These halachos are based on the rulings of Mishna Berura (MB), reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
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The Setup of Shul
- On Tisha B’Av night, the lights are dimmed (To reflect the phrase in Eicha (3:6) בְּמַחֲשַׁכִּים הוֹשִׁיבַנִי – ‘He made me dwell in darkness’) and the Paroches is removed (alluding to the phrase in Eicha (2:17) ‘בִּצַּע אֶמְרָתוֹ’ as ‘He tore off its cloak’) (R 559:2, SA 3, MB 14, 15)
- Candles: Places which light a candle for each tefilla do not light at Maariv or Shacharis, but do at Mincha (MB 559:15).
One Who Is Sitting Shiva
- One who is sitting shiva comes to shul at night and in the morning until the end of Kinnos.
- The poskim debate if someone in the first three days of mourning comes even at night (when kinnos are relatively short) or just in the morning (when kinnos are longer) – consult a Rav for guidance when needed (SA 559:6, MB 24).
Order of Nighttime Tefilla
- On Tisha B’Av night, after the Maariv amidah and Kaddish Tiskabel, Eicha is read followed by Kinos. These should be said in a slow, mournful manner. After Kinnos, we say ‘ve’atah kadosh’ and Aleinu.
- One who is davening alone should still say Eicha, Kinnos, ve’atah kadoesh etc (SA 559:1-2, MB 5).
- Motzei Shabbos: On Motzei Shabbos, Viyhi Noam, Yoshev Beseser and the section of Veyiten Lecha are not said (SA 559:2)
The Reading of Eicha
- The one reading Eicha (‘ba’al korei’) should pause slightly between each passuk, and have a longer pause before each ‘Eicha’ (at the start of Perek 2 and 4).
- At each Eicha he should raise his voice further, and the verse preceding each Eicha (at the end of Perek 1 and 3) should be said louder.
- The congregation say the penultimate passuk ‘hashivenu…’ prior to the ba’al korei; after he has read the final passuk, the congregation again repeat the passuk of ‘hashivenu’ followed by the ba’al korei (R 559:1, MB 2).
Decorum
- One may not talk during the recitation of Kinnos, nor should one go outside, to ensure one stays focused on the mourning (SA 559:5).
