When Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbos and is Observed on Sunday

Rules for Tisha B'Av which falls on Shabbos, observed on Sunday 10 Av

As per the Shulchan Arukh (SA) and Mishnah Brurah (MB)

Compiled by Rabbi Avi Billet

The Fast Begins

1.    As the day leading into the fast is Shabbos, the day is treated as a regular Shabbos until Shabbos ends.

2.    The fast begins at sunset 

3.    The meal before the fast, Seudah Shlishit, is a regular “Shabbos meal,” and can even include meat and wine. Birkat Hamazon (Bentching) may take place after sunset.

4.    Some recommended medical guidelines for how to prepare and go about fasting for those who must eat but want to be considered “fasting” (written about YK, but applicable all the same)

The mourning of Tisha B'Av is comparable to the mourning of "Shiva," with the added provision of fasting

Restrictions of the Night and Day (exceptions to follow)

1.    Eating and Drinking – includes brushing teeth, gargling, and even sipping water

2.    Washing – cleaning hands and dishes, showers, bathing, swimming

3.    Anointing – using oils or perfumes that are rubbed onto the body (including makeup).

4.    Shoes – leather shoes are not to be worn

5.    Marital Relations are forbidden

6.    Until mid-day, we sit on the floor or low chair

7.    Until mid-day we do not wear tallis and tefillin

8.    Intense Torah learning

Exceptions

1.    Eating and Drinking - A person with a medical condition who must eat yet wants to fast can have 1.5 oz of liquid every 9 minutes. See article for information about eating on Yom Kippur (similar rules have been accepted regarding Tisha B'Av) https://www.etzion.org.il/en/afflictions-yom-kippur-what-forbidden-and-whom

2.    If you must eat on Tisha B’Av (see below), you must say Havdalah before eating!

3.    A person who must eat because of peril or real danger should drink/eat – no questions asked. Sakanas Nefashos trumps all.

4.    As Tisha B’Av is observed this year on the 10^th of Av, additional leniencies exist for pregnant women and nursing mothers, as well as those who are particularly weak. Anyone not fasting following Halakha’s exceptions can have normal meals, though it is recommended not to overindulge which may cause a person to lose sight of the nature of the day

5.    Regarding oral hygiene, there are differences of opinion regarding brushing with a moistened tooth brush, and using listerine strips and/or breath mists. 

6.    Washing – one may wash hands after using the restroom. Certainly if hands are dirty, they may be washed. Some have the custom of only washing fingers until the knuckles for "netilat yadayim" upon waking in the morning. Depending on the nature of the post-restroom-use-washing needs, one should try to wash only the fingers, unless necessary to wash the whole hand as noted above.

7.    Anointing – Deodorant is permitted, though one should apply only what is needed and avoid excess. Perfume and cologne are not recommended.

8.    Shoes – a leather adornment to a shoe, which, if removed, does not change the shoe in any way, does not disqualify the shoe. There are many non-leather options – many sneakers, crocs, slippers, etc

9.    Marital Relations – While it is technically not forbidden Friday night because we are observing Shabbos (and eating meat and wine), the custom is to be be strict Friday night (Rama 554:19) (9 Av), unless the woman is going to the mikveh that night. On Saturday night (9 Av observed), there are no exceptions - marital relations are forbidden. A woman who is slated to go the mikveh Saturday night would go Sunday night. 

10. Floor Seating – Children who are eating need not sit on low chairs. Elderly or infirm who experience extreme discomfort need not sit on low chairs. However, we are not as strict about this (MB 559:10). Rama says we can sit on regular seats once Shacharis is over, though we try to lengthen the davening so it will end closer to mid-day (1:27pm) (559:3). Acharonim allowed a person to place a cloth or small pillow beneath oneself (MB 559:11) or to sit on a low chair rather than the floor

11. Tallis – Those who wear tzitzis under their clothes should put them on without a bracha (555:1)

12. Learning – Eichah, Iyov, the bad parts of Yirmiyahu, Midrash Eichah, and commentaries on Eichah and Iyov (554:1-2), the last chapter in Moed Katan and the portions of Masechet Gittin (e.g. 55b) that address the destruction of the Temple. As Rabbi Soloveitchik used to say, if one needs to learn Torah on Tisha B'Av, "This should be our biggest aveirah."

Other Practices

1.    Some have the custom to make night time sleeping a little less comfortable through sleeping on the floor, or not using a pillow (a custom of putting a rock under one's head/pillow is also recorded (551:2))

2.    One should avoid greeting people ("Shalom Aleichem" and "How are you doing?" etc). If someone accidentally greets you or doesn't know, respond courteously, but briefly. No need to tell the person not to greet others.

3.    Changes in davening are recorded in the siddur. Please note: No תתקבל in Kaddish; omit: Pitum Haktoret, Tachanun, קל ארך אפים, למנצח, the verse of ואני זאת בריתי  (in ובא לציון); Add נחם and עננו at Mincha

4.    One who needs to work on Tisha B'Av may, but one should try to put in fewer hours (554:22) – Ideally starting after Chatzot [working on Tisha B'Av is nonetheless less than desirable (554:24)]

5.    One who will lose a lot of money should follow the practices of working on Chol Hamoed (554:23)

After the Nine Days are over

1.    It is the custom to break one’s fast first, before saying Kiddush Levana.

2.    Since Tisha B’Av is being observed on the 10^th of Av this year, all restrictions of the Nine Days end when the fast ends, including washing, laundering clothes, haircuts. There is a view that we should wait until the morning before eating meat and drinking wine. Nevertheless, wine may be used for Havdalah Sunday night.

May we merit to see the day Tisha B’Av is turned into a holiday