We
begin this evening the more intense period of mourning of the Nine Days. As the
Mishna says: ¡°As Av enters, we diminish our joy¡±.
Here
is a brief synopsis of some of the basic halachos of this period:
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One should not purchase an
object of joy that will be available after Tisha B¡¯Av for the same price.
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Building for beauty or
pleasure not required for dwelling should be suspended.
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Painting, wallpapering and
general home decoration should not be done.
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Similarly, one should not
plant for pleasure.
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The custom is to refrain
from eating meat and poultry or drinking wine and grape juice during the nine
days. This also pertains to children.
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Eating meat and drinking
wine is permitted for Shabbos.
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One may drink the wine of
Havdallah. Some have the custom to give the wine to a child of 6-9 years old,
or to use beer for Havdallah.
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Meat and wine are also
permitted at a meal in honor of a mitzvah like bris, pidyon haben, or a siyum.
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A person who requires meat
because of weakness or illness, including small children and pregnant or
nursing women who have difficulty eating dairy, may eat meat. However, whenever
possible poultry is preferable to meat.
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Laundering is prohibited
even for use after Tisha B¡¯Av. One may not even give clothing to a non-Jewish
cleaner. (Although one may give it to him before the 1st of Av, even though
he¡¯ll wash during the nine days.)
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The prohibition of
laundering includes linens, tablecloths, and towels.
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A person who has no clean
clothes may wash what he needs until the Shabbat before Tisha B¡¯Av.
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Children¡¯s diapers and
clothing that constantly get dirty may be washed by need even during the week
of Tisha B¡¯Av, in private.
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It is forbidden to wear
freshly laundered clothing during the nine days. This includes all clothing
except that which is worn to absorb perspiration.
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Therefore, one must prepare
before the nine days by wearing freshly laundered suits, pants, shirts,
dresses, blouses and the like for a short time so that they may be worn during
the nine days. Socks, undershirts and underwear need not be prepared.
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Another option is each
morning of the nine days to throw the clothing one plans to wear that day on a
floor where they will get somewhat soiled, e.g. the bathroom floor after you¡¯ve
showered and the floor is wet.
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Here too, the prohibition
of using freshly laundered items applies to linens, tablecloths, and towels.
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One may wear freshly
laundered Shabbat clothing, as well as use clean tablecloths and towels.
Changing bed linen though is prohibited.
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One may not buy new clothes
or shoes even for use after Tisha B¡¯Av, except in a case of great necessity,
for example for one¡¯s wedding.
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If one forgot or was unable
to buy special shoes needed for Tisha B¡¯Av, he may do so during the nine days.
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Repairing torn garments or
shoes is permitted.
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The custom is not to bathe
for pleasure even in cold water.
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Bathing should be kept to
the minimum necessary to not be unpleasant to oneself and others, and only with
lukewarm water.
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Swimming is prohibited
except for medical reasons.
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Bathing for a mitzvah is
permitted, therefore a woman may bathe before immersing in a mikveh.
May
these days of mourning be transformed ????? ??????,
into joy and celebration, and may this tense time in our history lead to a
brighter future.
