Tisha B'Av Laws 2025
THE LAWS OF TISHA B’AV
Saturday night & Sunday, August 2-3
Tisha B’Av is most associated with fasting: we do not eat or drink. (If you have a question about fasting, please reach out to Rabbi Weinstock or Rabbi Willig.)
In addition to fasting, we are prohibited from washing our bodies, wearing leather shoes, anointing ourselves, and having marital relations. One is permitted to wash and sanitize hands for health or cleanliness purposes. When ritually washing the hands in the morning, the water should be poured on the fingers only until the knuckle joints.
It is forbidden to study Torah on this day excepting the sections of the prophets and the Talmud that discuss the destruction. We do not wear tefillin until Mincha, and the practice is to sit on low chairs as mourners do until midday on Tuesday (1:00 pm). Our observance of mourning also forbids us from greeting friends on Tisha B’Av.
We mourn the Temples that were destroyed over nineteen hundred years ago, and we pray that we will be worthy to see God rebuild the Temple in our lifetime.
Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Tisha B’Av!
Special Instructions for when Tisha B'Av falls on a Saturday Night:
If observed correctly, the nine days leading up to Tisha B’Av can greatly enhance one’s experience on Tisha B’Av itself. Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, z”l, pointed out that it is not human nature to mourn appropriately for tragedies that occurred 2,000 years ago and, therefore, a system was devised to help us gradually enter a state of mourning. We begin a moderate period of mourning three weeks before Tisha B’Av. The mourning intensifies on Rosh Chodesh Av, nine days prior to Tisha B’Av. In this manner when we arrive at Tisha B’av, we are ready to commemorate the destruction of the Temples with the proper mindset.
This year is unique in the sense that Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday, beginning as Shabbat concludes. Therefore, some Shabbat customs are different and should be noted:
1. There will be two Mincha services on Shabbat, August 2: 2:30 pm and 6:30 pm. The prayer Tzidkatcha Tzedek is not said during Mincha.
2. There is no traditional Seudah Mafseket. The pre-fast meal, which in this case will be Seudah Shlishit, can consist of anything, including meat and wine. Please finish eating and drinking by 8:09 pm, when the fast begins.
3. Birkat Hamazon may be recited as a mezuman if the opportunity arises.
4. After 8:52 pm, please recite the words “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol” in order to officially end Shabbat. Regular Havdalah is not said. The blessing over fire is said on Saturday night. The blessing on the wine and Ha-mavdil are said on Sunday. No blessing at all is made on the spices.
5. Maariv and the reading of Megillat Eicha will take place at 9:10 pm. Worshippers should wear their non-leather footwear to services.
The Jerusalem Talmud affirms that “One who mourns for Jerusalem will yet see its glorious reconstruction.” May our observance of Tisha B’Av this year help to bring about that blessed outcome.