The Laws of Mourning – Laws and Customs Tisha B’Av

As part of our mourning for the destruction of the Temple and the exile of Israel, we abstain from many pleasurable activities on the night and day of Av 9—starting with sundown on the eve of the day before, and concluding with the following nightfall (click here for exact times in your location).

In NYC the fast begins tonight at 8:23pm and ends tomorrow at 8:54pm. See the link for times in your location.

Specifically, we don’t:

* Eat or drink. All adults – even pregnant and nursing women – fast on this day. One who is ill should consult with a rabbi. An ill person who is not fasting should refrain from eating delicacies and should eat only that which is absolutely necessary for his physical wellbeing.

* Wear leather footwear, or footwear that contains any leather (even if it is only a leather sole).

* Sit on a normal-height chair until midday. (“Halachic” midday is the halfway point between sunrise and sunset; click here for the exact time for your location.)

* Bathe or wash oneself—“even to insert a finger in cold water.”

Exceptions:

One who becomes soiled may rinse the affected area with cold water.

It is permitted to wash up after using the restroom.

When preparing food – for children, or for the post-fast meal – one may wash the food, even if it also, incidentally, washes the hands.

When ritually washing the hands in the morning, the water should be poured on the fingers only until the knuckle joints.

* Apply ointment, lotions or creams.

It is permissible, however, to bathe a baby and apply ointments to his skin.

* Engage in marital relations or any form of intimacy.

* Send gifts, or even greet another with the customary “hello” or “how are you doing?”

* Engage in outings, trips or similar pleasurable activities.

* Wear fine festive clothing.

* Study Torah, because “the commandments of G‑d are upright, causing the heart to rejoice” (Psalms 19:9). It is, however, permitted – and encouraged – to study sections of the Torah which discuss the laws of mourning, the destruction of the Temples, and the tragedies which befell the Jewish people throughout our history. This prohibition actually begins at midday of the day before Tisha b’Av.

“One who mourns Jerusalem will merit to see her happiness, as the verse (Isaiah 66:10) promises: ‘Rejoice with her greatly, all who mourn for her’”—Talmud Taanit 30b.

Step by Step Guide for the 24 Hours of Tisah B’Av

Afternoon of the Eighth of Av

The restriction against studying Torah – other than sections that discuss the destruction of the Temples – commences at midday on the eve of the fast.

Tachanun (the set of penitential prayers) is omitted from the afternoon prayer – as well as all the Tisha b’Av prayers.1

Shortly before the fast begins, we eat a “separation meal.” This somber meal is not very plentiful—it follows a larger meal eaten a bit earlier. This final meal is eaten while sitting on the floor or a low stool. It consists of a a piece of bread and a hard-boiled egg dipped in ashes, a symbol of mourning. (No zimmun is conducted when reciting the Grace after Meals.)

With sundown, all the laws of Tisha b’Av take effect.

Tisha b’Av Eve

In the synagogue, the curtain is removed from the Ark and the lights are dimmed. After the evening prayers, the Book of Lamentations (Eichah) is read. The leader reads aloud and the congregation reads along in an undertone. In some communities (not Chabad) Lamentations is read by the leader from a parchment scroll.2

Lamentations is followed by the recitation of a few brief Kinot (elegies), the V’atah Kadosh (minus the verse “And this is My covenant”3) followed by Kaddish (minus the stanza of Titkabel4– which is also omitted from the Kaddish recited at the end of the morning prayers).

Tisha b’Av Morning

When ritually washing the hands in the morning, pour water on your fingers only until the knuckle joints. While your fingers are still moist, you may wipe your eyes with them. It is not permitted to rinse out the mouth – or brush teeth – until after the fast.

Considering that we don’t wear leather footwear on this day, the blessing “Who provided me with all my needs” – which primarily thanks G‑d for providing us with shoes – is omitted from the morning blessings.

Tallit and tefillin are not worn during the morning services. Tefillin are referred to as our “glory” and on the Ninth of Av our glory is absent. Tzitzit are worn the entire day.

Those who follow Sephardic tradition insert the Aneinu passage in the amidah. The priestly blessing is omitted from the cantor’s repetition. The Song of the Day and Ein k’Elokeinu are omitted at the end of the service.

The Torah reading in the morning is Deuteronomy 4:25-40, which speaks of the destruction of the Land of Israel. A chapter from Jeremiah (8:13-9:23), which also speaks of the destruction, is read as the Haftorah.

After the morning prayers, it is customary to read the Kinnot elegies.

Work is permitted on Tisha b’Av, but discouraged. On this day one’s focus should be on mourning and repentance. If one must work, it should preferably begin after midday.

It is customary to give extra charity on every fast day.

Tisha b’Av Afternoon

It is customary to wait until midday before starting the food preparations for the post-fast meal. The intensity of the mourning lessens in the afternoon, as is evident from the relaxing of certain restrictions.

After midday, it is once again permitted to sit on chairs and benches of regular height.

Many communities have the custom to clean the house and wash the floors after midday, in anticipation of the Redemption which we await.

In the synagogue, the Ark’s curtain is restored to its place before the afternoon prayers.

Men don their tallit and tefillin for the afternoon prayers. Before starting the afternoon prayers, it is customary to say those prayers omitted from the conclusion of the morning services.

The Torah is read before the amidah. The reading is Exodus 31:11-14; 34:1-10, which discusses the aftermath of the Golden Calf incident, how Moses successfully interceded on the Israelites’ behalf and attained forgiveness for their sin. After the afternoon Torah reading, the special fast-day Haftorah, Isaiah 55:6–56:8, is read.

The sections of Nachem and Aneinu are added to the amidah. (Note: Aneinu is only recited by those who are actually fasting.)

Post Tisha b’Av

Before breaking the fast, one should perform netilat yadayim, this time covering the entire hand with water, but without reciting the blessing.

The Temple was set ablaze on the afternoon of the 9th of Av, and burned through the 10th. Therefore, the restrictions of the Nine Days (such as not eating meat, swimming, or laundering clothing) extend until midday of the 10th of Av.

However, if the Ninth of Av falls on a Thursday – in which case the tenth falls on Friday – one may wash and cut one’s hair on Friday morning in honor of Shabbat.