|
Ohr
Somayach / Tisha Bav

In addition to the restrictions that apply
to the entire three-week period, during the nine days between the 1st
of Av until after Tisha B’Av
the following restrictions on pleasure and joy also take effect:
(The following is according to the Ashkenazic custom, for the Sephardic custom
please consult an appropriate rabbi.)
Activities of Pleasure and Joy
- One should not purchase an object of joy that will be available after
Tisha B’Av for the same price.
- Building for beauty or pleasure not required for dwelling should be suspended.
- Building for a mitzvah like a synagogue, place of Torah study, or a mikva
is permitted.
- Painting, wallpapering and general home decoration should not be done.
- Similarly, one should not plant for pleasure.
Eating Meat and Drinking Wine
- The custom is to refrain from eating meat and poultry or drinking wine
and grape juice during the nine days. This also pertains to children.
- The prohibition of meat includes foods cooked with meat or meat fat.
However, foods cooked in a clean vessel used for meat may be eaten.
- Eating meat and drinking wine is permitted for Shabbat. Even one who has
ushered in the Shabbat on Friday afternoon before sunset, or extends
the third
meal of Shabbat into Saturday night may also eat meat and drink wine
at those times.
- Similarly, one may drink the wine of Havdallah. Some have the custom
to give the wine to a child of 6-9 years old, or to use beer for Havdallah.
- Meat and wine are also permitted at a meal in honor of a mitzvah
like brit milah, redemption of the first born, and completing a tractate
or
other books
(consult a competent rabbi for details).
- A person who requires meat because of weakness or illness, including
small children and pregnant or nursing women who have difficulty
eating dairy, may
eat meat. However, whenever possible poultry is preferable to meat.
Laundering
- Laundering is prohibited even for use after Tisha B’Av. One may
not even give clothing to a non-Jewish cleaner. (Although one may give it
to him
before the 1st of Av, even though he’ll wash during the nine days.)
- The prohibition of laundering includes linens, tablecloths, and towels.
- A person who has no clean clothes may wash what he needs until the Shabbat
before Tisha B’Av.
- Children’s diapers and clothing that constantly
get dirty may be washed by need even during the week of Tisha B’Av,
in private.
- Laundering for the purpose of a mitzvah is permitted.
- One may polish
shoes with liquid or wax polish, but should avoid shining shoes.
Wearing Freshly Laundered Clothing
- It is forbidden to wear freshly laundered clothing during the nine days.
This includes all clothing except that which is worn to absorb perspiration.
- Therefore, one must prepare before the nine days by wearing freshly laundered
suits, pants, shirts, dresses, blouses and the like for a short time so
that they may be worn during the nine days. Socks, undershirts and underwear
need
not be prepared.
- Here too, the prohibition of using freshly laundered
items applies to linens, tablecloths, and towels.
- One may wear freshly
laundered Shabbat clothing, as well as use clean tablecloths and towels.
Changing bed linen though is prohibited.
- Since one may wear freshly laundered
garments on Shabbat, if one forgot or was unable to prepare enough garments
before the nine days, he may
change for Friday night and then change again on Shabbat morning.
These garments
may then be worn during the week.
- This will apply only to clothing
that is suitable to wear on Shabbat, since wearing a garment on Shabbat
for the sole purpose of wearing
it during the
week is forbidden.
- Fresh garments and Shabbat clothing may be
worn in honor of a mitzvah for example at a brit milah for the parents,
mohel, and
sandek.
Wearing, Buying and Making New Clothes, Repairing Garments
- While wearing new clothing that doesn’t require the blessing “sh’hecheyanu” is
permitted until the 1st of Av, during the nine days it is prohibited even
on Shabbat.
- One may not buy new clothes or shoes even for use after Tisha
B’Av,
except in a case of great necessity, for example for one’s wedding.
- If
one forgot or was unable to buy special shoes needed for Tisha B’Av,
he may do so during the nine days.
- Making new garments or shoes for a Jew
is permitted until the Sunday before Tisha B’Av. Afterwards it is permitted
only for a non-Jew.
- Repairing torn garments or shoes is permitted.
Bathing and Swimming
- The custom is not to bathe for pleasure even in cold water.
- Bathing
in cold water for medical reasons or to remove dirt or perspiration is permitted.
(Where cold water is required, hot water may be added to
cold water as long as the mixture is not comfortably warm.)
- Soaping or
shampooing and washing with hot or warm water are prohibited - unless it
is required for medical reasons or to remove the dirt and perspiration.
- Swimming is prohibited except for medical reasons. Similarly, one may
take a quick dip in a pool to remove dirt or sweat.
- Bathing for a mitzvah
is permitted, therefore a woman who needs to bathe for her immersion should
consult a competent rabbi.
- A man who immerses in a mikva every Friday
may do so in cold water this Friday. But one who omits immersing occasionally
because he is too busy or
because of the cold may not.
- One who bathes every Friday in honor of Shabbat
with hot water, soap and shampoo may do so on the Friday before Tisha
B’Av.
printable
version
 |
© Ohr Somayach International
|
Other articles in Law & Ritual |
|
also on ohr.edu
|

 



|
© 1995-2008
Ohr Somayach International
Ohr Somayach International is a 501c3 not-for-profit corporation (letter on file) and your donation is tax deductable. |