How to celebrate Tishah B’Av (hopefully we will begin this as an ongoing “How To” blog on Jeiwish festivals)

Tisha B’Av Morning

When ritually washing the hands in the morning, pour water on your fingers only until the knuckle joints. While your fingers are still moist, you may wipe your eyes with them. It is not permitted to rinse out one’s mouth—or brush one’s teeth—until after the fast.

Considering that we don’t wear leather footwear on this day, the blessing “Who provided me with all my needs,” which primarily thanks G‑d for providing us with shoes, is omitted from the morning blessings.

Tallit and tefillin are not worn during the morning services. Tefillin are referred to as our “glory,” and on the Ninth of Av our glory is absent. Tzitzit are worn the entire day.

Those who follow Sephardic tradition insert the “Aneinu” passage in the Amidah. The priestly blessing is omitted from the cantor’s repetition.

The Torah reading in the morning is Deuteronomy 4:25–40, which speaks of the destruction of the Land of Israel. A chapter from Jeremiah (8:13–9:23), which also speaks of the destruction, is read as the haftorah.

Tefillin are referred to as our “glory,” and on the Ninth of Av our glory is absentAfter the morning prayers, it is customary to read the kinot elegies. The service then concludes with “Uva L’Tziyon” (omitting its second verse, “And this is My covenant”4) and “Aleinu.” The Song of the Day and “Ein K’Elokeinu” are omitted.

Work is permitted on Tisha B’Av, but discouraged. On this day, one’s focus should be on mourning and repentance. If one must work, it should preferably begin after midday.

It is customary to give extra charity on every fast day.

Tisha B’Av Afternoon

It is customary to wait until midday before starting the food preparations for the post-fast meal. The intensity of the mourning lessens in the afternoon, as is evident from the relaxing of certain restrictions.

After midday, it is once again permitted to sit on chairs and benches of regular height.

Many communities have the custom to clean the house and wash the floors after midday, in anticipation of the Redemption which we await.

In the synagogue, the Ark’s curtain is restored to its place before the afternoon prayers.

Men don their tallit and tefillin for the afternoon prayers. Before starting the afternoon prayers, it is customary to say those prayers omitted from the conclusion of the morning services.

Many have the custom to clean the house and wash the floors in anticipation of the Redemption The Torah is read before the Amidah. The reading is Exodus 32:11–14 and 34:1–10, which discusses how, in the aftermath of the Golden Calf incident, Moses successfully interceded on the Israelites’ behalf and attained forgiveness for their sin. After the afternoon Torah reading, the special fast-day haftorah, Isaiah 55:6–56:8, is read.

The sections of “Nachem” and “Aneinu” are added to the Amidah. (Note: “Aneinu” is recited only by those who are actually fasting.)

Post–Tisha B’Av

Before breaking the fast, one should perform netilat yadayim, this time covering the entire hand with water, but without reciting the blessing.

The Temple was set ablaze on the afternoon of the 9th of Av, and burned through the 10th. Therefore, the restrictions of the Nine Days (such as not eating meat, swimming, or laundering clothing) extend until midday of the 10th of Av.

However, if Tisha B’Av falls on a Thursday—in which case the 10th falls on Friday—one may wash and cut one’s hair on Friday morning in honor of the Shabbat.

􀁸 Those who travel to various locations to speak with Jewish people about Yiddishkeit in general and the 9th of Av in

particular, should take a Tzedakah box along with them to remind and encourage people to give Tzedakah.27 This will save

them the need to elaborate on the importance of giving Tzedakah.28

􀁸 They should also have a (timely) Torah message in their heads that they could relate in a manner that is

compatible with their audience. The idea is not to impress people by teaching them something they never knew and certainly not to attempt to correct their conduct,29 rather it should be done in a pleasant and peaceful manner.30

CONTINUOUS OBLIGATION TO STUDY

􀁸 Even on the 9th of Av… we are obligated to study Torah every single second! It is only that our study is

restricted to those sections within Torah that pertain to the 9th of Av.31

This is coming to debunk the ridiculous theory that there is no obligation to study Torah on the 9th of Av

and we are merely permitted to study certain topics’.32

SIYUMIM

􀁸 It is worthwhile and fitting to hold a Siyum sometime within the actual hours of the 9th of Av.33

􀁸 It should be done over Tractate Mo’ed Katan, which is permissible to study on the 9th of Av. This custom is based on the

conduct of the Previous Rebbe, who would hold a Siyum despite the lack of a subsequent meal of meat and wine.34

􀁸 The above is in addition to the Siyum that should be held on

the night of the Fast’s conclusion, which is done when consumption is again permitted and thus allows for a proper meal on the completion of the Torah’.35

SIYUMIM UNTIL THE 15TH

􀁸 In 5751, when the Fast was postponed due to Shabbos, the Rebbe instructed that Siyumim be held a) that Shabbos together

with a meal, b) on Motzei Shabbos [the eve of the Fast], c) Sunday [the Fast itself], in a permissible manner, and d) certainly following [the Fast’s conclusion on] Sunday night.36

􀁸 The Rebbe also said: During this period they should increase in Torah-study and Mitzva performance, and specifically the

Mitzva of Tzedakah; beginning in a permissible manner with this day of Shabbos, and certainly so on Motzei Shabbos, Sunday, Sunday night, [i.e. the night and day of the Fast, and the

subsequent night] and also on the following days!37

􀁸 Since the effects of the 9th of Av last until the 15th of Av, it is suggested that, should Moshiach be, G-d forbid, delayed, the

Siyumim should continue during the remaining days until and including the 15th of Av.38

PUBLICITY

􀁸 The above should be publicized everywhere possible, both in

those locations where Siyumim have already been held during the

past days, so they will continue to hold them amidst increased

energy and enthusiasm, and certainly in those locations where the

publicity regarding Siyumim failed to reach; let the information now reach those locations, so they may also hold Siyumim and generally increase in ‘Mishpat’ (Torah-study) and ‘Tzedakah’.39

BEGIN ADDING IN TORAH

􀁸 It is brought down in Halacha40 that “A person should begin to study Torah at night from the 15th of Av onwards and

according to the Bach this obligation is from the 9th of Av. 41