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Eloquent Conversationalist
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 Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 10:24 am
I thought I'd share this. It was in an email my rabbi sent out to the congregation.
Laws and Customs of the Nine Days
The mourning for our national tragedies intensifies as we get closer to the Ninth of Av, which commemorates the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, the fortress city of Beitar in 130 CE, the rejection of aliya to the Holy Land by the spies and the Israelites in the days of Moshe, and the plowing of Jerusalem in the Roman era as an attempt to end it as an inhabitable city. Therefore from today, July 16, which is Rosh Chodesh Av, eating meat or chicken and drinking wine or grape juice are all prohibited. Most S'fardic Jews begin these restrictions from the second of Av. Men should try to avoid shaving if they can, unless they really need to for work or other circumstances. Still, many authorities recommend shaving on erev Shabbat to look nice for Shabbat. Swimming or any pleasurable immersion in water is prohibited; when you shower for cleanliness, you should use lukewarm water instead of hot water. You may, however, use hot water to just wash your hands or face. One should not take clothes to the cleaners on the Nine Days, nor wash clothes, unless absolutely necessary – if you have nothing else to wear. You should not wear a freshly cleaned suit or dress - except on Shabbat.
Shabbat is the big exception to all this mourning. We are happy, we eat the foods and drinks we enjoy the most: for many, that means meat and wine - some S'fardim avoid some kinds of meat, though. Everyone should dress in their cleanest most enjoyable clothes in keeping with the requirement of enjoying and respecting Shabbat. We follow the lead of the Gaon Mivilna (18th century) who prohibits any outward mourning on Shabbat. You may even say Havdalla over wine or grape juice.
The strictest period, the time where the Talmud talks of national mourning, is the week of Tish'a B'av - starting Sunday, July 22. During these two day, try to be as strict as you can, not to take any showers, unless necessary for cleanliness, and not to shave unless it would truly pose problems at work.
As we reach the afternoon before Tish'a B'av, Monday afternoon (July 23) this year, we reach a stage of sadness comparable to "aninut" of an individual, the time after a loved one has died and before they are buried. It is the saddest part of the process, when, traditionally, there is no way of being comforted. Therefore, we have a sad meal to mark this point in our national lives: just a hard boiled egg and some dry or toasted bread with nothing on it. We bench (say the post-meal blessing) after this meal, but alone, preferably on the floor or on a low chair.
Fasting for the Ninth of Av begins on Monday night, July 23, at sunset: 8:15 PM, and ends with nightfall on Tuesday, July 24, at 8:51 PM. In addition to not eating or drinking, the laws of mourning practiced during shiva and on Yom Kippur should be strictly observed during that 24 hour period: No bathing – except for washing hands to clean them – no anointing with oils or perfumes, no leather shoes and no intimate relations. Please feel free to see me with any questions about observing these restrictions.
Following the Ninth of Av, the restrictions of the Nine Days should be observed until 1:00 PM on Wednesday, July 25, since, according to tradition, the Temple was still burning until the afternoon of the 10th of Av. After that, we begin gearing up for one of the happiest days of the year: The fifteenth of Av – Monday, July 30, when we celebrate romance and marriage of the Jewish people – that life and the future of Israel is bright and enduring despite the hardships of the past.
Our rabbis say: Those who mourn for the destruction of the Temple will merit to see it rebuilt. Rebuilding the Temple represents an era of inner and outer peace for our People and the entire world – a time when terrorism and hatred will never threaten Israel or innocent people again. May that time come speedily in our days and may God give strength to our brave American soldiers and to the brave soldiers and civilians of our State of Israel.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 11:16 am
I want to add some more stuff about Tisha B'av from chabad.org:
There are five things forbidden on the Ninth of Av: eating and drinking, washing oneself, anointing oneself with oil, wearing leather shoes, and cohabitation.
There is no difference between the night of the Ninth of Av and the day. One may eat only before sunset on the eve of the Ninth of Av; twilight is considered to be night and eating is forbidden.
All are required to fast on the Ninth of Av, including pregnant women and nursing mothers. One who is ill, however, may eat even if his illness is not life-threatening. However, an ill person should refrain from eating delicacies and should eat only that which is absolutely necessary for his physical well-being.
If the Ninth of Av falls on a Sunday and a sick person needs to eat during the fast, he should recite Havdalah before eating [since Havdalah was not recited the previous night because of the Ninth of Av].
- One may not rinse his mouth on the Ninth of Av until the end of the fast.
- Washing for pleasure is forbidden both in warm and in cold water. However, if one's hands are dirty, he may wash them. He may also wash his hands upon arising in the morning as he does every day, as well as after using the bathroom. However, he may not wash the entire hand but should only wash his fingers. While his fingers are still moist, he may wipe his eyes with them. lf his eyes are dirty, he may rinse them as he usually does.
- When cooking and preparing food, one may wash the food since the intention is not to wash one's hands.
- The prohibition of wearing shoes applies to those made of leather. Shoes made of linen or rubber may be worn. However, if they are covered by leather or if they have leather soles, they may not be worn. lf one is walking on a path full of thorns or in an area populated by gentiles [where his appearance would be ridiculed], he may wear regular shoes in that place.
It is permissible to bathe a baby and apply oil to his skin in the same manner as one usually does.
- All of the prohibitions mentioned are applicable from sunset of the eve of the Ninth of Av until the end of the fast.
As noted earlier, the study of Torah is prohibited on the Ninth of Av because Torah study brings a person joy. However, one is permitted to study the third chapter of tractate Mo'ed Katan which deals with the laws of mourning and excommunication. One may also study the Midrash to the Book of Eichah with its commentaries; and Job with its commentaries, for these works awaken a sense of sorrow in the reader. One may also study the chapters of admonition and calamities recorded in Jeremiah; however, one should be careful to skip those verses that speak of consolation. One may also study the aggadah about the Destruction recorded in tractate Gittin.
- One should not greet a friend and ask how he is on the Ninth of Av, and one should not even say "good morning." lf one is greeted by a friend, however, he should respond so as not to cause bad feelings, but in a lowered tone of voice. It is also forbidden to send gifts on the Ninth of Av.
- It is customary on the Ninth of Av to refrain from doing any work which must be done over an extended period of time, for engaging in such activity distracts one from feeling a sense of mourning. One should refrain from this type of work on the night of the Ninth of Av and until midday the next day. After midday, such work is not customarily forbidden but nevertheless it is proper for each person to be stringent with himself and avoid such work until the fast is over.
- From the night of the Ninth of Av until midday, one should sit on the floor or on a low stool less than three handbreadths high.
One should avoid walking through the streets or marketplace so that he will not come to talk idly and thus distract himself from the sense of mourning. One should surely avoid activities which might lead to levity.
- Some observe the custom of not sleeping on a bed on the Ninth of Av; instead they sleep on mattresses placed on the floor. In any event, one should vary his sleeping habits; for example, if one usually sleeps with two pillows he should use only one. Some people place a stone under the pillow or mattress as a means of remembering the Destruction.
- It is customary to begin only after midday to prepare food that will be eaten when the fast is over.
- One should not smell perfumes or spices on the Ninth of Av, nor smoke, in public.
- One should not wear fine clothing on the Ninth of Av even if the clothing is not new.
- Many observe the custom of washing their floors and cleaning their houses after midday on the Ninth of Av, in anticipation of the redemption which we await. Moreover, it is a tradition that the Mashiach will be born on the Ninth of Av.
It is said that one who eats or drinks on the Ninth of Av without having to do so for health reasons will not merit to see the joy of Jerusalem. And one who mourns over Jerusalem will merit to see her happiness, as the verse (Yeshayahu 66:10) promises: Rejoice with her greatly, all who mourn for her.
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Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:05 pm
Thanks for the infomation ladies! Very in-depth. 3nodding
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Posted: Sat Jul 21, 2007 1:01 pm
I already made a Tisha B'av topic last year, maybe you should combine them. 3nodding
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Eloquent Conversationalist
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Posted: Sun Jul 22, 2007 6:56 am
I couldn't find one on the first page, and didn't want to spend a lot of time researching the board. I was short for time that day; I only had enough time to cut and paste my rabbi's email, and then I was out the door to an appointment.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:33 am
Done. 3nodding Quoted from Elfy: Quote: Tisha B'Av (the ninth day in the Jewish month of Av) is a day of mourning, on which Jews fast, that primarily commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples. The first Temple was destroyed on the ninth of Av by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E., and the second Temple was destroyed on the ninth of Av by the Romans in 70 C.E. In addition to being the day on which the first and second temples were destroyed, many other tragic events occured on this day. Given that so many tragedies have occured on Tisha B'Av in the past, Tisha B'Av is considered a "taboo day" -- a day that we are fearful that something bad is going to happen. Three Weeks (Shloshet HaShavuot)Three weeks before Tisha B'Av, the fast of the 17th of Tammuz is observed. The fast of 17th of Tammuz commemorates the first breach in the walls of Jerusalem, before the First Temple was destroyed. The three weeks between this fast and Tisha B'Av is a period of mourning, called Sholshet HaShavuot, during which time some Jews observe the following prohibitions: 1) no weddings and other festive gatherings, 2) no hair cuts (some refrain from shaving). Nine Days (Tishat HaYamim) Accordingly, the three week mourning period intensifies and more mourning prohibitions are observed in the nine days between Rosh Hodesh Av (the beginning of the Hebrew month of Av) and Tisha B'Av. Additional prohibitions (in addition to those observed during the Three Weeks) observed by some during the nine days are: 1) no playing or listening to music, 2) no pleasure outings (movies, restaurants, hikes, ..., 3) no buying new clothes or other new things that can wait until after Tisha B'Av, 4) no giving gifts, 5) no eating meat or drinking wine (except on Shabbat). Tisha B'Av Observance Tisha B'Av prohibitions are similar to Yom Kippur prohibitions: no eating, no drinking (even water), no washing, no bathing, no shaving, no wearing cosmetics, no wearing leather shoes, no engaging in sexual relations, no working, and no studying Torah. At the evening Ma'ariv prayer service, the entire congregation sits on the floor and recites Eicha (Book of Lamentations) in which the prophet Jeremiah describes the destruction of the first Temple and Jerusalem. On the morning of Tisha B'Av, Kinot (Lamentations) are recited. Sholshet HaShavuot (Three Weeks), Tishat HaYamim (Nine Days), and Tisha B'Av (Ninth day of the month of Av) are times of mourning during which Jews should, most importantly, think about the causes of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, so that they can work towards tikkun olam (repairing the world). List of Dates Tisha B'Av will occur on the following days on the American calendar: August 3, 2006 (Jewish Year 5766) July 24, 2007 (Jewish Year 5767) August 10, 2008 (Jewish Year 576 cool July 30, 2009 (Jewish Year 5769) July 20, 2010 (Jewish Year 5770) August 9, 2011 (Jewish Year 5771)
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darkphoenix1247 Vice Captain
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