Rabbi's Blog

Due to the infrequency of Tishah B'Av occurring on Shabbos, there is confusion regarding the proper observance of both Shabbos and Tishah B'Av. Below are answers to common sheilos:

Despite this Shabbos being Tishah B’Av, all public displays of mourning are prohibited. Therefore, meals, zemiros and the like should be observed as usual.

Shalosh seudos should be eaten in the normal fashion and one should not refrain from eating with his usual company. However, one should not get together with friends that he would normally not eat shalosh seudos with.

One must finish eating shalosh seudos before sunset and birkas hamazon should preferably be completed by sunset as well. There is no seudah hamafsekes.

Private observance of mourning, however, is observed on Shabbos Tishah B’Av (by Ashkenazim). Therefore, sexual relations are prohibited, unless one’s wife goes to the mikveh Friday night.

Shoes should not be removed until Shabbos is over and one has said ”ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול“. In Shul, however, the shaliach tzibur will remove his shoes prior to saying barchu, and the tzibur will remove them after barchu.

One should remember to bring his shoes to Shul before Shabbos begins.

Havdalah is added to davening in the normal fashion, but havdalah is not said on a kos until Sunday night after the fast has ended. The brachah on besamim is not made at all. The brachah on fire will be recited in Shul before Eichah. A woman may make this brachah on her own at home.

Women should make sure not to do any melachah until they have said ”ברוך המבדיל בין קודש לחול“.

One who needs to eat on Tishah b’Av must first recite havdalah on grape juice to be given to a child to drink, or on chamar medinah. The child that drinks the grape juice must be old enough to know how to make brachos, but too young to understand that we are mourning the loss of the Bais Hamikdash (around 6 or 7 years old, but it depends on the child). The child should preferably drink the majority of the cup, but must drink at least a cheek-full. Chamar medinah is preferably beer; or alternatively orange juice (not from concentrate), coffee with milk and sugar, or tea with sugar.

Children under the age of bar/bas mitzvah do not need to make havdalah before they eat.

Havdalah motzei Tishah B'Av consists only of the brachah on the wine and המבדיל בין קודש לחול בין אור לחושך וכו‘, just like after Yom Tov. One may drink the wine.

Even though motzei Tishah B’Av this year is the 11th of Av, since we have been mourning the loss of the Beis HaMikdash all day, it is considered inappropriate to partake of meat and wine that night. Some include listening to music as inappropriate at well. All agree that all other restrictions of the nine days no longer apply.

If moshiach has not arrived by then, may everyone have an easy but meaningful fast, and let it be the last for Klal Yisroel.

Good Shabbos,

Etan Moshe Berman