Dear Friends,
Please see below for some important Tisha B'av information. Wishing everyone a meaningful Tisha B'av observance this year.
Davening and Program Schedule
If you plan on attending any tisha b'av minyan or Eicha reading in person, please sign up by clicking here Wednesday 7/29 - 8th of Av- 8:10 PM: Mincha (in back corner of parking lot). Will also be streamed at www.bethsholom.org/zoom, password 613613.
- 8:22 PM: Fast Begins
- 8:25 PM: Maariv (in back corner of parking lot) Will also be streamed at www.bethsholom.org/zoom, password 613613.
- 8:35 PM: Eicha To download a copy of Eicha, click here.
Two Readings:
- Only male readers - Back corner of Parking Lot
- Female and male readers - middle section of Parking Lot
Readings will also be streamed on Zoom:
- Zoom link for Male Readers Eicha: www.bethsholom.org/zoom (password: 613613)
- Zoom link for Male/Female Readers eicha: www.bethsholom.org/zoom2
Annette Lakein and children are sponsoring the reading of Eicha in honor of the the men and women who layn all year and those men and women who are layning Eicha tonight, with special gratitude to David Weisel. Following Eicha (weather depending), we will have a brief candle lit kumzits (singing some Tisha B'av related songs). To see song sheet, click here (copies will be provided). Will also be streamed at www.bethsholom.org/zoom, password 613613.
Please note: If you would like to take an Eicha/Kinnot book home with you on Wednesday night, you may feel free to do so. Please drop off the books in a box that will be in front of the shul on Thursday or Friday. Thursday 7/30- 9th of Av- 7:45 AM: Shacharit (in back corner of parking lot). Will also be streamed at www.bethsholom.org/zoom, password 613613
- 9:30-11:00 AM: Kinot with Beltway Vaad on zoom
- Kinnot will be shared on screen. To download a copy of Kinnot, click here.
- 1:15 PM: Chatzot (Halachic mid-day)
- 2:00-3:30 PM: Memorial Service for covid victims & Tisha B'Av Learning with beltway vaad (www.bethsholom.org/zoom). To submit names of those who have lost their lives due to COVID to be included in the memorial, please click here.
- 4:15-6:00 PM: Three short Israeli films by Maaleh Film School with tisha bav themes (www.bethsholom.org/zoom). See flyer below for more info on films.
- 8:00 PM: Mincha/Maariv (in back corner of parking lot). Will also be streamed at www.bethsholom.org/zoom, password 613613.
- 9:06 PM: Fast Ends
Friday 7/31- 10th of Av6:45 AM: Shacharit
1:15 PM: Chatzot
Laws of Erev Tisha B'av and Tisha B'av (based on OU guide):EREV TISHA B’AV (Wednesday July 29)The custom is to eat a large meal before Tisha B’av that will sustain one through the fast. When one is done eating the large meal, one begins the formal Se’uda HaMafseket.
At this meal, one may not eat more than one cooked item (S.A., O.Ĥ. 552:1). The custom is to sit on the floor and eat bread and a hard-boiled egg with ashes (Rama, O.Ĥ. 552:5–7).
The fast begins at sundown (8:22 PM) and all restrictions begin at that time
RESTRICTIONS OF TISHA B’AV (July 29 – July 30)On Tisha B’Av one is not permitted to (1) eat or drink, (2) wash one’s body, (3) anoint oneself, (4) wear leather shoes, or (5) engage in marital relations (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:1).
1. Eating and DrinkingSomeone who is ill and needs to eat, and a woman up to thirty days after childbirth, may eat on Tisha B’Av (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:6).
If one eats bread on Tisha B’Av, when one recites Birkat HaMazon one should begin the third blessing with the word “Naĥem” instead of the usual “Raĥem” (Rama, O.Ĥ. 557:1; N.H. p. 198).
2. WashingOne is not allowed to wash one’s hands or even dip one’s finger in water (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:7). However, one may rinse dirt off with water (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:9). (This year, due to COVID, one should wash continue washing their hands for cleanliness purposes. Would should not wash hands for purposes of pleasure).
When one awakens in the morning, one should wash one’s hands only up to the knuckles (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:10). The same should be done after one uses the facilities, although if necessary one may wash any dirty area of one’s hands even beyond the knuckles (A.H., O.Ĥ. 554:10). If one is allowed to eat and needs to wash his hands for bread, he washes all the way to the wrist
3. AnointingOne is allowed to anoint oneself for any purpose that is not pleasurable (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:15). This includes medical ointments and deodorant (B.H. 554:15).
4. Leather ShoesOne may wear any shoe that is not made of leather (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:16).
If one has no other options, one may wear leather shoes but must take them off as soon as possible (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:17).
Other RestrictionsOne may not study Torah on Tisha B’Av except for melancholy passages in Torah texts, the laws of mourning and Tisha B’Av, and works of Musar
One may not greet another person with a verbal greeting such as “Hello” or “Good morning.” If someone greets you, you may respond in a serious tone
One may not sit on a regular chair until 1:15 PM. Until then, one should sit on the floor or a low chair. If one has back problems or other medical/physical conditions making it difficult to sit on a low chair, one may sit on a regular chair.
One should not work before midday unless refraining from work will result in a significant and irretrievable loss (S.A., O.Ĥ. 554:22–24).
SHACHARITOne should not wear tallit and tefillin in the morning. A tallit katan (tzitzit) is put on without a blessing when getting dressed in the morning.
MINCHABefore Mincha, put on tallit and tefillin with blessings and wear them until after Mincha
10'th of Av restrictions On a regular year, the 9 day restrictions against consuming meat/wine, laundering clothes, haircuts, and bathing extends till the 10'th of Av at midday. But this year, since the 10'th of Av is Erev Shabbat, one is allowed to bathe, launder clothes and get haircuts in honor of shabbat. The prohibitions against consuming meat/wine still apply to midday (1:15 PM)
