Laws of Tisha B'Av

The following are some of the relevant laws of Tisha B'av, taking into consideration that the fast begins on Saturday night and that it's a "nidcheh"- (the 9th of Av occurs on Shabbat with observance of the fast day pushed off until Saturday night/Sunday).

• The fast as well as the other prohibitions begin from shkiah-sundown (at 8:02pm).

• Prior to the fast, being that it is Shabbat, there is no classic "seudah hamafseket" and one does not eat eggs dipped in ashes. Rather, one eats seudah shlishit which can even consist of meat and wine, if you wish. Eating and drinking must conclude before sundown. Mincha is scheduled for 5:30 pm at Beth Jacob to enable ample time for eating seudah shlishit.

• After Shabbat concludes at 8:44pm, make sure to recite "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol" which allows you to perform melacha and engage in practices of avelut such as changing into your Tisha B'av sneakers.  

• Havdalah is not recited on Saturday night but rather pushed off to Sunday night. Atah Chonantanu" is recited in Maariv on Saturday night. On Motzei Shabbat we do recite the blessing of Borei Meorei Ha’esh. Havdalah is recited on Sunday night without the blessing on the spices nor on the flame (similar to Havdalah for Yom Tov). On Sunday night, the person making Havdalah is permitted to drink the wine. 

• Since it's a "nidcheh" (see above), almost all aspects of aveilut (mourning) end on Sunday night. This means that haircuts, swimming, listening to music, laundry etc., are all permitted immediately after the fast. The exception is eating meat and drinking wine, which is an aspect of zecher lechurban (remembrance of destruction) and is therefore still prohibited through Sunday night. (wine for Havdalah is permitted)

• A woman who is nursing or pregnant should fast as long as it is not that difficult. However, if it is difficult, since the day is a "nidcheh," it is permissible for her to eat.

• Starting with Saturday night until Sunday night the following five abstentions are in effect: 1. Eating and drinking 2. Washing 3. Anointing 4. Wearing leather shoes 5. Marital relations. In addition, one does not do pleasurable activities the whole day, one should sit low to the ground until midday, and any kind of work that takes time to complete should not be done until after mid-day.  

If you have any questions, please contact me via email at rabbitopp@bethjacob.org or call 310.278.1911 extension 203.

With wishes for an easy and meaningful fast,
Rabbi Topp