Introduction
The Nine Days from Rosh Chodesh Av to Tisha B’Av have additional restrictions beyond the Three Weeks, as the mourning in this period is more intense. One should note that there are some leniencies which apply during the Nine Days in the week preceding Tisha B’Av, but not during the week of Tisha B’av; we will refer to these leniencies as being applicable ‘in the week before Tisha B’Av’ or ‘until the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av’. Rulings here are based on the Mishna Berura, reflecting Ashkenazi practice.
Below we outline some of the shorter halachos relating to the Nine Days, please see the dedicated pages for halachos relating to:
- Clothing in the Nine Days – restrictions on doing laundry, wearing freshly laundered clothes and buying clothing.
- Washing and bathing oneself, and cutting nails in the Nine Days
- Refraining from eating meat and wine in the Nine Days
Limiting Joy; Work in One’s Home or Garden
- Limiting Joy: Once Av arrives, we limit our joy (indeed, Tosfos says one should entirely refrain from being joyous).
- Building or Decorating Work: Consequently, one should refrain from doing non-essential building or decorating work during the Nine Days, such as work which is being done for aesthetic purposes , or to expand already comfortable living accommodation.
- Building work done to prevent a loss, for example to fix a leak, is permitted.
- Non-Jewish Contractor: If one hired a non-Jewish builder or decorator before the Nine Days to do a job for a fixed fee (as opposed to at an hourly or day rate), strictly speaking, they may continue doing their work during the Nine Days 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).
- Gardening: Furthermore, one should refrain from non-essential planting in one’s garden in the Nine Days, such as that done for aesthetic or joyous purposes. When planning to do work in one’s home or garden, it is advisable to consult one’s Rav to determine what may be done during this period (SA 551:1-2).
Court Cases with Non-Jews in the Nine Days
- Court Cases: One who has a court case with a non-Jew should endeavour to delay it until Elul, or at least after Tisha B’av, given the unfortunate nature of this period (SA 551:1, MB 2).
Kiddush Levana
- The custom is to refrain from saying Kiddush Levana in the Nine Days, unless one lives in a place where cloud cover is common such that one may not have the opportunity to say it then (R 551:8, ARHS 22)
- Kiddush Levana on motzei Tisha b’Av: One may say Kiddush Levana on motzei Tisha B’Av though one should break one’s fast before doing so and ensure not to say it barefoot. Some say that if one has the opportunity to say Kiddush Levana with the community, rather than alone, one may do so before eating (MB 426:11, SHT 9).
