TISHA B'AV
HOW YOU FAST
ERUV THE FAST - EARLY IN THE DAY
- 6 - 8 glasses of water (or other, non-caffeinated beverages)
- Vegetables & fruits with edible skins or seeds
- Large portions of starch & carbohydrates (whole-grain breads and cereals, pasta, potatoes, legumes and unsalted popcorn)
- Small portions of meat, chicken or fish
SUGGESTIONS OF DRINKS & FOODS TO EAT AT THE SEUDAH
- Liberal amounts of plain water,100 % fruit juice, Seltzer, Herbal tea (teabags)
- Whole-grain challah
- ossed salad with romain or other dark green varieties of lettuce
- Rice (brown
- Lentils or Lima Beans
- Lightly sauteed or steamed mixed vegetables (summer squash, snow peas, carrots)
- Chicken (broiled, baked, grilled)
- Cakes & lots of fresh fruit
AVOID
- Coffee
- Tea
- Caffeinated sodas
- Fried foods
- Salted OR spicy foods.
KIDS WHO ARE TOO YOUNG TO FAST
You’ll also need to consider what you’ll feed any younger kids during the fast
PREPARING FOR POST TISHA B'AV MEAL
- Even though we don't eat or drink on Tisha B’Av, we still need to prepare the meal for after
the fast - Be sure to decide on something your family, particularly those fasting, will be happy with
& have those ingredients available
EATING & DRINKING
- All eating and drinking is forbidden
1. This includes rinsing the mouth & brushing teeth, except in a case of great distress
2. Rinsing with mouthwash or brushing teeth without water is questionable - .Swallowing capsules or bitter tablets or liquid medicine without water is permitted
- The ill or elderly as well as pregnant & nursing women are required to fast even if it is difficult, unless a doctor says that fasting may injure health, in which case a competent rabbi should
be consulted - A woman within 7 days of childbirth may not fast
- Boys up to twelve years old & girls up to eleven
1. Are not required to fast the entire day
2. There are various opinions as to whether they should fast part of the day - those not required to fast should eat only what is needed to preserve their health
- When Tisha B'Av is observed on Sunday, one who must eat recites Havdalah over beer,
coffee or tea
BATHING & WASHING
- All bathing for pleasure is prohibited even in cold water including the hands, face & feet
- Ritual washing upon waking, after using the bathroom, touching covered parts of the body
or before praying is permitted, but only up to the knuckles - One may wash dirty or sullied portions of the body (including cleaning the eyes of glutinous material) &if necessary may use soap or warm water to remove the dirt or odor
- Washing for cooking or for medical reasons is permitted
- A woman
1. May not immerse in the Mikvah on Tisha B'Av since relations are prohibited
2. Washing to commence the clean days is permitted.
ANOINTING
- Anointing for pleasure is prohibited including oil, soap, alcohol, cream, ointment,
perfume, etc. - Anointing for medical reasons is permitted, as well as using deodorant to remove bad odor
MARITAL RELATIONS
Since cohabitation is prohibited,
a husband and wife should not come in contact during the night of Tisha B'Av
WEARING LEATHER SHOES
- Even shoes made partially of leather are prohibited
- Shoes made of cloth, rubber or plastic are permitted
- One need not incur ridicule of non-Jews because of this prohibition
- Therefore if a permitted substitute couldn't be found
1. One may wear leather shoes
2. He should deprive himself of comfort by placing sand in the shoes & must remove them
when they are no longer needed.
3.Wearing leather shoes is permitted for medical reasons
LEARNING TORAH
- Since the heart rejoices in the study of Torah, it is prohibited to learn topics other than
those relevant to Tisha B'Av or mourning - One may learn
1. Lamentations with its midrash & commentaries
2. Portions of the Prophets that deal with tragedy or destruction
3. The 3rd chapter of Moed Katan (which deals with mourning)
4. The story of the destruction (in Gittin 56b-58a, Sanhedrin 104, and in Josephus)
5. Halachot of Tisha B’Av and mourning
ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS
- One should deprive himself of some comfort in sleep
1. Some reduce the number of pillows & some sleep on the floor
2. Pregnant women, the elderly & the ill are exempt - Sitting on a normal chair is forbidden until midday buy one may
1. Sit on a low bench or chair
2. Sit on a cushion on the floor - Greeting someone with 'good morning' & similar phrases is prohibited
1. One who is greeted should answer softly
2. If possible, inform the person of the prohibition - One should not give a gift except to the needy
- Things that divert one from mourning such as idle talk, reading the newspaper, taking a walk
for pleasure, etc. are prohibited - Smoking is prohibited until afternoon & then only for one who is compelled to & in private
- The custom is to
1. Refrain until midday from any time-consuming work that diverts one from mourning
2. In a case of financial loss, consult a competent rabb.
PRAYER
- Ashkenazim do not wear tefillin at Shacharis nor is a blessing made on tzitzis
- At Mincha, tefillin is worn & those who wear a tallis gadol make the blessing then
- Some Sefaradim (according to the kabbalah & the minhag in Jerusalem) wear the tallis &
tefillin at Shacharis as usual.
1. Others wear tefillin publicly only during Mincha
2. When in doubt, one should consult a Sefardi rabbi
3. At Mincha, the prayers Nacheim & Aneinu are added to the Shmonah Esrei during the blessing 'Veliyerushalayim' & 'Shma Koleinu' respectively
4. 'Sim Shalom' is said in place of 'Shalom Rav'
5. If one forgot them & completed that bracha, he need not repeat the prayer
THE DAY AFTER TISHA B'AV
- The limitations of the '3 Weeks' & the '9 Days'
1. Continue until midday of the 10th of Av
2. This includes the prohibition of music, haircuts, meat, wine, laundering & bathing - When Tisha B'Av was observed on Sunday, Havdalah is recited over a cup of wine or
grape juice) or beer but no spices are used
1. When a Sunday was the 10th of Av (for example the 9th was Shabbas & observance
of Tisha B'Av was postponed to Sunday the 10th), haircuts, laundering & bathing are
permitted Sunday night, the 11th of Av
2. However, meat & wine are prohibited until Monday morning - When Tisha B’Av is on Thursday so that the 10th of Av is on Friday
1. In honor of Shabbas, laundering may be permitted
2. Also Thursday night; haircuts & bathing are permitted
3. Friday morning music is permitted in the afternoon - The custom is to sanctify the new moon
1. This is done the night after Tisha B'Av, preferably after having eaten something
2. When Tisha B'Av is on Thursday, the custom is to wait until Saturday night when the
service can be said with greater joy.
♦♦♦♦♦
Tisha B'Av Customs | Fasting Tips
Preparing For The Fast & What Happens After
Restrictions For The 9 Days
Q & A About 3 Weeks & Tisha B'Av
What Happens When Tisha B'av Is On Different Days Of The Week
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