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ARCHIVES : HILCHOS BEIN HAMETZORIM
HALACHOS OF THE THREE WEEKS,NINE DAYS AND TISHA B'AV
Halachos for Thursday , July 31 2008
1) During this time period which is known as "the three weeks" (between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Av) the Beracha of Shehechiyanu is not recited (except on Shabbos according to some Poskim, and in certain other exceptional circumstances like at a Pidyon Haben etc.)
Therefore, the minhag is not to wear [or even purchase] new clothing during this time frame.
If one’s Tzitzis [or Tallis] became Posul, and he doesn’t have another one to wear in its stead, he may wear [and even purchase] a new one, in order to be Mekayem the Mitzvah of Tzitzis (She’eilas Yaa’vetz Siman 82)
2) Cutting nails is allowed during the three weeks, besides for the actual week in which Tisha B’Av falls out. A woman that needs to cut her nails prior to Mikvah, may cut them even in the week of Tisha B’Av.
It is prohibited to listen to music during the 3 weeks. This is not limited to live music, as it is prohibited to listen to recorded music as well.
Haircuts and shaving is also prohibited for the entire duration of three weeks.( for ashkenazim)
Halachos for Erev Shabbos, August 1 2008
1) During the nine days we do not eat meat or chicken, and we don’t drink wine. However, if someone is ill (this includes a mother of a newborn and similarly ill individuals) and meat will make him feel better, he/she may eat meat. However, If it is possible for the ill person to abstain from meat from the 7th of Av (the day the idol worshippers entered the Heichal of the Bais Hamikdash) until after Tisha B’Av
The prohibition against eating meat does not apply on Shabbos or at a Seudas Mitzvah (e.g. Bris, Pidyon Haben, and Siyum on a tractate of Talmud)
2) There is a discussion in the Poskim (Birchei Yosef , Maharam Shik,Levushei Mordechai etc.) , if one may eat leftover meat and meat dishes from Shabbos on Motzaei Shabbos and Sunday. The prevalent custom, based on the consensus of most contemporary Poskim seems to be stringent in this.
Regarding the cup of wine at Havdallah, according to many Poskim it is best to have a child drink it (This child must be old enough to understand that you are being Motzei him with the Bracha of HaGafen but not too old that he understands the Churban, and thus cannot drink wine either. Such a child is around 7 years old. It is hard to find such a child according to Rav Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach Zatzal and other Poskim, who maintain that it is always best to drink it yoursrself even if a child is available).
If no child is available, the one who recited Havdallah may drink it.
Halachos for Sunday, August 3 2008
1) It is prohibited to launder clothing in the nine days. It is similarly prohibited to give clothing to a non Jewish dry cleaners or Laundromat, even if the clothing isn’t needed for the nine days, and will only be picked up and worn after Tisha B’Av. Clothing that is needed for small children, may be laundered in small loads, as needed.
If a Jew owns a dry cleaners or a laudromat , he may clean clothing of non Jews during the nine days.
2) It is the accepted custom to prohibit showering and swiming in the nine days, besides for a shower on Erev Shabbos.
If one is unable to go nine days without a shower, as is the case for most people in the United States in our times, there are various methods in which the Poskim do in fact allow it. Certain authorities allow showering without soap & shampoo. Certain authorities allow only cold showers (or at least not as hot as one is accustomed to). Others allow colder showers only if not taken in the normal manner. Rather, the various parts of the body should be washed individually (e.g. hands, feet, face, etc.)
Obviously, for medical reasons regular hot showers are permitted. Thus, pregnant women, mothers of newborns, and other frail people may shower as necessary. One who is extremely sweaty, may also shower to freshen up withot shampoo and soap.
As with everything, a competent Rav should be consulted for Halacha L’Maaseh.
Halachos for Monday, August 4 2008
1) An article of clothing that ripped during the nine days may be mended and worn, as the prohibition against sewing clothing is only applicable to making new clothing. Similarly, if a button fell off a shirt or any other article of clothing, it may be sewn on during the nine days.
One should not purchase new eyeglasses (frames) during the nine days. However, one may purchase new lenses for the glasses if the prescription has increased, and is thus necessary for improved vision.
2) One whose minhag is to be Tovel in the Mikva each day, may continue doing so throughout the nine days. However, he should not remain in the Mikva longer than is necessary for the Tevilah.
It is best to refrain from flying in an airplane during the nine days, if possible. It is wise to refrain from any activities that have inherent elements of “danger” or “risk” in them, during the nine days.(See Halichos Shlomo Perek 14:24)
Halachos for Tuesday, August 5 2008
1) The Shabbos before Tisha B’Av is called “Shabbos Chazon”, because of the Haftarah that we read this week which begins with the words “Chazon Yeshayahu”.
This Haftarah is the last of the “three of chastisement” which are read on the three Shabbosim before Tisha B’Av, and all deal with the destruction of Jerusalem.
The seven weeks after Tisha B’Av (beginning with the Shabbos after Tisha B’Av, known as Shabbos Nachamu) are known as “seven of comfort”, as their Haftarahs deal with the return of Hashem’s mercy to his people, the Am Yisrael.
2) Shabbos Chazon, according to many holy Kabalistic sources, has in it an extremely exalted Kedusha, and one should try and add as much holiness as possible to his activities (prayers, zemiros, seudos etc.) on this special Shabbos. Though it is Erev Tisha B'Av, it is prohibited to be sad and mournful on Shabbos.
Halachos for Wednesday, August 6 2008
1) When Shabbos Chazon is Erev Tisha B’Av, it is permitted to eat meat and drink wine at all three meals. However, the third meal (Seuda Shlishis) must be finished [with Birchas Hamazon] ample time before sunset, as the fast begins at sunset.
One may eat and/or drink at the Seudah Shlishis in order to have strength to fast on Tisha B’Av, however he/she should not verbalize that intention, as that would be preparing on Shabbos for after Shabbos, and thus be “Hachana”
2) When Tisha B’A v is on Sunday , Havdallah is not recited on Motzei Shabbos over a cup of wine, nor is the Bracha made on the Besamim. However, we do light the Havdallah candle and recite the blessing of “Borei Me’Orei Ha’Aish”. On Motzei Tisha B’Av Havdallah is recited on a cup of wine. (Begin with the Bracha of Hagafen, and omit the Pesukim beforehand, Hinei Keil Yeshuasi…)
“Ata Chonantanu” is recited in the Bracha of Ata Chonen in Shemona Esrei of Maariv this Motzei Shabbos, as it is every week. Women who do not daven Maariv should say “Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh L’Chol” before doing any Melachos on Motzei Shabbos.
Halachos for Thursday, August 7 2008
1) There are five main things that bring a person enjoyment, and are therefore prohibited on Tisha B’Av:
#1) Eating /Drinking (this includes brushing teeth and rinsing the mouth with water)
#2) Washing one’s body [or hands or face] for pleasure,even in cold water (Washing the hands upon waking and after using the bathroom is permitted, but only until the knuckles of the hands should be washed)
#3) Smearing soap, oil,lotion, cream etc. for pleasure. ( If necessary for medical reasons, it isn’t prohibited. Likewise, deodorant may used to prevent or eliminate odors)
#4) Wearing leather shoes (Even if only part of the shoe is leather)
#5) Marital relations (It is best to be stringent and avoid sharing a bed or even touching one’s spouse on Tisha B’Av)
2) On Tisha B’Av it is forbidden to learn Torah since learning Torah brings happiness, as the Posuk states Pekudei Hashem Yesharim, Mesamchei Lev (Tehillim 19) and on Tisha B’Av all Jews assume the status of mourners, and thus are prohibited from doing activities that bring happiness. It is, however, permitted to learn certain sad topics that remind us of our bitter Galus (e.g. Certain parts of Sefer Yirmiyah, Midrash Eicha, the Agaddah in the fifth Perek of Gittin (Starting from 56b ) or the Yerushalmi at the end of Taanis that deals with the Churban etc.) See Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah Siman 384:4)
Even when learning these permitted topics, they should not be learned B'Iyun, with too much depth, rather just enough to understand and internalize what is being learned. (Mishna Berura Siman 554:5)
The prohibition to learn begins on Erev Tisha B'Av after Chatzos. However, one may learn the permitted topics B'Iyun on Erev Tisha B'Av, as only on Tisha B'Av itself do we limit the depth allowed.(See Halichos Shlomo Perek 15:1) Smoking cigarettes/Cigars is prohibited on Tisha B’Av. Some authorities allow it after Chatzos (midday) if done secretly. (Many contemporary Poskim prohibit smoking altogether, even the rest of the year. See Q&A# 542 on page 11
here regarding the halachic status of smoking)
Even one who will not be fasting on Tisha B'Av (for halachically acceptable medical reasons) should still partake of the Seudah HaMafsekes (the final meal on the eve of the fast)(Halichos Shlomo Perek 15:2)
2) Non leather shoes that are very comfortable (such as cozy slippers, air sneakers, crocs, etc.), although M'Ikar Hadin they may be worn on Tisha B'Av, there is valid Halachic room for stringency to avoid wearing them. The Chazon Ish and other Gedolei Yisroel would not wear any shoes on Tisha B'Av and spent the day
in socks or with very thin footwear only so that they would "feel the floor". (See Halichos Shlomo Perek 15:4. Rav Moshe Sternbuch shlita and Rav Nisim Karelitz shlita also rule as such and say that a Yerei Shomayim should avoid shoes that are worn all year round for comfort, even if they aren't leather)
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. (Halichos Shlomo Perek 15 footnote 5 quoting the Sha'arei Teshuva Siman 554:11 and footnotes Orchos Halacha there 19-21)
Halachos for Erev Shabbos, August 8 2008/ Sunday, Tisha B'Av August 10 2008
1) On Tisha B’Av it is customary to limit one’s pleasures as much as possible. Some people have the custom to sleep with a stone under their pillow, to make their sleep uncomfortable.
(See Toras Moshe from the Chasam Sofer Bereishis 28:11 where he writes that the day that Yaakov Avinu slept on the stone was Tisha B'Av)
Many people simply sleep with one less pillow than they are accustomed to. Each person can do whatever it is they feel would minimize their personal comfort, and thus satisfy the spirit of Aveilus.
From nightfall of Tisha B’Av until Chatzos (midday, around 1:00 pm ) we do not sit on chairs that are higher than 3 Tefochim (between 9 and 12 inches depending on whose measurements you follow, though the Chazon Ish and Steipler were not makpid on the exact measurement in this case, and just sat on a low stool). Some have the custom to sit directly on the floor. Though sitting on regular chairs is permitted after Chatzos, the other prohibitions of Tisha B’Av (eating, washing etc.) are prohibited all day until the emergence of three stars.
2) Tefillin is not donned at Shacharis on Tisha B’Av, rather it is worn at Mincha. The special Bracha of “Nacheim” which asks Hashem to comfort us from our state of mourning, is inserted into the Beracha of “V’LiRushalayim Ircha” in the Shemona esrei of Mincha. It should be said with deep Kavanah (concentration)
3) Kiddush Levana is recited after Maariv on Motzei Tisha B’Av, but should only be recited after breaking the fast. Women do not say Kiddush Levana (ever) . It is best to say Kiddush Levana with a large Minyan (B'Rov Am Hadras Melech), but B'Dieved it may be recited with just another person there, or even alone if no one is around.
4) All the Halachos of the nine days (meat, wine, music, cutting hair etc.) are in effect until after midday of the tenth of Av. One who abstains from the above for the entire day (even past midday) is blessed.
When Tisha B'Av falls out on Thursday, it is permitted to do laundry immediately after the fast is over, and no need to wait until after Chatzos on Friday. Haircuts, too, are permissible if it will be difficult to wait until Friday. Eating meat, wine, listening to music, however, is still prohibited until after Chatzos on Erev Shabbos.
It is proper to refrain from marital relations on the night of the tenth of Av, unless that is the night of Tevilah.
Questions? Feel free to email me at HalachaForToday@Gmail.com Please Note:
The Halachos on this website are based on my personal understanding of the Halachic texts or Rabbanim quoted, and are for learning purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
DO NOT rely on them for Psak Halacha L'Maaseh. If you have questions or require further source information ,please email me the question and I will try to respond as soon as I can. For a Halacha L'Ma'aseh Psak, please contact your local Orthodox Rabbi. Thank you.