Restrictions For The 9 Days
In addition to the restrictions for the entire 3 week period of mourning,
there are specific restrictions just for the 9 days
from the 1st of Av until after Tisha B'av
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This information is about the Ashkenazic customs.
For the Sephardic customs, please consult your Rabbi.
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Activities of Pleasure & Joy
- You shouldn't buy something that makes you happy that will be available after Tisha B’Av
for the same price - If you started a renovation of your home or property, you should suspend working until
after Tisha B'av - Painting, wallpapering & general home decoration shouldn't be done
- Building for a mitzvah like a synagogue, place of Torah study, or a mikva is permitted
- You shouldn't plant your garden
Eating Meat & Drinking Wine
- The custom for adults & children is to refrain from eating meat & poultry or drinking wine
& grape juice during the 9 days - Eating meat & drinking wine is permitted for Shabbas
- You can drink the wine of Havdallah or you can give the wine to a child of 6-9 years old.
- Meat & wine are also permitted at a meal in honor of a mitzvah like bris milah,
redemption of the first born & 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 &
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
- You can't even give clothing to a non-Jewish cleaner although you can give it to him
before the 1st of Av, even though he’ll wash during the 9 days - The prohibition of laundering includes linens, tablecloths, & towels
- A person who has no clean clothes may wash what he needs until the Shabbas before
Tisha B’Av - Children’s diapers & clothing that constantly get dirty may be washed by need even during
the week of Tisha B’Av - 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 9 days & this includes all
clothing except that which is worn to absorb perspiration - You should prepare before the 9 days by wearing freshly laundered suits, pants, shirts, dresses, blouses, (socks, undershirts & underward don't need to be prepared). for a short
time so that they may be worn during the 9 days - You can wear freshly laundered Shabbas clothing & can use clean tablecloths & towels
but you can't change bed linen - Since you can wear freshly laundered garments on Shabbas, if one forgot or was unable
to prepare enough garments before the 9 days, he may change for Friday night & then
change again on Shabbas morning. These garments may then be worn during the week - This will apply only to clothing that is suitable to wear on Shabbas, since wearing a garment
on Shabbas for the sole purpose of wearing it during the week is forbidden - Fresh garments and Shabbas clothing may be worn in honor of a mitzvah for example at a
bris milah for the parents, mohel & sandek
Wearing, Buying & 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 9 days it is prohibited even on Shabbas - You can't buy new clothes or shoes even for use after Tisha B’Av, except in a case of
great necessity, for example for your wedding - If one forgot or was unable to buy special shoes needed for Tisha B’Av, he may do so
during the 9 days - Making new garments or shoes for a Jew is permitted until the Sunday before Tisha B’Av
& after Sunday, it's permitted only for a non-Jew - Repairing torn garments or shoes is permitted
Bathing & Swimming
- The custom is not to take a bath or shower for pleasure even in cold water
- Bathing in cold water for medical reasons or to remove dirt or perspiration is permitted
(hot water may be added to cold water as long as the mix isn't comfortably warm) - Soaping or shampooing & washing with hot or warm water are prohibited, unless it is
required for medical reasons or to remove the dirt & perspiration - Swimming is prohibited except for medical reasons or you can 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
- One who bathes every Friday in honor of Shabbas with hot water, soap & shampoo may
do so on the Friday before Tisha B’Av
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Fast Day - 17th of Tamuz | Laws Of The 3 Weeks | Tisha B'Av
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