The Halachos of Tisha B'Av

Erev Tisha B’Av

One may not go for a leisure walk on Erev Tisha B’Av [Taking children out for a walk is not considered being done for leisure.] However, “Melacha” (e.g. writing, repairing broken items etc.) is permitted until sunset.
From midday on Erev Tisha B’Av, one may only study the topics that may be studied on Tisha B’Av itself, see below paragraph 38-44. If someone finds it difficult to do so, he may continue with his regular learning schedule until sunset.
The meal preceding the Seudah Hamafsekes: One may eat a proper meal before Chatzos (or after Chatzos, but before Mincha Ketanah). [Some are particular to eat bread at that Seudah (ע"פ מג"א סי תקנ"ב ס"ק י"א)].

Seudah Hamafsekes – (the final meal before the fast)

The Seudah Hamafsekes before Tisha B’Av should be eaten while sitting on the floor [there is no need to take off the shoes]. According to Kabbalah one should not sit directly on the floor, rather on a mat or something other than what is being worn.
At the Seudah Hamafsekes one should eat bread and a cold hard-boiled egg, dipping them in ash, and one should drink water.
At this meal it is forbidden to eat two cooked foods. [Those who eat an egg do not eat an additional cooked dish].
This includes anything fried, roasted, smoked etc. However, baked items (e.g. cake or biscuits) are allowed. The custom is not to eat fish during the Seudah Hamafsekes.
At this meal, one may not drink intoxicating beverages, nor fancy fruit juices. Light beverages are permitted. Tea and coffee are also permitted since they are not included in the category of cooked foods (עי' סי' תקנ"ב - שע"ת, ברכ"י, מחז"ב, ערוה"ש).
Three adult men should not sit together, rather each one should eat in a different corner of the room to avoid creating a setup that would require Zimun. If it happened that they ate together, Zimun is not recited.
Those who are exempt from fasting, do not need to partake in the Seudah Hamafsekes. Nevertheless, it is preferable that they should still eat a hard-boiled egg dipped in ash whilst sitting on the floor.
The Seudah Hamafsekes must be finished before sunset. If he would like to eat after Bircas Hamazon (and it is still before sunset), it is correct to have in mind before reciting Bircas Hamazon that he is not yet accepting the fast.

Those who are exempt from fasting

A person who is sick and feels he can’t function normally and ought to be in bed, is exempt from fasting. In any case of doubt, a Rav should be consulted.
Those who suffer from migraine attacks and are experiencing a headache that could develop into migraine, are exempt from fasting.
If one has 38°C fever, he is exempt from fasting.
Pregnant women must also fast. However, if there are certain problems with the pregnancy or her level of hemoglobin is low, she is exempt from the fast. The matter should be discussed with a Rav.
Nursing mothersalso fast. From two days before the fast they should prepare themselves well by drinking plenty sweet drinks. So too, after the fast it is recommended that they should drink sweet drinks. However, if their milk supply will not suffice the needs of the child, they may drink as normal.
Women still within thirty days of childbirth, do not fast even if they are not nursing the child.
Children that have not yet reached the age of Mitzvos are exempt from fasting.
Even those who are not fasting, should refrain from eating delicacies or meat.

Halachos of the fast

On Tisha B’Av the following are forbidden: to eat and drink, to wash or bathe, to anoint, to wear shoes, to have marital relations, to study Torah as regular, to greet others, to enquire about the welfare of others. All the above, are in effect from sunset at the commencement of Tisha B’Av until nightfall after Tisha B’Av.

Washing

It is forbidden to wash or bathe on Tisha B’Av, whether hot or cold water is being used. Even placing one’s finger in water is prohibited.
Washing in order to remove dirt is permitted.
A dirty child may be washed by an adult, although the hands of the adult will get wet in the process.
When waking up in the morning, one washes one’s hands (Negel Vasser) three times (some have the custom to wash four times), but only until the end of the knuckles [including the knuckles].
A child or a sick person who is not fasting, washes the hands before eating bread in the same manner as throughout the year (i.e. until the wrist). Before Bircas Hamazon, Mayim Acharonim is washed as usual. In Eretz Yisrael where the Kohanim go up to Duchan at Mincha, their hands are washed until the wrist as usual.
One may not wash one’s eyes in the morning after waking up. However, after drying one’s hands from washing Negel Vasser, and they are still slightly moist they may be passed over the eyes.
Rinsing one’s mouth and brushing one's teeth are only permitted in situations of major distress. Even then, one must tilt the head forward to ensure that no water will be accidently swallowed.
After relieving oneself in the bathroom prior to Davening, the hands are washed until the end of the knuckles. There is a dispute in the Poskim as to whether the hands may be washed at all if he is not about to Daven. The solution is, to touch a covered part of the body, which will allow him to wash his hands according to all opinions (up to the end of the knuckles).
Food and dishes may be washed in preparation for the meal after the fast, even though this will inevitably cause the hands to get wet.
A bride within thirty days from her wedding may wash her face, so that she will not be disliked in the eyes of her new husband.

Anointing

It is forbidden to smear oil or soap for pleasure even on just part of the body. Therefore, makeup may not be applied, nor may perfumes be used. An exception to this is a bride within thirty days from her wedding, who is allowed to anoint in order to prevent from being disliked in the eyes of her new husband.
Anointing for medical purposes is permitted.Therefore creams or lotions may be applied to treat a wound, as may Vaseline and the like be smeared over cracked lips. Lotions or creams that deter mosquitoes may also be used.
One may use deodorants and roll-ons to remove or prevent malodorous perspiration, since it is not considered anointing for pleasure. However, if they are being used to provide a pleasant smell, they are forbidden.

Wearing shoes

Leather shoes may not be worn on Tisha B’Av. This prohibition applies even if the shoe is merely leather coated and the shoe itself is made from other fabrics.
Leather shoes for children: The Chochmas Adam is of the opinion that there is no obligation for parents to educate their children to abstain from wearing leather shoes or other Hilchos Tisha B'av, since those practices evoke Tzaar. However, since nowadays there are many suitable alternatives available, one should ensure that also children (even below the age of Chinuch) do not wear leather shoes on Tisha B’Av.

Greeting, asking welfare of others

On Tisha B’Av one may not extend greetings to others. Therefore one does not say "hello" or “shalom” when meeting an acquaintance, nor does one wish him “good morning”. Nevertheless, one may wish a friend "good luck" or "Mazal Tov".
If one is greeted by someone who is unaware of this Halacha, one may reply in a non-cheerful low tone.

It is permitted to nod one’s head as a sign of recognition and acquaintanceship.

The following Torah studies are allowed on Tisha B’Av

The Gemara in Moed Katan (from Daf 13b - 29a); the laws of mourning in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deyah #340 - #403).
The last section of the Gemara in Taanis (Daf 28a - 30b); the Gemara Yerushalmi (ibid); the laws pertaining to Taanis and Tisha B’Av in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim #549 - #580).
The sections relevant to the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash in Gittin (Daf 55b - 58a) and in Sanhedrin (Daf 96a - 96b, 104a - 104b).
One may learn Eichah and Midrash Eichah with the commentaries and read Josephus. The portions relating to punishment in Yirmiyahu may be studied, but Pesukim of comfort should be skipped over. Iyov may be studied with the commentaries.
Jewish history books describing harsh times of affliction, persecution and massacre that befell our nation, as well as holocaust books,may be read.
Sifrei Mussar may be studied.
The Poskim differ as to whether Tehillim may be recited on Tisha B’Av. Women may be lenient in the matter.
All the above mentioned Halachos (from paragraph 20 onwards) are strictly forbidden the entire Tisha B’Av until nightfall. Below, certain customs will be mentioned that are practiced only until midday.

Sitting low

The custom is to sit on the ground until midday. Those who find this difficult, may sit on a low chair.
Elderly or weak people, pregnant women and women after childbirthwho find it difficult to sit on a low chair, may sit on a regular chair.
When travelling in a car or bus, one can sit as usual.
The one who lifts high the Sefer Torah (Hagbah) sits on a regular chair whilst holding the Sefer Torah.

Abstaining from Melacha

From the night of Tisha B'Av until midday the custom is to refrain from busying oneself with prolonged activities. Therefore, washing dishes or tidying the house should be pushed off until after midday. An activity that involves no effort, for example switching the lights on or off, may be done the entire Tisha B’Av.
After midday the custom is to allow also prolonged activities, but one should not become too preoccupied and absorbed with them. It would appear that if the activity will take less than half an hour, it is permitted.
No blessing will be derived from Melachos performed on Tisha B'Av.
Opening a food store is permitted, but other stores may not open until after midday.
Dishes may be washedafter midday. If they are needed on Tisha B’Av (e.g. to serve children or someone who is sick and is exempt from fasting), they may be washed before midday, though it is preferable to wear gloves whilst washing them. (However, if the dishes are being washed in preparation for the meal after the fast, no gloves need to be worn, see above paragraph 22, 28).

A child / a sick person eating bread

A child or a sick person who eat bread on Tisha B’Av, may wash their hands prior to the meal as done during the year. So too, they wash Mayim Acharonim.
There is a discussion in the Poskim as to whether “Nacheim” is recited in Bircas Hamazon. The custom is to omit it.

Tallis and Tefillim

Those who follow the customs of the Ashkenazim, wear Tallis and Tefillin only at Mincha but not at Shacharis. The Tallis Koton is worn from the morning as usual, but the Bracha over them is not recited, nor does one hold them while reciting Baruch She’omar or reading the Shema. Amongst those who follow the customs of the Sepharadim, some wear the Tallis and Tefillin during Shacharis.
Although during the year it is forbidden to have a meal before donning Tefillin, on Tisha B’Av a sick person who must eat may do so in the morning albeit he will don Tefillin only later at Mincha.
One says “Nacheim” in the Shemoneh Esrei of Mincha before the conclusion of the Berachah “Uveney Yerushalayim”. Also those who do not fast (and do not say “Aneinu”) recite this addition. Some Sephardim recite “Nacheim” also in the Amidah prayer of Arvit and Shacharis.

Laws pertaining to after the fast

Since on Tisha B’Av morning after waking up, the hands were washed only up to the knuckles, one should wash both hands after the fast until the wrist as done during the year.
On Motzei Tisha B'av, the restrictions regarding washing clothes, wearing freshly laundered garments, haircuts, bathing, reciting “Shehecheyanu” and listening to music are lifted for Bnei Sepharad immediately after the fast. For Bnei Ashkenaz those restrictions are in effect until midday of the 10^th of Av.
Regarding eating meat and drinking wine - for Bnei Ashkenaz they are permitted from midday on the 10^thof Av, whereas for Bnei Sepharad they are permitted only after sunset of the 10^th.

Table of content: