Buying and wearing new clothing during the Nine Days

Buying and wearing new clothing:

A. Buying clothing during the nine days:[1]

It is forbidden to buy clothing during the nine days.[2] [This applies even to used clothing.[3]] This prohibition applies even against buying shoes [and undergarments, such as socks, undershirts and underwear[4]].[5] [This applies even if one does not plan to wear the clothing until after Tisha B’av.[6]]

 

Q&A May one order clothing during the nine days if it will only arrive after Tisha B’av? Yes.[7] However, some Poskim[8] rule one may not do so during the nine days.   May one buy important clothing if they are on sale and will not be available for the same price after Tisha B’av?[9] If there is a sale on clothing during the three weeks, and the sale will not be available after Tisha B’av, it is permitted to buy the clothing even during the nine days. [However, one should not wear the clothing.]   May a merchant order clothing for his store during the three weeks?[10] Yes. May stores sell clothing during the nine days? Yes, if they have a gentile clientele. If, however, the store has a Jewish clientele, it is to be closed throughout the nine days.   May one buy children’s clothing during the nine days?[11] Children who dirty their clothing constantly, may have new clothing purchased on their behalf even during the nine days, if they are in need of the clothing.[12]  Other children however have the same status as adults in this regard. May one who only owns one set of a certain garment purchase and wear a new garment, in case his old garment became torn and the like?[13] Yes. In all cases that a garment became damaged and one does not have a replacement garment, a new one may be purchased. Thus, if a Sirtuk became damaged, one may purchase a new one. The same applies for a hat or jacket, or shoes, if one does not have a replaceable one. The rule is that in all cases that one does not have a garment which is normally worn in one’s community, and walking without that garment is shameful, it is permitted to purchase and wear a new garment throughout the nine days.   May one buy non-leather shoes for Tisha B’av during the nine days?[14] Yes. He may likewise wear the shoes for the first time on Tisha B’av.[15] If, however, one has other non-leather shoes available, it is best not to purchase or wear new ones. May one buy a Yarmulke during the nine days?[16] No, unless one does not have anything else to wear. May Chasan/Kallah purchase clothing during the nine days for the sake of their wedding?[17]  A Chasan and Kallah who are scheduled to get married after Tisha B’av may purchase new garments throughout the three-week period.[18] This applies even to garments of importance. This however only applies if the Chasan does not yet have children, and has hence not yet performed the Mitzvah of Peru Urevu. However, some Poskim[19] are stringent in this matter. Likewise, some Poskim[20] limit this allowance to only a case that one will be unable to make the garment after Tisha B’av. May one purchase presents during the nine days? Yes.[21] Nevertheless, it is proper not to purchase silver items [or other expensive items[22]] during these days.[23] May one purchase baby clothing for a present during the nine days? Yes, as stated above. One may purchase and give the present even during the nine days.

Buying items other than clothing: It is permitted to purchase all inexpensive items during the nine days. However, expensive items may not be purchased unless it is an absolute necessity. See Halacha 3 for the full details of this matter!

B. Wearing new clothing:[24]

It is forbidden to wear new clothing, whether white or colored, whether of wool or linen, during the nine days. [Some Poskim rule that this prohibition applies even on Shabbos, as explained in Q&A.] This prohibition applies even against wearing new shoes[25] [and non-important garments, such as undergarments, socks, undershirts and underwear[26]]. [From Rosh Chodesh Av until the week of Tisha B’av this matter is forbidden due to a stringency, while during the week of Tisha B’av it is forbidden from the letter of the law.[27]]

Q&A May one wear new clothing on Shabbos which falls during the nine days?[28] Some Poskim[29] rule it is forbidden to wear new clothing on Shabbos, [even if one is accustomed to wear Shabbos clothing on Shabbos[30]]. It is even forbidden to wear new shoes and socks.[31] Other Poskim[32] however rule that those who wear Shabbos clothing are also permitted to wear new clothing for Shabbos [if he does not have other clean Shabbos clothing available[33]] so long as the clothing is not of importance to require Shehechiyanu. If, however, the clothing is expensive and important, and requires Shehechiyanu, then it may not be worn on Shabbos.[34] A Chasan: A Chasan who is accustomed to wear a Shtreimal on the Shabbos prior to his wedding, may do so on Shabbos Chazon.[35] However, whether he may wear other new clothing is subject to the same dispute as that mentioned above, of which even according to the lenient opinion, one may only wear new unimportant clothing. Some Poskim[36] however defend the practice of Chasanim wearing all new clothing on Shabbos Chazon. May a Bar Mitzvah Bochur wear new clothing on his Bar Mitzvah? He may not wear new clothing on the day of his Bar Mitzvah.[37] However, some Poskim[38] rule that he may wear the new clothing on the Shabbos before he becomes Bar Mitzvah, even if it is Shabbos Chazon, and he is then permitted to wear it on his Bar Mitzvah, even during the nine days. For how long is a clothing defined as new?[39] Once a clothing has been worn even one time, it is no longer defined as new and may be worn during the nine days. May one buy and wear a new Tallis during the nine days?[40]           It is permitted to buy a Tallis Katan up until the nine days.[41] One however may not purchase a Tallis Gadol throughout the three weeks. If, however, one’s current Tallis Gadol/Katan is Pasul, and he does not have another one available, and is unable to borrow one in its place, he may purchase and wear a new Tallis Katan/Gadol.[42] May wear new non-leather shoes on Tisha B’av?[43] Yes.[44] If, however, one has other non-leather shoes available, it is best not to wear new ones. Likewise, if the shoes were purchased prior to the nine days, one is to wear the shoes for the first time, prior to the nine days.

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[1] Rama 551:7; Terumos Hadeshen

[2] Letter of law or stringency? From Rosh Chodesh Av until the week of Tisha B’av this matter is forbidden due to a stringency, while during the week of Tisha B’av it is forbidden from the letter of the law. [See Michaber 551:7; Mateh Yehuda 551:6 and Kaf Hachaim 551:93]

Ruling of Sephardim: The Michaber makes no mention of the prohibition against buying new clothing, although it is mentioned by the Rama, and this ruling of the Rama is going on the ruling of the Michaber who rules one may not make new clothing starting from the nine days. See Yalkut Yosef who writes one may not buy clothing only starting from the week of Tisha B’av.

[3] Siddur Yaavetz; Machazik Bracha 551:10; Shaareiy Teshuvah 551; Kaf Hachaim 551:102

[4] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

[5] Michaber ibid prohibits fixing new shoes and the Rama ibid extends this prohibition even to buying

[6] M”B 551:49; Kaf Hachaim 551:103

[7] See Rama 551:7 that one may have a non-Jew make one clothing for it to be ready after the fast; Thus, from here we see that so long as the garment will not be received by the buyer until after the fast, it is permitted. This is in contrast to laundering, which is forbidden even for after the fast. See M”A 551:25 that buying is more lenient than laundering, and so long as “his name is not yet on the clothing”, it is permitted; Another aspect we can add, is that no Kinyan Meshicha has been made until one receives the product and hence it is not yet his. ; See Vayivarech David 69; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:11 footnote 75

[8] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:11 footnote 75

[9] Kinyan Torah 1:109 as this is considered a “Davar Haaveid”; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

[10] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27 footnote 147 based on Rama 551:7 who allows a tailor to make new clothing during the three weeks

[11] Mishnas Yaakov 551 based on M”A 551:25; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27 footnote 148 and 551:45

[12] As, just as we permit washing the clothing of such children, so too one may purchase new clothing for such children as we find in the Poskim [M”A 551:25] that buying new clothing is even less severe than laundering them. [ibid]

[13] See Nitei Gavriel chapter 31

[14] Halachos Ketanos 2:139; Zechor Leavraham 9; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:18 and 37; Ruach Chaim 551:3; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 9; Kaf Hachaim 551:96-97; Igros Moshe 3:80

[15] The reason: As since the entire purpose of the shoe is to commemorate the mourning, it is therefore permitted to be purchased and worn. [ibid]

[16] Nitei Gavriel 32:4

[17] Siddur Yaavetz; Machazik Bracha 551:10; Shaareiy Teshuvah 551; Chayeh Adam 133:14; M”B 551:46; Kaf Hachaim 551:101-102; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551 footnote 66

[18] The reason: As from the letter of the law it is even permitted for them to get married during the three weeks, if the Chasan has not yet performed the Mitzvah of having children. [ibid]

[19] See Kaf Hachaim ibid and 551:30 and 33

[20] Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[21] Vayivarech David 71; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

The reason: We do not find any prohibition in buying presents, as since one is not purchasing it for his own use, it does not contain the Simcha. [ibid; See also Rama 551:7 and Biur Halacha 551:7 “Shel Nachri”]

[22] Vayivarech David ibid

[23] Michaber 551:2 “One is to diminish in business”; Peri Megadim 551 brought in M”B 551:11“This includes buying silver vessels”. Although the M”B ibid concludes like the many Poskim that rule the custom is to be lenient nevertheless in Shaareiy Tziyon 551:13 he writes that regarding business of Simcha, which includes silver vessels as stated above, one is to be stringent. So also concludes Nitei Gavriel 18:6; Vayivarech David 71

[24] Michaber 551:6 regarding week of Tisha B’av and Rama 551:6 that we are Machmir from Rosh Chodesh; Tur in name of Ramban

Ruling of Michaber and Sephardim: The Michaber rules it is only forbidden to wear new clothing during the week of Tisha B’av. [Michaber 551:6; Beis Yosef 551; M”A 551:23; Levushei Serud 551; Mateh Yehuda 551:6; Machatzis Hashekel 551:23; P”M 551 A”A 23Kaf Hachaim 551:98]

[25] M”A 551:22; Aguda; Hagahos Maimanis; M”B 551:47; Kaf Hachaim 551:95

[26] Kaf Hachaim 551:88; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

[27] See Michaber and Rama 551:6

[28] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

[29] M”A 551:6 [regarding ruling of Rama that a Chasan who is allowed to wear Shabbos clothing on Shabbos Chazon that he may nevertheless not wear new clothing] and 551:21 “However from RC and onwards one may not wear even on Shabbos”; Minchas Kohen; Elya Raba 551:40; M”B 551:9 [unlike his ruling in Biur Halacha 551:6]; Shaareiy Teshuvah 551:2; Kaf Hachaim 551:16 [unlike his ruling in 551:89]; Igros Moshe 80; See also Zera Emes 76; Machazik Bracha 551:3; Zechor Leavraham 551:9; Shaareiy Teshuvah 551:1; Kaf Hachaim 551:9

[30] So is proven from M”A ibid who rules that a Chasan may not wear new Shabbos clothing, even though he may wear Shabbos clothing; Igros Moshe ibid

[31] Shaareiy Teshuvah ibid; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:26

[32] Chayeh Adam 43:14; Kaf Hachaim 551:89; See P”M 551 A”A 20 and Biur Halacha 551:6 “Keilim” regarding a Chaluk that just like he may launder the Chaluk for Shabbos, so too he may wear a new Chaluk. [Vetzaruch Iyun how this does not contradict the M”B earlier ruling in 551:9! See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551 footnote 142]

[33] Igros Moshe 3:80; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[34] Chayeh Adam 43:14; Kaf Hachaim 551:89

[35] Darkei Chaim Vehsalom 945; Shulchan Haezer 2:13; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:5

The reason: As otherwise it is considered public Aveilus. [ibid]

[36] Darkei Chaim Veshalom ibid

[37] M”A 551:6 regarding Chasan

[38] Nitei Gavriel 4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:5

[39] Mateh Yehuda 551; Kaf Hachaim 551:90

[40] Igros Moshe 3:80

[41] As Tefillin are needed only for the Mitzvah, and are hence not included within the prohibition. A Tallis Katan is also permitted as it is not considered an important clothing to require Shehechiyanu.

[42] Sheilas Yaavetz 82; Pischei Olam 23; Kaf Hachaim 551:92

[43] Halachos Ketanos 2:139; Zechor Leavraham 9; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:18 and 37; Ruach Chaim 551:3; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 9; Kaf Hachaim 551:96-97; Igros Moshe 3:80

[44] The reason: As since the entire purpose of the shoe is to commemorate the mourning, it is therefore permitted to be purchased and worn. [ibid]