Laws of the Three Weeks & Nine Days 5780

20 Tammuz 5780 July 12, 2020 • Torah

The 17th of Tammuz through Tisha B’Av (9th day of the Hebrew month of Av) is the period we refer to as “The Three Weeks.” During this time, we mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. On the 17th of Tammuz, the enemy breached the walls of Jerusalem. On Tisha B’Av, both the first and second temples were destroyed. Our mourning begins on the 17th of Tammuz and intensifies as Tisha B’Av approaches.
There are 5 periods of mourning that we go through:

  1. From the 17th of Tammuz until the 1st of Av.
  2. The first nine days of the month of Av (“The Nine Days”).
  3. The week in which Tisha B’Av occurs.
  4. Erev Tisha B’Av – the day before Tisha B’Av.
  5. Tisha B’Av day.

The Three Weeks (Starting from the 17th of Tammuz) 

  1. We do not hold weddings.
  2. We are not permitted to dance, play musical instruments, or listen to music.
  3. We do not shave or get haircuts. An adult may not give a haircut to a child. However, if you will incur financial loss if you do not shave, you may be  permitted to shave until the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs. If this situation arises speak to the Rabbi.
  4. We refrain from reciting the blessing of shehechiyanu. Therefore, we do not purchase or wear new garments or eat a new fruit for the first time. Until the first day of Av, you may purchase and wear new shoes, undergarments, socks, and shirts, since they do not require the blessing of shehechiyanu. On Shabbat, shehechiyanu may be recited and a new garment may be worn or a new fruit eaten.

The Nine Days (Starting the first day of Av)

  1. We do not eat meat or drink wine. However, on Shabbat we are permitted to do so. “Meat” includes fowl and food cooked with meat or meat fat or gravy. You may eat food cooked in a meat vessel without meat ingredients.
  2. You are permitted to use wine for Havdallah on Saturday night. Some give the wine to a small child, while others use beer.
  3. We refrain from laundering. However, you may launder  children’s clothing that constantly soils with dirt and the like. Additionally, you may give clothing to a non-Jewish cleaner before the first of Av even if it will be cleaned afterwards.
  4. We refrain from wearing freshly laundered clothing. If you wear your clothing for a short time before the first of Av (25- 30 minutes), they can then be worn during The Nine Days. Undergarments, socks, and pajamas, which are worn directly on the body, may be changed. Also, we may not purchase or make any new garments. Knitting and needlecraft are prohibited, but you may repair or patch torn garments. If you do not have any non-leather shoes, and forgot to buy appropriate footwear for Tisha B’Av, you may do so.
  5. We also refrain from changing bed linen and using fresh tablecloths and towels.
  6. On Shabbat, you may wear freshly cleaned clothing or use fresh towels and tablecloths, but you may not change bed linens.
  7. You may not wear any new garments even on Shabbat. You may not wear Shabbat garments on weekdays during The Nine Days.
  8. You may not bathe for pleasure. You may not use hot or warm water for cleaning yourself unless the dirt or perspiration will not come off otherwise. You may add hot water to cold water in order to take out the chill.
  9. For Shabbat, you may bathe with hot water (if you do so every Friday for Shabbat). A woman may go to the mikvah during The Nine Days and prepare herself regularly.
  10. Construction is suspended unless it is required for living purposes or to prevent damage. Home decorating is not permitted. If a non-Jew was contracted before the 1st of Av, he may work during The Nine Days. Gardening is suspended.
  11. You may not purchase objects of joy, such as silver for a wedding, if it will be available after Tisha B’Av for the same price.
  12. You may not cut your nails during the week in which Tisha B’Av occurs. However, for Shabbat or as preparation for mikvah use, you are permitted to do so.

Erev Tisha B’Av

  1. After Chatzos (Halachik Midday) we refrain from Studying Torah other than the subjects that are permitted to be studied on Tisha B’Av. We do not say Tachanun at Mincha. We eat a regular meal before Mincha, and afterwards we eat the Se’udah Hamafseket, the final meal before the fast. It consists of bread dipped in ashes, an egg, water, and is eaten while sitting on the floor or on a low chair. It is not necessary to remove leather shoes for this. You should not eat this meal with a group, rather you should sit and eat alone.
  2. If you plan to continue eating after this meal, you should think or say before reciting Bircat haMazon that you are not yet beginning the fast.
  3. The fast and restrictions begin at sundown.
  4. We remove leather shoes before the fast begins. 

Tisha B’Av 

  1. Everyone is required to fast on Tisha B’Av. If you are weak and may become ill from fasting, consult your rabbi. If fasting is dangerous to your health, you are  forbidden to fast.
  2. Swallowing capsules or bitter medicine in liquid or tablet form is permitted. If you need to use water to swallow a medication that you must take you may do so with as very small amount of water.
  3. We may not wash ourselves. If an area of the body becomes dirty, then we may wash that area. You may wash your hands up to the knuckles when you awaken in the morning, after using the bathroom, and before davening.
  4. After drying your hands in the morning, you may wipe your eyes and face with them as long as long as your hands are slightly damp.
  5. Cohabitation and anointing are forbidden. We may not wear perfume or cologne. For medical purposes, such as a skin condition, anointing is permissible.
  6. We may not wear leather shoes, even those partially made of leather or covered with leather. If you must wear leather shoes for medical reasons, you should consult a rabbi.
  7. On Tisha B’Av, we may only study the subjects of Torah that relate to Tisha B’Av or mourning.
  8. We may not greet one another or send gifts on Tisha B’Av. Giving tzedaka is permitted.
  9. Until chatzot, we may not sit on a chair that is 12 inches or higher off the ground.
  10. Work that diverts your mind from mourning or business transactions are prohibited until chatzot. Housework should also be postponed until then.
  11. Preparation for the break-fast meal is done after chatzot.
  12. Tallit and tefillin are not worn at Shacharit, but at Mincha instead.
  13. In the Amidah of Mincha we add the paragraph of “Nachem” to the bracha of “Et Tzemach David” and the paragraph of “Anenu” to the bracha of “Shema Kolenu” as is found in the Siddur. If one omits this additions Shemoneh Esrei does not have to be repeated.