By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

“Can we take those pre-fasting pills on Shabbos or is that considered hachana?”

“Do I really bring my Tisha B’Av shoes to shul on Friday?”

“Is it true my cholent pot must remain unwashed until Sunday afternoon?”

“Is it really a two-part havdalah where the al HaAish is on Motzei Shabbos and the HaGafen is on Sunday night?”

“Can we listen to music immediately on Sunday night?”

These questions and more are being posed throughout this entire week.

The reason, of course, is that the date of this upcoming Shabbos is the ninth of Av. Since it falls on Shabbos, however, the fast is delayed and only begins at sundown on Shabbos day (8:17 PM in NY 2015). It is observed throughout Sunday – the 10th of Av.

Tisha B’Av falling on Shabbos present a number of changes from the normal routine, hence the questions above.
Since Shabbos is a special gift – it is forbidden to show open signs of mourning on Shabbos. Therefore, there is no Seuda haMafsekes, the meal of egg, bread and ashes on this Shabbos. There is also no Havdalah on Saturday night – rather it is recited on Sunday night except for the blessing on the flame.

CHANGES IN DAVENING

When we lein the Torah reading, we recite Moshe Rabbeinu’s lamentation of, “How can I bear alone your burdens, troubles, and tasks” to the tune of Aicha. We do not say Pirkei Avos this week, nor do we say the Tzidkascha Tzedek right after the Mincha Shmoneh Esreh.

CHANGES IN SHUL

What about sponsoring a Kiddush this Shabbos? While it may be too late, it is preferable to hold it on another date unless it is readily detectable that one is doing so. Shalosh Shiddus should be eaten at home and not in shul.

Since Havdallah is kind of in two phases this week, some shuls recite the Borei Me’orai HaAish just before Aicha is read. Others have the custom of reciting the bracha at home.
It is a time to avoid excess visiting or going for walks, etc.

Zmiros, meat and wine are permitted of course, for all three meals.

TORAH LEARNING

What about the Daf Yomi? On can learn Torah before Chatzos, (in New York 1:01 PM) but afterward it is a bit of a debate. One may, however, fulfill the Mitzvah of reading the Parsha twice in Hebrew and once in Targum. One may also learn the Gemorahs that are permitted to be learned on a regular Tisha B’Av.
When Havdallah is recited on Sunday night, neither the spices nor the havdallah candle are used. Only the bracha on wine is recited followed by the bracha of “HaMavdil Bain Kodesh l’chol.”

SHALOSH SHIDUS

One can drink wine, eat meat, and bentch with a mezuman. One must stop eating and drinking before Shkiya. Mayim Achronim should also be done before sundown.

SUNDOWN

It is still permitted to wear shoes and sit on chairs after sundown. But once the barchu of maariv is recited these two prohibitions begin as well.

MELAVEH MALKAH

There is none.

SUNDAY NIGHT

If necessary, one may drink water before the Sunday night havadallah, but one may not eat. Meat, wine and music are forbidden until Monday morning except for Havdallah. Haircuts and laundry are permitted on Sunday night.

GENERAL CONCEPTS OF TISHA B’AV

Because the loss of the Beis HaMikdash was such a national tragedy, the halachos of Tishah B’Av combine the laws of Yom Kippur and the laws of mourning.

Thus, we apply the five inuyim of Yom Kippur:

• No eating or drinking
• No washing
• No anointing
• No wearing leather shoes
• No marital relations (nor on Shabbos Tisha B’Av)

In addition to the Yom Kippur inuyim:

• We are not permitted to study Torah except for the passages that bring on sadness.
• We do not extend greetings to others.
• We do not work.
• We do not sit on a chair.

The latter two, however, may be performed after chatzos (halachic noon).

When one does need to wash hands, such as after going to the restroom, one washes just until the knuckles.

When sleeping at nighttime, one should be less comfortable than one is accustomed to being (SA 555:2). Thus, if one generally sleeps with two pillows, one pillow should be removed. A pregnant woman, however, does not have to do this if she will be uncomfortable.

CUSTOMS IN SHUL

In shul the custom is to dim the lights, based upon the verse in Eichah (3:6): “He placed me in darkness.” We also remove the curtain from the ark that covers the sefer Torah. This is on account of the Midrash that interprets the verse in Eichah (2:17): “He tore His royal garments.” After Maariv, Eichah is read and then a number of Kinos are recited.
On the next day, a number of Kinos are recited. It is the custom to recite them until halachic noon, so that one will not come to do work before then (SA OC 559:3 MB 13)
Men do not put on the Tallis and Tefillin for Shacharis in the morning, but do put them on for Mincha. This is based upon the Midrash(Vayikra Rabbah 6) that states:
“betza imraso – He carried out His words (Aicha 2:17) – He threw out His precious cloth, this refers to Talis –- hishlich mishamayaim eretz tiferes yisroel, – He threw earthward from Heaven the glory of Israel (Aicha 2:1) – this refers to Tefillin.”

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