Mourning customs applicable on Motzei Tisha B’av-Tenth of Av

Mourning customs applicable on Motzei Tisha B’av-Tenth of Av:[1]

A. The general law:

The Heichal [Kodesh and Kodesh Hakedoshim] was set afire on the 9th towards evening, and it burnt until sunset of the 10th.[2] It is therefore a good custom to avoid eating meat[3] and drinking wine [as well as to guard all the mourning customs of the nine days[4]] on the night and day of the 10th of Menachem Av.[5] [This custom is now obligatory.[6] Nonetheless, it is viewed more leniently than the period of the nine days, and hence by a Seudas Mitzvah, anyone may be invited and partake in meat and wine.[7]]

Until when on the 10th are the above actions avoided? Some are stringent to avoid the above only until midday of the 10th of Av and not any further.[8] Others, however, are accustomed to avoid eating meat and drinking wine throughout the entire day of the 10th of Av, until the start of the 11th of Av.[9] [Practically, the widespread custom of Ashkenazi Jewry is to only keep the mourning customs until midday of the 10th.[10] Regarding Tisha B’av that falls on Shabbos, and is hence pushed off to Sunday, see next chapter!]

B. The actions which are customarily avoid on the 10th:

The following mourning customs apply until midday of the 10th:

1. Eating meat [or poultry, although fish is permitted].[11] [However, one may be lenient to eat a food that was cooked with meat.[12]]
2. Drinking wine.[13]
3. Bathing for pleasure.[14] [This means that we follow the same restrictions of bathing as of the nine days.[15]]
4. Haircut [16]
5. Laundry [17]
6. Wearing freshly laundered clothing.[18]
7. Music [19]
8. Buying new clothing.[20]

Marital relations:[21] It is proper to avoid marital relations on the night of the 10th of Av [Motzei Tisha B’av], unless it is the night of Mikveh, or one is traveling the next day or has arrived home after traveling [or he has a very strong inclination and may come to sin[22]].

Shehechiyanu:[23] One is to avoid saying Shehechiyanu over new fruits until the 11th of Av. [However, some are lenient to say Shehechiyanu even on the night of the 10th of Av, which is Motzei the 9th of Av.[24]]

Diminishing in delicacies:[25] Some Poskim[26] rule that in general one is to diminish in eating delicacies and all other foods on the night and day of the 10th, and he is to only eat enough to revive his soul. Other Poskim[27], however, negate this requirement, and so is the custom to not be stringent in this matter.

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[1] See Michaber and Rama 558:1; Tur 558

[2] Michaber ibid; Tur ibid in name of the Braisa in Taanis 29a “On the seventh of Av the gentiles entered the Heichal and ate and drank there and did abominable acts there on the 8^th and 9^th day, until close to dark when they set it aflame, and it burned until near sunset of the 10^th day”; See Braisa Taanis 29a that Rebbe Yochanan stated that if he lived in that generation, he would have set the date of Tisha B’av to the 10^th of Av; See also Yerushalmi that there were Amoraim who fasted also on the 10^th of Av. [Tur 558; Kaf Hachaim 558:1]

[3] Michaber ibid; Tur ibid “It is a Minhag Kosher to avoid meat…only to revive the soul, so he be near mortification”; Abudarham p. 253 in name of Rosh, brought in Beis Yosef 558, that the Rosh would not eat meat on the night of the 10^th; Hagahos Maimanis Taaniyos 5, brought in Beis Yosef ibid, that there are people who fast from eating meat until midday of the 10^th; Bach 558; Maharash Lurya 92; Maharil 125

[4] M”A 558:1 regarding music; M”A ibid and Bach 558 and Taz 558 in name of Rashal 92 regarding bathing, haircuts, and laundry; Levush 559:10; Elya Raba 559:31; Machazik Bracha 558:1; M”B 558:3; Kaf Hachaim 558:6; Piskeiy Teshuvos 558:2 based on Mekor Chaim of Chavos Yair includes all matters kept during the nine days.

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that only meat and wine are forbidden. [Bach 558 and Taz 558:1 in name of Minhagim of Tirana; Mamar Mordechai, brought in Biur Halacha 558 “Ad”]

[5] Michaber ibid; Hagahos Maimanis Taaniyos 5, brought in Beis Yosef ibid, that there are people who fast from meat and wine until midday of the 10^th; Taz 558:1 that so is the custom for the last 40 years, although prior to this time they would eat meat on Motzei Tishe Beav

[6] Bach ibid; Taz ibid; Rashal 92

[7] M”A 558:1; P”M 558 A”A 1; Kaf Hachaim 558:5

[8] Rama 558:1 “Some are Machmir until midday and not any further”; Hagahos Maimanis Taaniyos 5, brought in Beis Yosef ibid; Taz ibid that this applies to all the avoidances recorded above

[9] Michaber ibid rules one is to continue the mourning customs of not eating meat or wine throughout the night and day of the 10^th of Av, which implies the entire day. [Elya Raba 558:2; Implication of Bach 558; Kaf Hachaim 558:10] Some Poskim conclude that it is proper for Torah scholars and G-d fearing Jews to be stringent in this matter, and that so is the custom. [Elya Raba ibid; Machazik Bracha 558:2; Shaareiy Teshuvah 558:2; Kaf Hachaim 558:10]

[10] Aruch Hashulchan 558:2

[11] Michaber and Rama ibid; Tur ibid; Abudarham ibid in name of Rosh; Hagahos Maimanis ibid; Taz ibid

[12] Mamar Mordechai 558:1; Biur Halacha 558:1; Kaf Hachaim 558:4

[13] Michaber and Rama ibid; Hagahos Maimanis ibid; Taz 558:1

[14] M”A 558:1 in name of Rashal 92; M”B 558:3

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that only meat and wine are forbidden. [Bach 558 and Taz 558:1 in name of Minhagim of Tirana; Mamar Mordechai brought in Biur Halacha 558 “Ad”]

[15] Rashal ibid; Kaf Hachaim 558:6

[16] M”A 558:1 in name of Rashal 92; M”B 558:3

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that only meat and wine are forbidden. [Bach 558 and Taz 558:1 in name of Minhagim of Tirana; Mamar Mordechai brought in Biur Halacha 558 “Ad”]

[17] M”A 558:1 in name of Rashal 92; M”B 558:3

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that only meat and wine are forbidden. [Bach 558 and Taz 558:1 in name of Minhagim of Tirana; Mamar Mordechai brought in Biur Halacha 558 “Ad”]

[18] Nitei Gavriel 89:2; Piskeiy Teshuvos 558:2 based on Mekor Chaim of Chavos Yair includes all matters kept during the nine days.

[19] M”A 558:1; M”B 558:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 558:2

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that only meat and wine are forbidden. [Mamar Mordechai brought in Biur Halacha 558 “Ad”]

[20] Piskeiy Teshuvos 558:2 based on Mekor Chaim of Chavos Yair includes all matters kept during the nine days.

[21] M”A 558:3 in name of Kneses Hagedola 558 that one who guards his soul is to distance himself from this; M”B 558:2; Kaf Hachaim 558:7

[22] Kaf Hachaim 558:7

[23] Machazik Bracha 558:3; Yosef Ometz 56; Shaareiy Teshuvah 558:2; Kaf Hachaim 551:208 and 558:8; Hisorerus Teshuvah 3:21

[24] Ashel Avraham of Butchach 558; Daas Torah 558

[25] See Kaf Hachaim 558:2

[26] Bach 558:1 in intrepertation of Tur 558; Ateres Zekeinim 558 in name of Tur; Kneses Hagedola 558

[27] Setimas Michaber and Rama who omit this ruling; Taz 558:1 in his interpretation of Michaber and Tur ibid that by food other than meat there is no need to diminish, as there is no joy in any food other than meat; Elya Raba 558:1

[28] Piskeiy Teshuvos 558:2 based on ruling of Mamar Mordechai that the prohibition only applies to meat and wine, and in a time of great need one may rely on their opinion.

[29] As cutting nails is only forbidden the week of Tisha B’av, and from where do we know that the night after Tisha B’av is as strict as the week off Tisha B’av. Vetzaruch Iyun. It is not mentioned in the list of Issurim brought in M”B,