The Tenth of Av - Restrictions (Cont'd)

QUESTION: We wrote in a previous Halacha Yomis that when Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday, some poskim permit washing laundry immediately after Tisha B’Av, even if the clothing isn’t needed for Shabbos. Since this does not add to the honor of Shabbos, why would this be permitted?

ANSWER: Rav Nissim Karelitz, zt”l (Chut Shani – Shabbos, p. 328) writes that when Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday, one may wash clothing immediately after the fast, even if the clothing is not needed for Shabbos. He explains that Ezra HaSofer instituted that one should set aside Thursday as a day for doing laundry, so that on Friday one will be available to perform all the other preparations for Shabbos. When Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday, clothes cannot be washed during the day. Therefore, one should do laundry Thursday night, so that Friday will be available for other preparations. Once laundry is permitted on Thursday night, we do not differentiate between what is needed for Shabbos and what is not needed.

Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l (Kovetz Kol Hatorah 5763) writes that it is better to wash clothing Friday morning or Thursday night, rather than to delay washing until Friday afternoon and not have adequate time to prepare for Shabbos. Nonetheless, if one can wait until after Shabbos to wash clothing that will not be worn on Shabbos, that would be preferable, but if the alternative is to launder Friday afternoon, then it is better to do a wash Friday morning or Thursday night.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.