Halachot of Tisha B'Av
On Tisha B'Av we are prohibited to: eat and drink, learn Torah, wash ourselves (even in cold water) or apply lotions for pleasurable purposes, have marital relations and wear shoes with leather.
• MAARIV - We remove the curtain from the Aron HaKodesh, dim the lighting, and sit on the floor or on a low stool. We do not sit on regular chairs or benches until after midday. We recite Maariv in a low and subdued voice; followed by Eichah and Kinnot.
• SHACHARIT - We wash our hands up to the end of the knuckles (as one is drying his fingers, while there is still some moisture on them, one may rub them across the eyes); make the Bracha "al netilat yadayim" as well as all of the other appropriate morning Brachot. Tallit and tefillin are not worn until midday, however, a tallit katan, is worn - but without a bracha. Following Torah reading (Deut. 4:25-40), the Haftarah is read (Jeremiah 8:13-9:23) in the melody of Eichah. After the Torah is returned to the Aron, Kinot are recited. (At the end of shacharit, we do not say the shir shel yom.
• MINCHA - The parochet is returned to the aron. tallit and tefillin are worn. The Psalm of the Day is recited, followed by Mincha and Torah reading/Haftarah.
• MAARIV - We recite the usual weekday Maariv. After Maariv we sanctify the New Moon of Av. (Some maintain that we should eat before Sanctification of the Moon).
ADDITIONAL LAWS of TISHA B’AV DAY
1. While Torah learning is generally prohibited on Tisha B’Av, one may learn:
• Eicha with its midrash and commentaries;
• Portions of Nevi’im that deal with tragedy or destruction;
• The third chapter of Moed Katan (which deals with mourning);
• The story of the destruction (in Gittin 56b-58a, Sanhedrin 104, and in Josephus), and
• The halachot of Tisha B'Av and mourning.
2. Greeting someone with "shalom aleichem" and the like is prohibited. One who is greeted should answer softly and, if possible, inform the person of the prohibition.
3. The custom is to refrain until midday from any time-consuming work that diverts one’s attention from the mourning of the day.
4. The use of lotions for medicinal purposes is permitted as is the use of deodorants.
5. If a person becomes dirty, washing is permitted to remove the dirt.
6. The non-seriously ill or elderly, as well as pregnant and nursing women should generally fast even if it is difficult. However, if a doctor determines that fasting may injure health, a rabbi should be consulted. Furthermore, swallowing capsules or bitter tablets without water is permitted.
MOTZAEI TISHA B'AV: Many of the limitations of the "Three Weeks" and the "Nine Days" continue until midday of the 10th of Av including music, laundry, haircuts, drinking wine and eating of meat.
WHEN TISHA B'AV IS ON THURSDAY
In most years, at the conclusion of Tisha B'Av, Ashkenazim maintain some of the day's restrictions until midday on the 10th of Av. (Sefardim continue these restrictions for the entire day.) [Orech Chaim 558:1]. This extension of restrictions is because the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash began late in the day on the 9th of Av and continued into the 10th.
Therefore, even after the fast ends, we still refrain from eating meat and drinking wine, washing clothes, wearing freshly laundered clothing, taking haircuts and shaving, listening to joyous music, bathing in hot water, and reciting "shehecheyanu."
However, this year, because the 10th of Av is also erev Shabbat, many permit haircuts, shaving, laundry, and bathing - if done in preparation for Shabbat, starting from the morning. And if waiting until the morning might limit one's Shabbat preparations, these things are permitted Thursday night, immediately after Tisha B'Av [Mishna Berura 558:3, Aruch Hashulchan Orech Chaim 558:2].
Interestingly, Rav Nissim Karelitz [Chut Shani – Shabbat, p. 328] was very lenient regarding laundry and permitted it immediately after the fast, even if the clothing was not needed for Shabbat. He explained that Ezra HaSofer had established the practice for laundry to be done on Thursdays so that Friday would be completely available to prepare for Shabbat [Bava Kamma 82a]. Therefore, when Tisha B'Av is on Thursday, and clothes cannot be washed during the day, it is permitted to begin right after the fast.
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