Showering and Haircuts on Erev Shabbos Asara b'Teves

Q. This year, Asara B’Teives will be on Friday. Is one permitted to take a shower and haircut on Friday in honor of Shabbos?

A. Shulchan Aruch (550:2) writes that on all public fasts, except Tisha B’Av, one is permitted to wash and anoint themselves. However, the Mishnah Berurah (550:6) writes that a Bal Nefesh (one who is extra careful in observance of mitzvos) should refrain from these activities on all four of the public fast days. The Mishnah Berurah in Shar Hatziyun (550:8) goes even further. He writes that the general custom today is to be strict and refrain from bathing with hot water. This is also the opinion of the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 550:3). Still, all the poskim write that when Asara B’Teives falls on a Friday, as it does this year, one is permitted to bathe normally (and take a haircut) in honor of Shabbos.

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (122:1) writes that one may not listen to music on Asara B’Teives. This would apply this year as well, since listening to music on erev Shabbos is not an honor for Shabbos.

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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.