These halachos are based on the rulings of Mishna Berura (MB), reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
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Greetings and Gifts
- One should not greet others on Tisha B’av, whether using the word ‘Shalom’ or by saying ‘Good morning’etc, as a sign of mourning and the lack of ‘peace’ we have due to the events of the day. In a similar vein, one does not give gifts on Tisha B’av. (SA 554:20, MB 42).
- Most poskim permit wishing someone ‘mazal tov’ (Dirshu 554:63).
- When someone who is unaware of the halacha greets you on Tisha B’av, to avoid causing offence one may return the greeting in a soft and solemn manner, in the way of one preoccupied in their grief. Given some poskim permit saying ‘good morning’ and more permit saying ‘hello’, it is preferable to respond with these phrases rather than ‘Shalom’.
- However, if one assesses that the person who extended the greeting will not take offence, one should explain that we do not greet on Tisha B’av (SA 554:20, MB42, PH Zmanim 10:11).
Melacha – Work – on Tisha B’Av
- The custom is to not do melacha (work) on Tisha B’av in the nighttime and the daytime before Chatzos (halachic midday) so as not to distract oneself from the mourning of the day.
- However, melacha which does not take long (such as turning on a light, tying a knot etc) is permissible as this won’t distract one. (SA, R 554:22, MB43, BHL Bemakom Shenahagu).
Talmidei Chachamim
- Talmidei Chachamim should not engage in work the entire day of Tisha B’av and it is praiseworthy for others to act as a Talmid Chacham in this regard (SA 544:22).
Work via a Non-Jew
- It is permitted to ask a non-Jew to do melacha for oneself in private on Tisha B’av, as their doing so doesn’t distract the instructor from the mourning.
- However, one may not ask them to engage in melacha which will be done in public (SA 554:22, MB46, SHT 50).
- (As seen above by the Nine Days) – If one hired a non-Jewish builder or decorator to do a job for a fixed fee (as opposed to at an hourly or day rate) before the Nine Days, strictly speaking, they may continue doing their work even on Tisha B’Av, as they are considered to be doing so of their own accord. Nonetheless, if one can persuade them to delay the work until after the Nine Days for a small fee this would be praiseworthy (MB 551:12).
To Prevent a Loss
- One may do melacha on Tisha B’Av to prevent a loss, even prior to Chatzos, like one may do melacha on Chol Hamoed, or during the Shivah for a relative, to prevent a loss (SA 554:23).
Work after Chatzos
- Whilst our custom is to permit doing melacha which takes a considerable amount of time after Chatzos, Chazal said that one who does so ‘will not see blessing from that work’. Hence one should try and minimise the melacha that one does, so that one can remain focused on the sombre nature of the day (SA 554:24, MB 49).
Minimising Enjoyment, How One Sleeps on Tisha B’Av
- Given the tragic nature of the day, a person should try as much as possible to minimise their enjoyment and honour on Tisha B’av.
- One expression of this is to sleep in a less comfortable manner than usual – for example, one who normally sleeps with two pillows should sleep with one and some even sleep on the floor. Some also have the custom to put a stone under their pillow, in line with the Midrash that Yaakov Avinu put stones around his head when he had the dream of the ladder due to foreseeing the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash.
- However, those who are weak and pregnant women etc who are unable to tolerate such discomfort may sleep normally (SA 555:2, MB7).
Smoking on Tisha B’Av
- One who regularly smokes should avoid smoking on Tisha B’av.
- One who finds this entirely unmanageable due to their level of addiction should refrain from smoking in the morning and only do so in private after chatzos, halachic midday (MB 555:8).
- (Note that contemporary poskim rule that smoking is entirely forbidden given its harmful affects on one’s health, such that one who has this addiction should seek professional help to overcome it).
Smelling Spices on Tisha B’Av
- Most say that one should avoid smelling spices on Tisha B’av, as part of minimising the pleasure we get on Tisha B’Av (SHT 556:1, MB 559:27).
Pleasure Trips on Tisha B’Av
- One should not go on pleasure trips, or engage in social activities on Tisha B’av, so as not to distract oneself from the mourning or lead to one joking around, which is against the sombre nature of the day. (SA 554:21, PH Zmanim 10:12).
Sitting On The Floor on Tisha B’Av
- From the start of Tisha B’av until Chatzos, halachic midday, we sit on the floor, as a sign of mourning. One may, however, sit on a small cushion.
- One who will find sitting on the floor difficult may sit on a low chair and those who are elderly, weak, pregnant etc and will find even this difficult may sit on a chair as normal (SA 559:3, MB 10, Dirshu 13-14, PT4).
- One may travel by car during this time, even though the seats are not low. Some poskim recommend that if travelling by bus, one should stand if one can, whilst others permit one to sit as this is not an act of comfort and enjoyment (Dirshu 559:14).
Preparing Food For After The Fast
- The custom is not to prepare food for after the fast until after Chatzos (halachic midday) on Tisha B’Av, so that one can focus on the mourning and kinnos in the morning (SA 559:10, BH”L Ad Le’achar Chatzos).
