That Falls on Shabbat

Preparations for Shabbat Tisha B’Av

These guidelines concern the case in which Shabbat Chazon falls on the ninth of Av, and the fast is postponed to Sunday, as will be the case this year, 5782, and again in 5789, with the prayer that already this year the Beit HaMikdash will be rebuilt and these laws will no longer be relevant.

1. In honor of Shabbat, it is permitted to cut one’s nails and wash the floor, and it is also permitted to polish shoes.

2. For the purpose of cooking for Shabbat, it is permitted to taste meat and spit it out.

3. According to the custom of some Sephardim, one may have a haircut this week; however, even according to this custom, one should not have a haircut or shave on Friday when it falls on the eighth of Av, which is the eve of Shabbat Tisha B’Av. [That is, even for those who observe the prohibition only during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls, and they maintain that this year there is no such week, since the fast is postponed. However, there are Sephardim who observe the prohibition throughout the entire week].

4. Immersion in the mikveh on Friday — if one is accustomed to immerse every Friday, it is permitted to immerse even on Friday during the Nine Days in a cold mikveh (and if there is no cold mikveh, one may be lenient even with a warm one). Regarding the time of immersion, this year it is preferable to do so before midday, and if one did not manage, it may be done after midday.

5. Washing on Friday of Shabbat Chazon — one who is accustomed to wash with hot water and soap every Friday, and has never refrained from doing so except due to circumstances beyond his control, may wash his head, face, hands, and feet with hot water and soap. However, the rest of the body is forbidden for Ashkenazim even with cold water; if one suffers from perspiration, it is permitted. Sephardim, however, even those who are stringent and consider that this year there is a “week in which Tisha B’Av falls,” may be lenient in honor of Shabbat, since according to the basic law it is not considered such a week.

This year, when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, ideally one should wash before midday; if one did not manage, he may wash until Shabbat begins.

6. In honor of Shabbat, it is permitted to wear all Shabbat clothes as usual. [They should be put on after washing].

7. Sheets and bedding should not be changed for freshly laundered ones even in honor of Shabbat. [If one needs to change them, he should change them and have a small child lie on them for a few minutes, so that some of the enjoyment of the newness and freshness of a new sheet is diminished, and only afterward should the adult lie on them].

Conduct on Shabbat Chazon That Falls on the Ninth of Av

8. One who wishes to take medicines on Shabbat that help him get through the fast more easily, such as “Kalei Tzom,” should mix them before Shabbat begins into food or drink in such a way that it is not apparent that he is taking them as medicine.

9. It is permitted to eat foods that help with the fast, when they are foods that even a healthy person who is not fasting would normally eat for enjoyment, such as foods rich in dietary fiber or protein, and the like.

10. It is permitted to eat as usual, including eating meat and drinking wine; all of this is permitted even at seudah shlishit, and it is even permitted to set foods on one’s table like the feast of Shlomo during his reign.

11. It is permitted to sing Shabbat zemirot as usual, as on every Shabbat.

12. The halachah is ruled that on this Shabbat one may study Torah as usual until sunset, including Torah teachings that bring a person joy.

13. On Shabbat, Av HaRachamim is recited in the Shacharit prayer, even if there is a brit in the synagogue on this Shabbat.

Seudah Shlishit

14. As stated, it is permitted to eat anything at seudah shlishit until sunset, but care must be taken to finish the meal before sunset.

15. Some poskim hold that one should not sit at seudah shlishit in a gathering of friends and should not conduct oneself with special joy. Others, however, hold that one who is accustomed to eating with his friends at every seudah shlishit, for example in the synagogue, should not refrain from doing so this week, since on Shabbat it is forbidden to practice mourning publicly.

16. One should not explicitly say that he is eating or drinking in order to have strength to fast, but it is permitted to have this intention. However, when necessary, if one needs to remind the members of the household to prepare properly for the fast, for example to drink enough, especially since the fast is long and the day is particularly hot, one may be lenient.

17. If one finished seudah shlishit some time before sunset, recited Birkat HaMazon, and did not stipulate that he is not accepting the fast, he may still continue eating until sunset. Although in a regular year one must stipulate before Birkat HaMazon of the final pre-fast meal that he is not accepting the fast upon himself, on Shabbat there is no need to stipulate, because on Shabbat Birkat HaMazon is not considered acceptance of the fast.

18. The table should be cleared only after nightfall because of the prohibition of preparing on Shabbat for a weekday, as on every Shabbat. However, if one finished the meal while there was still much of the day remaining, he may clear the table on Shabbat, since it disturbs him on Shabbat.

19. From sunset, the laws prohibiting eating, washing, anointing, and Torah study take effect. Therefore, after sunset it is completely forbidden to eat or drink, and it is also forbidden to wash the entire hand. However, regarding sitting on the ground, removing shoes, and changing clothing, since these are public expressions of mourning, the custom is to change these only after nightfall.

20. If at sunset one has not yet recited Birkat HaMazon, he may wash mayim acharonim after sunset.

May it be His will that the promise of the Sages be fulfilled for us: “Whoever mourns over Yerushalayim merits and sees its consolation.”

Azmera LiShmecha (Issue 175).