Back to Basics: Mourning on Tisha B'Av חזרה לבסיס: דיני ומנהגי אבלות בט' באב

§ The Sages taught: These are the activities that a mourner is prohibited from engaging in: He is prohibited from working, and from bathing, and from anointing himself with oil, and from engaging in sexual relations, and from wearing shoes. And he is prohibited from reading in the Torah, and in the Prophets, and in the Writings, and from studying in the Mishna, in the midrash, and in the halakhot, and in the Talmud, and in the aggadot.

The Sages taught: All mitzvot practiced by a mourner are likewise practiced on the Ninth of Av: It is prohibited to engage in eating, and in drinking, and in smearing oil on one’s body, and in wearing shoes, and in conjugal relations. It is prohibited to read from the Torah, from the Prophets, and from the Writings, or to study from the Mishna, from the Gemara, and from midrash, and from collections of halakhot, and from collections of aggadot.

It is forbidden to engage in eating drinking- Although these first two restrictions do not apply to a mourner, the Braita lists the restrictions that apply on Tisha B'Av, in addition to those that pertain to a mourner as well such as washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes etc.

It is prohibited to wash, anoint...

It is forbidden to read from the Torah- As it says (Tehilim 19:9) "The Lord's precepts are just, cheering the heart..."

However, one may read from a place in the Bible that he is unaccustomed to reading, as it will be difficult for him and he will not derive pleasure from it, and he may likewise study from a place of the Talmud that he is unaccustomed to studying. And one may read from the book of Lamentations; from the book of Job; and from the evil matters in Jeremiah, i.e., his prophecies of doom. And schoolchildren interrupt their studies for the day because it is stated: “The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart” (Psalms 19:9).

One may read from a place in the Tanach where they are unaccustomed to reading- since they do not readily undertand what they are reading, they will be distressed.

(1) 1. Tisha b'Av is forbidden for washing, anointing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations. It is also forbidden to read from the Torah, Nevi'im, and Ksuvim and to learn mishna and midrash and gemara and halacha and aggada, because it says, "The precepts of God are right, gladdening the heart" (Tehillim 19:9). Schoolchildren are idle on it. One may read Iyov and the bad things which are in Yirmiyah, but if there are between them passages of consolation, one must skip them.

(2) 2. It is permitted to learn Midrash Eichah and Perek Eilu Megalchin (third and final perek of Moed Katan). Likewise, one may learn the interpretations of Eichah and Iyov.

(7) 7. Washing is forbidden on Tisha B'av whether with warm or cold (water) even to dip one's fingers into water is forbidden.

(9) 9. If one's hand are dirty with dirt or excrement, it is allowed to wash to get off the dirt, yet he should not wash his whole hand rather according to the need to get off the dirt. Note (Rema): If one does their bodily needs (i.e. goes to the bathroom) if it is allowed to wash, the law is like Yom Kippur and further see Siman 613 Paragraph 3.

(10) 10. A person who pours (the water) on his hands in the morning (for the ritual hand-washing) needs to to be careful that he not pour on his hand except to the end of the joints of the fingers.

(11) 11. And after he dries his hands, and they are still a little moist, he can pass them on his eyes (to clean) if there is pus on his eyes and his normal matters to wash them with water and pass over. And he doesn't have to be concerned because that it is like dirt and excrement that he washes normally and there is no concern.

If someone is sensitive and would not be able to function without washing their face in the morning with water, then they would be permitted to wash their face. However, others would not be permitted to do so.

(15) 15. Anointing is not forbidden except for pleasure but one who has scabs on their head can normally anoint and he has no concern.

(2) One may not apply oil or ointment on Tisha Be-Av even to a small area of the body. In addition, one may not use cosmetics, like powders or salves, to beautify the skin or provide a pleasant fragrance. This prohibition applies specifically to anointing for the sake of pleasure; applying creams for medicinal purposes, however, is permitted. Therefore, one may apply petroleum jelly to dry lips or use anti-itch cream (SA 554:15). Likewise, one may apply mosquito repellent.

(16) 16. (The prohibition of) wearing shoes is specifically by leather but of garment or wood or cork explanation - wood pieces or silk is allowed. Of wood covered by leather is forbidden.

If it is not made of leather then it is not considered a shoe but rather clothing. Some of the Achronim are strict and forbid wooden shoes, even if they aren’t covered with leather as well as shoes made from cloth if they are shaped like a regular shoe and protects the foot and doesn’t make you feel barefoot or uncomfortable at all. Therefore, we should be strict and not allow shoes made out of papyrus. Even though we should not protest against those who are lenient, since the Shulkhan Arukh and most of the Achronim are lenient, in any case, those who are strict should wear slippers made out of fabric which is the custom...

(7) One may not wear non-leather shoes on Yom Kippur if they are worn year-round on rocky or rough terrain, regardless of what material they are made from. Thus, footwear such as “Crocs,” “Keds,” and “All-stars” may not be worn on Yom Kippur. One may wear cloth slippers or basic rubber shoes, however, since they are not normally worn on rough terrain. Nevertheless, since some poskim are still permissive and permit non-leather shoes, one should not object if someone else relies on them.

§ We learned in a mishna there: In a place where people were accustomed to perform labor on the Ninth of Av, one performs labor. In a place where people were accustomed not to perform labor, one does not perform labor. And in all places, Torah scholars are idle and do not perform labor on the Ninth of Av. Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: With regard to the Ninth of Av, a person should always conduct himself as a Torah scholar and refrain from performing labor. This is also taught in a baraita: Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel says: A person should always conduct himself as a Torah scholar, so that he will feel the hardship of the fast.

And the Sages say: Whoever performs labor on the Ninth of Av and does not mourn for Jerusalem will not see her future joy, as it is stated: “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all who mourn for her” (Isaiah 66:10). From here it is stated: Whoever mourns for Jerusalem will merit and see her future joy, and whoever does not mourn for Jerusalem will not see her future joy.

(22) 22. A place that is accustomed to do work on Tisha B'av, one can work. A place that is accustomed that they do not do work on Tisha B'av, one should not work. In all places, Talmidei Chachamim (Torah Sages) are idle (i.e. from work), and all who want to make themselves a Talmid Chacham regarding this matter should do so. Even in a place that is accustomed not to do work, it is allowed via a Gentile even in his (the Jew's) house. (Regarding) doing business for profit or to get wages (i.e. as opposed to for preventing loss etc.), in a place that is accustomed not to do work, it is forbidden. In a place that is accustomed to do work, it is permitted. However, that it should be minimized, as even upon the entry of (the month of) Av, we reduce transactions. Note (Rema): It is not the custom in forbidding work except until Halachic Noon [Minhagim]. It is the custom to be strict until Halachic Noon in all work that there is some delay even a non-professional act. But something that does not have delay like lighting a candle, tying (a knot) and similar are permissible. Milking cows, it is good to do via a Gentile if possible with a Gentile.

(23) 23. Work that is a matter of loss (Davar Haavid) is permitted like the way that it is said by Chol HaMoed.

(24) 24. All that do work on Tisha B'av, one will not see a sign of blessing from that work.

(3) The night of Tisha b'Av and its day, we sit in synagogue on the earth, until the afternoon prayer. [Note {of the Rem"a} and now we are accustomed to sit on stools immediately after we leave the synagoge in the morning, and continue with the kinnot until just before midday] And we do not light lamps at night, but with the light of one lamp we say kinnot and Eicha.

We sit... - This is similar to a mourner who sits on the ground during shiva. In any case, this is not as strict as the 5 prohibitions and therefore it is not in effect for the entire day.

(4) It is customary to sit on the ground like mourners on Tisha Be-Av. However, since there is technically no halakhic obligation to do so, we are not stringent about this for the entire day (Baḥ 559:1). The Ashkenazic custom is to sit on the ground until midday, while the Sephardic custom is to do so until Minḥa (SA and Rema 559:3). Thus, one who takes a nap in the afternoon does not need to place his mattress on the ground.