Preparing for the nine days – Matters of preparation applicable prior to the start of the nine days

Preparing for the nine days – Matters of preparation applicable prior to the start of the nine days:

Buying and selling:

It is permitted to buy and sell all simple and necessary items as usual during the nine days. However, one is not to buy and sell expensive items that are not necessities, but rather a luxury, unless it is a case of possible financial loss. [Accordingly, such items should be purchased prior to the start of the nine days.]

Building and construction:[1]

During the nine days one is to diminish in building for pleasure or beauty purposes, such as building a wedding home for his son, or a beautiful architectural structure or beautiful tents. One may however fix a wall which is leaning to fall.[2] [Accordingly, any nonvital construction that one would like done, is to be done prior to the start of the nine days. Certainly, the painting of one’s house for extra beauty purposes needs to take place prior to the start of the nine days.]

Bathing:[3]

It is forbidden for Ashkenazim to bathe or shower during the nine days, even with cold water, with exception to one who needs to shower for medical reasons or for reasons of cleanliness, or for the sake of a Mitzvah. [Accordingly, anyone who would like to enjoy a nice and long hot bath or shower, is to do so before the nine days. Likewise, one who enjoys recreational swimming needs to plan his last swim for before the nine days.]

Cutting nails:[4]  

One may cut nails during the three weeks, up until the week of Tisha B’av. [Hence, there is no need for one to cut his nails prior to the start of the nine days.]

Laundry:[5]

It is forbidden to wash or launder clothing during the nine days.[6] [Accordingly, everyone is encouraged to launder all of their clothing prior the start of the nine days in order so they have enough clean clothing to wear throughout the nine days.]

Trying on freshly laundered clothing:[7]

It is forbidden to wear freshly laundered clothing during the nine days [even if they were laundered prior to the nine days[8]]. Thus, one is to wear his freshly laundered clothing [i.e. shirts; pants, bed sheets, bath towels] for some time prior to the start of the nine days. Doing so allows one to wear the clothing during the nine days, as its “freshly laundered” status has been removed.[9] It suffices to wear the clothing for even a mere moment.[10] One may wear more than one clothing at a time for this purpose.[11] [Although care must be taken to put on one piece of clothing at a time[12] or remove one piece of clothing at a time, due to Shichicha.[13]] There is no need to wear underclothing before Rosh Chodesh, as such clothing may be worn during the nine days even if they are freshly laundered.[14] One may thus wear fresh socks, undershirts and underwear as necessary. However, some are stringent in this matter.[15]

Buying basic clothing:[16]

It is forbidden to buy any clothing during the nine days.[17] This prohibition applies even against buying shoes [and undergarments, such as socks, undershirts and underwear[18]].[19] [Accordingly, anyone who needs to purchase clothing which are permitted to be purchased prior to the nine days, such as all non-expensive clothing including undergarments, pants, shirts, shoes and the like[20], is to do so before the start of the nine days.]

Fixing and sewing clothing:[21]

It remains permitted to sew a loose stitch, or sew a tear of an already worn pair of clothing, or resew a button throughout the nine days, even in the week of Tisha B’av. [Hence, there is no need for one to sew all his clothing which need sewing prior to the start of the nine days.]

Eating meat and poultry:[22]

The custom is not to eat meat or poultry[23] throughout the nine days.[24] [Accordingly, one should enjoy their last meat menu meals prior to the start of the nine days, and should purchase extra dairy and fish products to eat in their stead during the nine days.]

Planting:[25]

During the nine days one is not allowed to plant gardens for pleasure purposes, such as the trees of kings which are planted for shade, or different species of myrtle. [Accordingly, any plants that one would like to plant in one’s garden in the near future is to be done prior to the start of the nine days.]

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[1] Michaber 551:2; Braisa Yevamos 43

[2] Michaber ibid

[3] See 551:16

[4] Opinion in M”A 551:11 [although is unclear if he refers to all nine days or only week of Tisha Beav]; 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, as this is considered a private custom of Aveilus, in which we are more lenient during the public mourning of the Temple. [Conclusion of 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.

[5] 551:3-6; Mishneh Taanis 26b regarding the week of Tisha B’av and Rama 551:3 and 4 that we are stringent beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av

Ruling of Michaber and Sefaradim: The Michaber ibid rules it is only forbidden to launder clothing during the week Tisha B’av, and so is the Sefaradi custom.

[6] The reason: As it appears that one is removing his mind from the mourning. [M”A 551:12; Rashi Taanis 29; See Levushei Serud 551]

Custom or letter of the law? The root of this prohibition is from the letter of the law and is not a mere custom. However, from the letter of the law it only applies during the week that Tisha B’av falls in. [Michaber ibid; Mishneh Taanis 26b and Gemara 30a following the opinion of Raban Shimon Ben Gamliel] However, the Ashkenazi custom is to forbid laundering from the beginning of the nine days. [Rama 551:3 and 4 in name of Minhagim; Rokeaich and Or Zarua]

The forms of laundry that are prohibited: All laundry is forbidden from the letter of the law during the week of Tisha B’av, and according to custom also during the nine days, if one intends to wear the clothing during the nine days. If one plans to wear the clothing after Tisha B’av, then from the letter of the law, certain laundering is permitted, as explained in the next footnote. [Beis Yosef 551; M”B 551:22; Kaf Hachaim 551:52

[7] Michaber 551:3 regarding the week of Tisha B’av and Rama 551:3 and 4 that we are stringent beginning from Rosh Chodesh Av

Ruling of Michaber and Sephardim: The Michaber ibid rules it is only forbidden to wear freshly laundered clothing during the week Tisha B’av, and so is the Sephardi custom.

[8] Beis Yosef 551 in name of Ramban; Kaf Hachaim 551:56

[9] So rule regarding Aveilus that another person can wear it: Rama Y.D. 389:1 and Shach Yoreh Deah 389:4; Kol Bo; Semak; Kitzur SHU”A 211:9; So rule likewise here regarding the nine days: Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 6; Kaf Hachaim 551:91; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:17

[10] Shach Yoreh Deah 389:4 regarding Aveilus that another person can wear it “Some amount of time and not specifically an hour and so is the custom”; Ikarei Hadaat 36 Samech; Misgeres Hashulchan 389 that so is custom; Daas Kedoshim 389:3 regarding Shabbos; Nitei Gavriel Vol. 2 10:1 [unlike Nitei Gavriel Bein Hametzarim 34:3]

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one is to wear it for 2-3 hours. [Levush 389; Rav Poalim 4:29] Others rule one is to wear it for one hour. [Yosef Ometz p. 330; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 6; Kaf Hachaim 551:91; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:17] Others write it is to be worn for a half hour. [Nitei Gavriel Bein Hametzarim 34:3] See Nitei Gavriel ibid footnote 4

[11] Daas Kedoshim Y.D. 389

[12] Admur Kama 2:3; Basra 2:3; M”A 2:3; Arizal Shaar Hakavanos Inyan Birchas Hashachar

[13] Ateres Rosh Shaar Yom Hakippurim 2 [p. 29]; Shulchan Hatahor 2:1 [Komrono]; Minchas Aron 22:12; Yayin Tov 11; Shraga Hameir 4:87

[14] Divrei Nechemia Y.D. 27 p. 142 “Undergarments which receive sweat are not considered a garment”; Yifei Laleiv 400; Aruch Hashulchan 389:6 regarding after Shiva “People are not careful to give the undergarment to others to wear” and 389:7 regarding undershirt even during Shiva; See Lachmei Todah 30, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 389:2; Gesher Hachaim 21:10-1; Minchas Yitzchak 10:44; Pnei Baruch 18:10; Nitei Gavriel Vol. 2 10:3-4; In Vol. 1 111:8 permits socks in a time of need based on Poskim in footnote 10

[15] See Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 6; Kaf Hachaim 551:91; Orchos Rabbeinu 2:132; Minchas Yitzchak ibid in his explanation of Lachmei Toda

[16] Rama 551:7; Terumos Hadeshen

[17] Ruling of Sefaradim: 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.

[18] Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:27

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

[20] M”B 551:45; Misgeres Hashulchan 122:1; See Seder Birchas Hanehenin 12:4 that such clothing do not receive a blessing of Shehechiyanu; See Aruch Hashulchan Y.D. 389:1

The reason: As they are not considered an important garment to require a Shehechiyanu. [See Seder Birchas Hanehenin 12:4]

Other opinions: The Terumos Hadeshen would not purchase even simple clothing during the period of Sefira. [See Leket Yosher]

[21] See Michaber 551:7-8; Bach 551; Kneses Hagedola 551:10; Elya Raba 551:16; Bigdei Yesha 551:8; Moed Lekol Chaiy 10:18; M”B 551:46; Kaf Hachaim 551:99; 551:107; Orchos Rabbeinu 2:129; Ben Ish Chaiy Devarim 10; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:29 footnote 156; Nitei Gavriel 37:2

[22] 551:9-10; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:32-42

[23] Michaber 551:10

[24] After Tishe Beav: See Chapter 6 Halacha 19 that the custom for Ashkenazim is to prohibit this until after midday, and Chapter 8 Halacha 13 regaridng Tishe Beav that falls on Shabbos and is differed to Sunday!

[25] Michaber 551:2; Yevamos 43