The Tenth of Av - Restrictions

QUESTION: Ordinarily, the restrictions of the nine days extend until midday on the tenth of Av. However, this year Tisha B’Av is on Thursday and the tenth of Av will be erev Shabbos. To honor Shabbos, some of the restrictions end earlier. Can you please explain?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (OC 558:1) writes that we commemorate the ninth of Av with mourning and fasting, because the Beis Hamikdash was set on fire at the end of the day on the ninth of Av. However, the fire burned until the end of the tenth day of Av. Since most of the destruction took place on the tenth of Av, the Shulchan Aruch writes that it is customary to refrain from drinking wine and eating meat on this day as well. The Rama adds that this custom applies only until midday of the tenth.

The Maharshal maintains that in addition to not drinking wine or eating meat on the tenth of Av until midday, one may not bathe or take a haircut. The Maamar Mordechai and others do not agree, and they limit the restrictions on the 10th of Av to wine and meat. The Askenazim are generally stringent and follow the Maharshal (MB 558:3), while many Sephardim are lenient in accordance with the opinion of the Maamar Mordechai (Yechave Daas 5:41).

Rav Yaakov Emden implies that when Tisha B'Av falls on Thursday, as is the case this year, one may bathe or take a haircut in honor of Shabbos immediately after the fast at night. This was also the opinion of Dayan Y.Y. Fischer (Even Yisroel 7:27). However, Rav Nissim Karelitz and Rav Shmuel Wosner only permitted bathing and taking a haircut beginning Friday morning.

Rav Yaakov Emden also implies that one may begin doing laundry immediately after the fast. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Shmiras Shabbos K’hilchasa 42, n. 15-16) writes that since this is permitted in honor of Shabbos, one may only wash clothing that is needed for Shabbos. However, Rav Nissim Karelitz (Chut Shani – Shabbos, p. 328) permitted washing all clothing immediately after the fast.

The Aruch Hashulchan (558:2) notes that when Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday there is definitely no justification to eat meat (or drink wine) before midday on Friday. Eating meat and drinking wine on Friday do not bring honor to Shabbos. Therefore, this restriction applies on Friday as well. (However, if one is invited to a seudas mitzvah, such as a siyum, one may eat meat or drink wine, even Thursday night.)

(To be continued...) 

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