Tisha B'Av

On Tisha B'Av we are prohibited to: eat and drink, learn Torah, wash ourselves (even in cold water) or apply lotions for pleasurable purposes, have marital relations and wear shoes with leather.

    • MAARIV - We remove the curtain from the Aron HaKodesh, dim the lighting, and sit on the floor or on a low stool. We do not sit on regular chairs or benches until after midday. We recite Maariv in a low and subdued voice; followed by Eichah and Kinnot.

    • SHACHARIT - We wash our hands up to the end of the knuckles (as one is drying his fingers, while there is still some moisture on them, one may rub them across the eyes); make the Bracha "al netilat yadayim" as well as all of the other appropriate morning Brachot. Tallit and tefillin are not worn until midday, however, a tallit katan, is worn - but without a bracha. Following Torah reading (Deut. 4:25-40), the Haftarah is read (Jeremiah 8:13-9:23) in the melody of Eichah. After the Torah is returned to the Aron, Kinot are recited. (At the end of shacharit, we do not say the shir shel yom.

    • MINCHA - The parochet is returned to the aron. tallit and tefillin are worn. The Psalm of the Day is recited, followed by Mincha and Torah reading/Haftarah.

    • MAARIV - We recite the usual weekday Maariv. After Maariv we sanctify the New Moon of Av. (Some maintain that we should eat before Sanctification of the Moon).

ADDITIONAL LAWS of TISHA B’AV DAY

1. While Torah learning is generally prohibited on Tisha B’Av, one may learn:

    •    Eicha with its midrash and commentaries;

    •    Portions of Nevi’im that deal with tragedy or destruction;

    •    The third chapter of Moed Katan (which deals with mourning); 

    •    The story of the destruction (in Gittin 56b-58a, Sanhedrin 104, and in Josephus), and 

    •    The halachot of Tisha B'Av and mourning.

2. Greeting someone with "shalom aleichem" and the like is prohibited. One who is greeted should answer softly and, if possible, inform the person of the prohibition.

3. The custom is to refrain until midday from any time-consuming work that diverts one’s attention from the mourning of the day.

4. The use of lotions for medicinal purposes is permitted as is the use of deodorants.

5. If a person becomes dirty, washing is permitted to remove the dirt.

6. The non-seriously ill or elderly, as well as pregnant and nursing women should generally fast even if it is difficult. However, if a doctor determines that fasting may injure health, a rabbi should be consulted. Furthermore, swallowing capsules or bitter tablets without water is permitted.

MOTZAEI TISHA B'AV: Many of the limitations of the "Three Weeks" and the "Nine Days" continue until midday of the 10th of Av including music, laundry, haircuts, drinking wine and eating of meat.