Tisha BeAv: Difference between revisions

The fast of Tisha B’av is to commemorate five tragedies which occurred to the Jewish nation: 1. The Jews of the desert were told that they would not enter Eretz Yisrael following the sin of the spies. 2 The first Bet HaMikdash was destroyed. 3. The second Bet HaMikdash was destroyed. 4. Beitar, a city filled with over 10,000 Jews was captured and destroyed by the Romans during the Bar Kochva rebellion. 5. Turnus Rufus plowed the area of the heichal. <ref> Mishna Taanit 26b, Rambam Hilchot Taaniyot 5:3, Chayei Adam 133:5,  Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 121:5, Mishna Berura 549:2 </ref> This article is specifically about the fast of the ninth of Av. To learn about any of the other fast days [[Fast Days|click here]].

# It is forbidden for all men of bar mitzvah age and women of bat mitzvah age to partake in eating or drinking on the Tisha BeAv.  The fast begins at shkiat hachamah of the 8th of Av and ends at Tzet Hakochavim of the 9th of Av. <ref>Halachot and History of The [[Three Weeks]], The Akkad Edition, Congregation Shaare Rahamim Halachot Series, Mishna Berura 554:1, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 577. </ref>

# It is prohibited to wear leather shoes on Tisha B'av. <ref> S"A 554:1 and 554:16, Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 577. Kitzur S"A 124:11, Aruch Hashulchan 554:16, Mishna Berura 554:30 say that although shoes made of other materials cover and protect the feet, they are not called a "minal" and therefore aren't part of the prohibition. </ref>

# Some poskim say that a husband and wife should be careful not to touch each other. <ref> Mishna Berura 554:37 raises this possibility but allows for one to be lenient at least during the day, Aruch Hashulchan 554:17 and Taz 615:16 say that one need not be stringent in this at all. Kitzur S"A 124:12 forbids physical contact both in the day and at night. Halichot Olam 2: page 153 permits handing items to your wife as long as she isn't a nidda as well as any of the other harchakot for a nidda as long as your wife isn't actually a nidda and even permits touching your wife. </ref>  

# Although leather is not worn, some have the custom to say the beracha in birkot hashachar of "sheasa li ko tzorki." <ref> Mishna Berura 554:31,  Chazon Ovadyah (Yamim Noraim pg 320),  [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=951 Rabbi Eli Mansour] </ref> Some say to omit it. <ref> Halachot and History of The [[Three Weeks]], The Akkad Edition, Congregation Shaare Rahamim Halachot Series page 62, Ben Ish Hai, Vayeshev, 9; Kaf Hachaim 46:17 </ref>  

# [[Tachanun]] is not recited on Tisha B'av. <ref> S"A 559:4 since Tisha B'Av is considered like a moed. Mishna Berura 559:17 points out that this is based on the pasuk in Lamentations 1:15 קָרָא עָלַי מוֹעֵד </ref>  

# If Tisha b'av falls out on [[shabbat]] and is pushed to sunday everything is permitted right after the fast except for eating meat and drinking wine <ref> Rama OC 558:1. Mishna Berura 558:3 and Kaf Hachaim OC 558:7 add that some refrain from marital relations on that night unless it is the night of tevila </ref>  

# If Tisha BeAv falls out on [[Shabbat]] and is pushed off to Sunday, the bracha of Boreh Meorei HaEsh upon a fire is made on [[Motzei Shabbat]] before the reading of Eicha, however, the bracha of [[Havdalah]] on a cup of wine is delayed until after Tisha BeAv, Sunday night. <ref>S"A 556:1. Mishna Berura 556:3 adds that an adult can drink this wine. </ref> An adult who is exempt from fasting should recite [[Havdalah]] on [[Motzei Shabbat]] before eating.<ref>[http://www.dailyhalacha.com/displayRead.asp?readID=2361 Rabbi Mansour on Dailyhalacha.com] quoting Yechave Daat 3:40, Birkei Yosef OC 556:2. Shemirat [[Shabbat]] Kehilchata 62:45 writes that Birkei Yosef's ruling only applies to adults who are too ill to fast but a child should not recite [[havdala]] himself then, but should wait until after tisha b'av. </ref>

# Even if one forgot to recite [[havdala]] in the shemoneh esrei, he doesn't repeat it but rather recites the words baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lichol. <ref> Mishna Berura 556:2 </ref>  

# Although seudat shlishit is the seudat hamafseket before the fast, one should eat a regular meal. <ref> S"A 552:10 based on taanit 29b that says one may make a meal as extravagant as he pleases on the [[shabbat]] of the eighth or ninth of av. Mishna Berura 552:23 adds though that although we cannot publicly display [[mourning]] on [[Shabbat]] one's mood should at least somewhat reflect the time. </ref> The meal must be finished before sunset. <ref> Rama 552:10 </ref>