Tisha BeAv: Difference between revisions

 

#During the meal preceding the fast that one eats before sunset after midday one should ensure not to eat more than one cooked food.<ref>S.A 552:1</ref> When determining what qualifies as a "cooked food," for this purpose we do not differentiate between whether the food is roasted or cooked.<ref>Rama 552:3</ref>

#In addition to the practice many have not to eat meat or drink wine during the 9 days, during this meal one should also avoid eating fish.<ref>S.A 552:2, the M.B 552:6 explains that this prohibition is due to the fact that there are some places where fish is referred to as "meat" which is what the Talmud forbids one to eat during this meal.  Additionally, the M.B explains, fish is a type of food that would be served at a royal meal (see Y.D 217:8) and it provides joy to the person who eats it.</ref>

#It is customary to use hard boiled eggs as the "cooked food" as eggs are a food eaten by mourners.<ref>M.B 552:13 and Rama 552:5</ref>

#For those who are capable, it is proper to only eat dry bread dipped in salt and to drink only water.<ref>S.A 552:6</ref> Nonetheless, one need not lessen his eating; rather, one should ensure to eat and drink enough in order that he can endure the fast.<ref>M.B 552:15</ref>  Some are stringent to dip the final bit of bread in ashes<ref>Rama 552:6</ref> and to eat it and to declare “This is the Tisha B'Av meal." <ref>The Mishna Brurah 552:16 suggests doing so based upon the practice of Rav in  the Yerushalmi in Taanit 4:6 </ref>

#It is customary to sit on the floor while eating the meal, although one need not remove his shoes as the fast has not yet begin.<ref>S.A 552:7 and Rama</ref>

#If one said explicitly that he will not be eating after the seuda hamefseket, he cannot continue eating even if it is before sunset. However, if he only had that in mind but didn't say it, he may continue eating. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Moadim page 577, Shulchan Aruch 553:1. </ref> Since some poskim disagree, some suggest that one say explicitly that he will continue eating. <ref>Mishna Brura 553:2 writes that the Bach and Gra hold that a mental acceptance is enough and he therefore recommends stating explicitly that one intends to eat or drink until sunset. </ref>

#Three men should not eat together in order to avoid being obligated in a zimun. <ref>Shulchan Aruch 552:8, Haghot Maimaniyot Hilchot Taaniyot 5:7:30 </ref> If they do sit together they should still not recite the zimmun. <ref>Mishna Brura 552:19 </ref>

#It is customary to eat a large meal before Mincha and then to begin the Seuda Ha'mafseket after Mincha<ref>Rama 552:9</ref>; however, one must ensure not to overeat during the meal he eats before Mincha.<ref>M.B 552:9</ref>

#In a year in which the 9th of Av falls out on either Shabbat (in which case the fast is observed beginning at sunset on Shabbat) or on Sunday this meal is not eaten. In such a case, one may enjoy a large sumptuous meal so as to properly celebrate Shabbat, only one must ensure to stop eating before sunset (see "When Tisha Beav Falls Out on Shabbat or Sunday" below).<ref>S.A and Rama 552:10</ref>