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Additional mourning customs relevant for the week of Tisha B’av

Cutting nails:[1]  

One may not cut nails during the week of Tisha B’av. One may cut nails during the three weeks, up until the week of Tisha B’av.

Erev Shabbos:[2] If Tisha B’av falls on Shabbos one may cut his nails in honor of Shabbos. [However some Poskim[3] rule one may only do so if he is accustomed to cut his nails on every Erev Shabbos. If however Tisha B’av falls on Sunday, one may cut his nails on Erev Shabbos even if he does not do so weekly.]

Need of a Mitzvah:[4] It is permitted to cut nails for the need of a Mitzvah, such as for Tevila.

 

Stringencies that apply beginning the week of Tisha B’av:

• Cutting nails:

Starting the week of Tisha B’av, it is forbidden to cut nails, as explained in Halacha above.

 

• Hair cutting:

Starting the week of Tisha B’av, it is forbidden according to all opinions [even Sephardim] to get a haircut, due to Talmudic law, as explained in Halacha 2. A wife may no longer shave for purposes of beauty for her husband, and one may not cut the hair of a child, during this week.

 

• Meat and wine by a Seudas Mitzvah:

Within the week of the Tisha B’av, only ten people, [in addition to relatives[5]], are to eat meat or drink wine during the meal, as explained in Halacha 8C.

 

• Laundry

In the week of Tisha B’av, it is forbidden according to all opinions to launder clothing. This is based on a Mishnaic ruling, and is followed by all Jewry, Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Prior to the week of Tisha B’av, the custom of Sephardim is to permit laundering clothing while the custom of Ashkenazim is to forbid it, starting from Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av.

Clothing of a non-Jew:[6] It is forbidden for a Jew to launder the clothing of a gentile during the week of Tisha B’av.[7] [However prior to the week of Tisha B’av it is permitted to do so even according to the Ashkenazim.[8]]

Laundering clothing if one has no clothing left: Within the week of the Tisha B’av, one may not launder dirty clothing even if he has no clothing left.[9]

 

• Wearing new clothing:[10]

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, as explained in Halacha 13B.

 

• Bathing:

During the week of Tisha B’av all Jewry, even Sephardim avoid bathing in hot water, as explained in Halacha 15A.

 

When Tisha B’av falls on Sunday, when is considered the week of Tisha B’av?[11]

When Tisha B’av falls on Sunday, the week beforehand is not considered the week of Tisha B’av, and there is hence no such concept of “the week of Tisha B’av” for that year.[12] However when Tisha B’av falls on Shabbos and was pushed off to Sunday, it is disputed as to whether the entire week before is considered the week of Tisha B’av.[13] According to all however, this dispute is only with regards to those mourning customs that are forbidden due to the letter of law during the week of Tisha B’av[14], however those mourning customs which are merely a Minhag[15], are permitted according to all during this week.[16]

Sephardic custom:[17] The custom of the Sephardim is to follow the lenient opinion, and not consider the week beforehand as the week of Tisha B’av. [They hence permit during this week all the mourning customs which only take affect for the Sephardim on the week of Tisha B’av. These include: Doing laundry, wearing freshly laundered clothing, bathing. Meat and wine however is abstained from after Rosh Chodesh.] Even according to Sephardim one is not to get a haircut during this week.[18]

Ashkenazi custom:[19] The Ashkenazi custom is to be stringent to consider the entire week as the week of Tisha B’av regarding all matters that are forbidden during this week from the letter of the law. [Thus we are stringent regarding all matters with exception to the following: 1) Playing music for Parnasa; 2) Cutting nails on Erev Shabbos; 3) Eating meat by a Bris.] Those matters in which there is dispute as whether they are forbidden on the week of Tisha B’av, there is more room to be lenient in this week.[20] 

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[1] Taz 551:13; Elya Raba 551:7; Mateh Yehuda 551:12; Chayeh Adam 133:17; Kitzur SHU”A 122:5; Derech Hachaim 4; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 13; M”B 551:20; Kaf Hachaim 551:48

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is permitted to cut nails throughout the nine days, even during the week of Tisha B’av. [M”A 551:11; Noda Beyehuda Kama Y.D. 99] Other Poskim rule one may not cut nails throughout the three weeks. [Kneses Hagedola 551:41] This is not the accepted custom.

[2] M”A ibid; Elya Raba ibid; Levushei Serud 551 on M”A ibid that so applies even according to Taz; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 13; M”B ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid

[3] Elya Raba ibid; brought in Kaf Hachaim ibid

[4] M”A 551:11; P”M 551 A”A 11; Chayeh Adam 133:17; Kitzur SHU”A 122:5; Derech Hachaim 4; M”B ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid

[5] M”A 551:35; Taz 551:12; M”B 551:77

[6] Michaber 551:5

[7] The reason: This is forbidden due to Maaras Ayin. [M”A 551:19]

[8] M”B 551:43; Kitzur SHU”A 122:13

[9] As explained in previous Halachas

[10] See Michaber and Rama 551:6

[11] Michaber 551:4

[12] Michaber ibid in first opinion; M”A 551:17 that this applies according to all [even according to the 2^nd opinion in Michaber]; Tur in name of Smag; Biur Hagr”a; M”B 551:38; Kaf Hachaim 551:77

[13] Michaber ibid: Some Poskim [Rosh; Ran; Stam opinion of Michaber] rule it is not considered the week of Tisha B’av and there is hence no concept of the week of Tisha B’av that year. There is an opinion [Tur in name of Smag; 2^nd opinion in Michaber] however that rules that the custom is to consider the entire week beforehand as the week of Tisha B’av, with exception to Thursday and Friday. [ibid] Practically, some Poskim rule like the former opinion, as so is the main ruling of the Michaber. [Shulchan Gavoa 551:27; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 12; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:25; Yabia Omer 6:5; Yechaveh Daas 3:39] Others rule it is proper to suspect for the latter opinion. [Kaf Hachaim 551:78]  

[14] Such as laundry

[15] Such as playing music for Parnasa; cutting nails on Erev Shabbos; eating meat by a Bris.

[16] M”A 551:35 as explained in Levushei Serud and P”M 551 A”A 35

[17] As rule the Shulchan Gavoa 551:27; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 12; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:25, brought in Kaf Hachaim 551:78

[18] Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 12; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:25; Kaf Hachaim 551:78

The reason: In order to enter into the fast in an unorderly state. [ibid]

[19] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:23, following the ruling of the M”A 551:35 as explained in Levushei Serud and P”M 551 A”A 35

[20] Shaareiy Teshuvah 551:1 in name of Elya Raba regarding a haircut for a Baal Bris

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