“On the 9th of Av, it was decreed upon our ancestors that they would not enter the Land [of Israel], the First Temple was destroyed, the Second Temple was destroyed, and the city of Beitar was captured and plowed over” (Ta’anit 26b). Thus, both the First and Second Temples were destroyed on Tisha B’Av. The first Beit HaMikdash stood for 410 years (Yoma 9a), and the Babylonians entered it on the 7th of Av, set it on fire on the 9th of Av, and most of it burned down on the 10th of Av. Therefore, the laws of mourning begin before Tisha B’Av and continue until the 10th of Av.
Before the fast
From midday onwards, it is customary to study only subjects permitted on Tisha B’Av, although some are lenient about this (Shulchan Aruch 553:2).
At the seudah mafseket, the final meal before the fast, one should not eat more than one cooked dish (Mishnah, Ta’anit 26b). How, then, can one eat a satisfying meal before the fast? Some eat a large meal before Mincha (Mishnah Berurah, 552:9) and then the seudah mafseket (on the floor, with bread and a little ash). Others eat one meal after Mincha, without a cooked dish, but with other filling foods, and at the end, they sit on the floor and eat an egg with a little ash.
The fast begins at sunset (553:2), at which point one removes their shoes (553:2) and goes to shul. In the synagogue, the curtain of the Aron is moved or removed (Rema 559:2), and the lights are dimmed (Aruch HaShulchan).
The fast itself
On Tisha B’Av, five things are forbidden: eating and drinking, bathing, anointing, wearing leather shoes, and marital relations (Ta’anit 30a).
Bathing is prohibited, even washing one’s hands. Therefore, when washing hands in the morning, one washes only the fingertips (Shulchan Aruch 554:2). The same applies after using the restroom (Rema 551:11). If one’s hands become dirty, one may clean them with water and, if necessary, soap (554:9).
Medicinal ointments, petroleum jelly, and unscented deodorants are permitted (Shulchan Aruch 554:15), as they are not for pleasure. Scented deodorants should be avoided.
Leather shoes or shoes with leather coverings are prohibited (Ta’anit 30a). If there is only a leather decoration that does not support the foot, one may be lenient (Kaf HaChaim, 214:10). Non-leather shoes are permitted, even if comfortable, but if there are less comfortable shoes or slippers, it is preferable.
One who performs work on Tisha B’Av will never see a blessing from it (Ta’anit 30b). However, this is not a prohibition but depends on local custom. The accepted practice is not to work until midday. After midday, important work is permitted, and if there is a significant loss, work is permitted all day (554:23). The reason for the prohibition of work is that it distracts from mourning. Therefore, work that is not distracting, such as turning on lights, driving a car, etc., is permitted. Additionally, after midday, preparations for the end of the fast begin. If food needs to be prepared for children or the ill, it is permitted throughout the fast.
Greeting others is forbidden (554:20), as is saying “good morning.” Torah study is prohibited as it brings joy, but one may study subjects related to the destruction or other sad matters, such as the Book of Iyov (Job).
One should not sit on a chair but rather on the floor or a low stool (less than 24 cm high, or up to 30 cm if necessary).
Even if not in danger, one who has fallen ill or whose entire body has weakened is exempt from the fast (554:6) and need not eat in small portions. Up to 30 days after childbirth, a woman is exempt (554:6), but after that, she is obligated to fast. However, in practice, this depends on her strength, nursing, the baby’s age, etc., and she should consult a rabbi. A pregnant woman is obligated to fast, but in practice, there are often leniencies due to concerns for the fetus, and she should consult a rabbi.
Technically, children are exempt from fasting. It is customary to train them to fast for part of the day from the age when they understand the mourning for the destruction. However, since this is only for educational purposes, children should not be overburdened with fasting. Some have them abstain from eating and drinking at night, while others have them fast until 10 AM or a little later. In any case, it is advisable to give children only simple foods so they feel the mourning for the destruction.
After the fast
The fast ends when three medium-sized stars appear, about 26–27 minutes after sunset (according to the Israeli calendar). It is customary to wash hands three times, recite Kiddush Levanah, but it is good to eat something before Kiddush Levanah.
All the prohibitions of the Nine Days continue until midday on the 10th of Av, as the Temple continued burning, and most of the Beit HaMikdash burned on the 10th.
Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is the Nasi of World Mizrachi. He is the Founder and Chairman of Sulamot and La’Ofek, and serves as the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion, and Rosh Yeshivah of the Jerusalem College of Technology.