Nine Days: Difference between revisions

#The Ashkenazic and Sephardic custom is to refrain from meat, poultry, and wine during the [[nine days]].<ref>The Gemara Baba Batra 60b quotes the opinion of Rabbi Yishmael Ben Elisha that after the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, it would have been appropriate for the rabbis to ban eating meat and drinking wine in order to properly mourn. However, since most of the congregation would not be able to abide by this, the rabbis never made it. Biur HaGra OC 551:9 writes that this is the source for refraining from eating meat and drinking wine prior to Tisha B'Av, that although it is impossible to ban eating meat and drinking wine throughout the year, it is possible to refrain from meat and wine for a short period of time. The Gemara in Taanit 30a discuss the prohibition of eating meat during the [[seudat hamafseket]] prior to [[tisha b'av]]. Rambam Hilchot Taaniot 5:6 says that the custom is to extend the prohibition beyond that meal. He says that some don't eat meat during the week of tisha b'av, and some don't eat from [[Rosh Chodesh]] av and onward. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 551:9 writes that there are three customs about not eating meat and drinking wine; some refrain only for the week on [[Tisha BeAv]], some refrain for the [[nine days]] (from [[Rosh Chodesh]] Av), some refrain for the whole three weeks.</ref> Ashkenazim include [[Rosh Chodesh]] in this prohibition,<ref>Mishna Brurah 551:58 writes that the Ashkenazic custom is not to eat meat or drink wine for the [[nine days]] including [[Rosh Chodesh]] Av but excluding [[Shabbat]] (Mishna Brurah 551:59). The Three Weeks (by Rabbi Simcha Bunim Cohen p. 50) and [http://www.torah.org/advanced/weekly-halacha/5762/devarim.html Weekly Halacha by Rabbi Neustadt] agree.</ref> while Sephardim are lenient regarding the day of [[Rosh Chodesh]] itself and some Sephardim are strict. <ref>Sh"t Yechave Daat 1:41, Moed Likol Chai 9:15, [http://www.doresh-tzion.co.il/QAShowAnswer.aspx?qaid=97492 Rav Bentzion Mussafi], and Kaf Hachayim 551:125 write that the Sephardic custom is to refrain from eating meat and wine during the [[nine days]], but on [[Rosh Chodesh]] the minhag is to be lenient. However, they add that some are strict. See also Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniyot pg 169), [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2184 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com], and Halachot and History of The [[Three Weeks]] (by Rabbi Shlomo Churba, pg 37) who all write that the Sephardic custom is not to eat meat, poultry or wine in the [[nine days]]. </ref>