TISHA B'AV
CUSTOMS
SITTING
- Normally able people don’t sit on comfortable couches, at least until midda
- That might mean the floor, or a couch or chair without a cushion, or a low bench
- It's a good idea to plan what will work for you & your family
SHOES
- Even shoes made partially of leather are prohibited
- Shoes made of cloth, rubber or plastic are permitted
- Crocs are a good option
CLOTHES
- We don’t wear freshly laundered clothes on Tisha B’Av like we do during the 9 days
- If you can, you should have some clothes pre-worn to wear on Tisha B’Av
TORAH STUDY
- We don’t normally study Torah on Tisha B'av
- Some communities have a reading of Eicha (Lamentations) and/or Iyov (Job) & kinot are commonly read?
- You can also study
1. Lamentations with its midrash & commentaries
2. Portions of the Prophets that deal with tragedy or destruction
3. The 3rd chapter of Moed Katan (which deals with mourning)
4. Tthe story of the destruction (in Gittin 56b-58a, Sanhedrin 104, and in Josephus & the
halachot of Tisha B’Av and mourning
TZEDAKA
It is customary to give extra charity on fast days.
♦♦♦♦♦
EATING, DRINKING & MEDICINE
- All eating and drinking is forbidden
1. This includes rinsing the mouth & brushing teeth, except in a case of great distress
2. Rinsing with mouthwash or brushing teeth without water is questionable - Swallowing capsules or bitter tablets or liquid medicine without water is permitted
- The ill or elderly as well as pregnant & nursing women are required to fast even if it is difficult, unless a doctor says that fasting may injure health, in which case a competent rabbi should
be consulted - A woman within 7 days of childbirth may not fast & within thirty days should not fast
- Boys up to twelve years old & girls up to eleven
1. Are not required to fast the entire day
2, There are various opinions as to whether they should fast part of the day - Those not required to fast should eat only what is needed to preserve their health
SHOWERING, TAKING A BATH & WASHING
- All bathing for pleasure is prohibited even in cold water including the hands, face & feet
- Ritual washing upon waking, after using the bathroom, touching covered parts of the body
or before praying is permitted, but only up to the knuckles - One may wash dirty or sullied portions of the body (including cleaning the eyes of glutinous material) & if necessary may use soap or warm water to remove the dirt or odor
- Washing for cooking or for medical reasons is permitted
- A woman may not immerse on Tisha B'Av since relations are prohibite but washing to commence the clean days is permitted
CREAMS, PERFUME,ETC
- Anointing for pleasure is prohibited including oil, soap, alcohol, cream, ointment, perfume, etc.
- Anointing for medical reasons is permitted, as well as using deodorant to remove bad odor.
MARITAL RELATIONS
Since cohabitation is prohibited, a husband & wife should not come in contact
during the night of Tisha B'Av.
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS
- One should deprive himself of some comfort in sleep
1. Some reduce the number of pillows
2. Some sleep on the floor
3. Pregnant women, the elderly & the ill are exemp - Sitting on a normal chair is forbidden until midday
1. One may sit on a low bench or chair
2. A cushion on the floor or a step - Greeting someone with 'good morning' & similar greeting are prohibited.
1. If you are greeted you should answer softly
2. If you feel comfortable, you can inform the person of the prohibition - Things that divert one from mourning such as idle talk, reading the newspaper, taking a walk
for pleasure, etc. are prohibited - Smoking is prohibited until afternoon & then only for one who is compelled to & in private
- The custom is to refrain until midday from any time-consuming work that diverts one from mourning but In a case of financial loss, consult a competent rabbi
PRAYER
ASHKENAZIM
- Ashkenazim do not wear tefillin at Shacharis nor is a blessing made on tzitzit
- At Mincha, tefillin is worn & those who wear a tallit gadol make the blessing then
SEPHARDIM
- Some Sefaradim (according to the kabbalah and the minhag in Jerusalem) wear the tallit
& tefillin at Shacharit as usual - Others wear tefillin publicly only during Mincha
- When in doubt, one should consult a Sefardi rabbi
- .At Mincha, the prayers Nacheim & Aneinu are added to the Shmonah Esrei during the
blessing Veliyerushalayim' & 'Shma Koleinu' respectively - 'Sim Shalom' is said in place of 'Shalom Rav'
- If one forgot them & completed that bracha, he need not repeat the prayer
♦♦♦♦♦
Remember that the prohibition of laundry, music, haircuts, meat, wine
& bathing continue on until midday of the 10th of Av.
♦♦♦♦♦
Tisha B'av
Fasting Tips
Preparing For The Fast & What Happens After
Restrictions For The 9 Days
Q & A About 3 Weeks & Tisha B'Av
What Happens When Tisha B'av Is On Different Days Of The Week
♦♦♦♦♦
Copyright © 2012 -2018 KosherWoman.com
All rights reserved