The Laws of Tisha B’Av

Cutting Nails and Washing the Floor

nun In honor of Shabbat, it is permitted to cut nails and wash the floor, and also to polish shoes. 45

Tasting Meat

nun-alef For the sake of cooking for Shabbat, one may taste meat and spit it out [and some permit even swallowing]. 46

Haircuts According to Sephardic Custom

nun-bet Even those Sephardim who prohibit haircuts only during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls [and in a year when Tisha B’Av falls on Saturday night, strictly speaking haircuts would have been permitted all week], on the eve of Tisha B’Av that falls on Shabbat one should not cut hair or shave.

Immersion

nun-gimel Immersion in a mikveh on Friday: if one is accustomed to immerse every Friday, he may immerse even on Friday during the Nine Days in a cold mikveh [and if there is no cold one, one may be lenient even in warm water]. Regarding the time of immersion, see the end of the next section. 47

Washing

nun-dalet Washing on Friday of Shabbat Chazon (for Ashkenazim): one who is accustomed to wash in hot water every Friday and has never canceled it except due to unavoidable circumstances may wash his head, face, hands, and feet with hot water and soap; the rest of the body is forbidden even with cold water. [The law of one who suffers from perspiration was explained above.] In a year when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, ideally one should wash before midday; if he did not manage, he may wash until Shabbat begins. 48

Shabbat Clothes

nun-he In honor of Shabbat one may wear all Shabbat clothes as usual [after washing]. Sheets and bedding should not be changed to freshly laundered ones even for Shabbat [and one who needs to change them should do so and have a minor lie on them for a few minutes]. 49

Taking Kali-Tzom

nun-vav Kali-Tzom should be mixed before Shabbat begins into food or drink in a way that it is not noticeable. 50

Meat and Wine

nun-zayin It is permitted to eat as usual, including meat and wine; all this is permitted even at the third meal, and one may even place foods on his table like the banquet of Shlomo in his reign. 51

Shabbat Songs

nun-chet It is permitted to sing Shabbat zemirot as usual, as on every Shabbat. 52

Private Matters

nun-tet On a Shabbat on which Tisha B’Av falls, the prohibition of private matters applies; but when the eve of Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, it is permitted. 53

Torah Study on Shabbat

samekh When Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, the poskim disagree whether one may study only topics permitted on Tisha B’Av or even forbidden topics. Likewise, when Tisha B’Av falls on Saturday night, they disagree whether from midday of Shabbat one may study only topics permitted on Tisha B’Av or also forbidden topics. In practice, it is ruled that on Shabbat one may study anything, even after midday until sunset [both when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat and when it falls on Saturday night]. 54

The Third Meal

samekh-alef As stated, one may eat anything at the third meal until sunset [and the meal should be finished before sunset]. 55

At a Meal with Friends

samekh-bet Some poskim hold that one should not sit at a meal with friends for the third meal and should not behave joyfully; others hold that one who is accustomed to eat with friends should not refrain, because that would be public mourning. 56

Saying He Eats for the Fast

samekh-gimel Some say one should not say that he is eating in order to have strength to fast.

Accepting the Fast

Close to Sunset

samekh-dalet If one finished the third meal some time before sunset, recited Birkat Hamazon, and did not stipulate that he was not accepting the fast, he may still continue eating until sunset. Although in a regular year one must stipulate before Birkat Hamazon that he is not accepting the fast, on Shabbat this is unnecessary, because Birkat Hamazon on Shabbat is not considered accepting the fast. 57

The Custom to Delay Ma’ariv

samekh-he In some places they delay Ma’ariv, and then remove shoes and change Shabbat clothes after nightfall. 58

Where Ma’ariv Is Not Delayed

samekh-vav In places where Ma’ariv is not delayed, after saying Barchu and nightfall, shoes are removed; after the prayer, Shabbat clothes should be changed [and the chazzan removes his shoes before saying Barchu, after saying “המבדיל בין קודש לחול” (“Who separates between holy and weekday”)]. 59

Time of the Prohibition

samekh-zayin From sunset the prohibitions of 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 clothes, since this is public mourning, these are practiced only after nightfall. 60

He Did Not Recite Birkat Hamazon

samekh-chet If at sunset he has not yet recited Birkat Hamazon, he may wash mayim acharonim after sunset.

Sitting on the Ground

samekh-tet As stated above, one does not sit on the ground between sunset and nightfall, since it is public mourning; however, some are careful also not to sit on a chair or bench at that time, and removing the shoes is done in a way that is not noticeable.

Preparing the Kinot

ayin  One may not prepare the kinot book or the scroll of Eicha before Shabbat ends, nor should one prepare the benches in the synagogue before Shabbat ends.

Women and Havdalah

ayin-alef Women who did not pray Ma’ariv, and likewise a man who forgot to say “אתה חוננתנו” (“You have granted us understanding”) in the prayer, must remember to say “ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול” (“Blessed is He Who separates between holy and weekday”). 61

The Blessing “Me’orei Ha’esh”

ayin-bet One recites “בורא מאורי האש” (“Who creates the lights of fire”) over a candle, and women may also recite it; no blessing is recited over spices. 62

Clearing the Table

ayin-gimel The table should be cleared only after nightfall, because of the prohibition of preparing from Shabbat to weekday as on every Shabbat. However, if he finished the meal well before the day’s end, he may clear the table on Shabbat, since it bothers him on Shabbat. 63

Washing Dishes

ayin-dalet Ideally, dishes should be washed on Sunday after midday; but one who is lenient to wash them on Saturday night has authorities to rely upon [regarding the manner of washing, see above in the laws of Tisha B’Av]. 64

A Sick Person

ayin-he A sick person who eats on Tisha B’Av, in a year when the fast begins on Saturday night, must recite Havdalah over a cup before eating; and if he became sick on Tisha B’Av, he must also recite Havdalah over a cup. If healthy people who are fasting heard Havdalah from him, they have fulfilled their obligation. 65

A Woman

ayin-vav A woman who eats permissibly on Tisha B’Av should recite Havdalah and drink the cup herself [and there is no concern in this]. Some say that her husband or another person may recite Havdalah for her, and she drinks the cup, and he also fulfills his obligation of Havdalah. 66

She Cannot Drink the Cup

ayin-zayin If she cannot drink the Havdalah cup, she should recite Havdalah and give it to a minor who has reached the age of education [age 5–6] to drink; if there is no minor, she may eat before Havdalah and hear Havdalah at the end of the fast.

The Verses before Havdalah

ayin-chet Those who recite Havdalah during the fast say “בורא פרי הגפן” (“Who creates the fruit of the vine”) and “המבדיל בין קודש לחול” (“Who separates between holy and weekday”) [and if he did not recite “בורא מאורי האש” (“Who creates the lights of fire”), he recites it in Havdalah; if he already blessed over the fire, he does not bless in Havdalah], and the verses before the Havdalah blessing — “הנה וכו'” (“Behold, etc.”) — are not said, 67 and no blessing is recited over spices. 68

The Blessing “Me’orei Ha’esh”

ayin-tet Even one who is not reciting Havdalah says the blessing of Me’orei Ha’esh on Saturday night, because this blessing is recited only on Saturday night [and it may be recited until dawn]. 69

On What to Recite Havdalah

pe Those who recite Havdalah during the fast should preferably do so over grape juice [and a woman who recites Havdalah drinks the grape juice, as above]. 70

One Who Drinks Water

pe-alef One who drinks water permissibly on Tisha B’Av and does not eat need not recite Havdalah before drinking. 71

A Minor

pe-bet A minor before bar mitzvah who eats on Tisha B’Av does not need to recite Havdalah; he should hear Havdalah at the end of the fast. 72

Pregnant and Nursing Women

pe-gimel On a deferred Tisha B’Av, pregnant and nursing women for whom it is difficult are exempt from the fast. 73

A Non-Dangerously Ill Person

pe-dalet A non-dangerously ill person, meaning one who is bedridden or whose whole body is ill [and cannot function], is exempt from the fast. On a deferred Tisha B’Av, even one who has aches more than usual [although he is not in the category of a non-dangerously ill person and may not take medicine on Shabbat] is exempt from the fast. 74

pe-he The other laws of a sick person — see above, the laws of Tisha B’Av.

In a year when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat, wearing shoes is forbidden only from nightfall [and likewise sitting on the ground and changing Shabbat clothes], but the other laws apply that year as well from sunset. 75
Additional differences in a year when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat:
The order of Ma’ariv on Saturday night: the chazzan says Kaddish Titkabel after Shemoneh Esrei, “בורא מאורי האש” (“Who creates the lights of fire”) is recited over two candles, Megillat Eicha is read, kinot are said, “ואתה קדוש” (“And You are holy”) is said, and “ויהי נועם” (“May the pleasantness”) and “ויתן לך” (“And may He give you”) are not said; Kaddish without “Titkabel”; Aleinu. 76 The other laws of the fast are as in other years.

Tasting before Havdalah

pe-vav It is forbidden to taste anything after the fast until Havdalah is recited over a cup [and even a woman who fasted whose husband is delayed in synagogue must recite Havdalah]; only water may be drunk. 77

Practices of Mourning

pe-zayin In a year when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbat and is deferred to Sunday, laundry, haircuts, washing, and the blessing “שהחיינו” (“Who has kept us alive”) are permitted for all communities immediately after the fast. 78 For Ashkenazim, eating meat and drinking wine are forbidden until the next morning; for Sephardim, they are permitted when the fast ends. 79

Listening to Music

pe-chet There is room to question whether music [as during the rest of the year] may already be listened to when the fast ends; those who are lenient have authorities to rely upon. 80

Order of Havdalah

pe-tet Havdalah is recited over a cup of wine, saying the blessing over wine and the blessing “המבדיל בין קודש לחול” (“Who separates between holy and weekday”); the one reciting Havdalah drinks the cup, and there is no need to give it to a minor. 81 No blessing is recited over spices or over the candle, and the verses before the Havdalah blessing — “הנה וכו'” (“Behold, etc.”) — are not said.

Ma’ariv
Order of Ma’ariv in the synagogue: the chazzan says Kaddish Titkabel after Shemoneh Esrei, Megillat Eicha is read, kinot are said, “ואתה קדוש” (“And You are holy”), Kaddish without “Titkabel,” Aleinu. 82
Shacharit
Order of Shacharit: it is obligatory to say the section of the daily offering; “איזהו מקומן” (“What is their place”) and “רבי ישמעאל” (“Rabbi Yishmael”) are said; “מזמור לתודה” (“A psalm of thanksgiving”) is said; the chazzan adds “עננו” (“Answer us”) in the repetition; the Kohanim do not ascend to bless; the chazzan says half-Kaddish [and “אבינו מלכנו” (“Our Father, our King”) and Tachanun are not said]; Torah reading and haftarah; the Torah scroll is returned and kinot are said until shortly before midday; “אשרי.. ובא לציון” (“Ashrei… and a redeemer shall come to Zion”) [“למנצח” (“For the conductor”) is not said, and “ואני זאת בריתי” (“And as for Me, this is My covenant”) is skipped]; Kaddish without Titkabel; Aleinu; Megillat Eicha. 83
Mincha
Order of Mincha: one wraps in a tallit and puts on tefillin; Shir Shel Yom; Ein Kelokeinu; Ashrei and half-Kaddish; Torah reading [without Kaddish afterward] and haftarah; the Torah scroll is returned and the chazzan says half-Kaddish; “נחם” (“Comfort”) and “עננו” (“Answer us”) are said; “שים שלום” (“Grant peace”); in the repetition the chazzan says “עננו” separately; Birkat Kohanim; Kaddish Titkabel; Aleinu. After Ma’ariv, Havdalah is recited and one tastes, and “קידוש לבנה” (“Kiddush Levanah”) is said
with shoes on.84