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Havdala on Tisha B’Av

Q. When Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos/Sunday, when and how should someone who will not be fasting make or hear Havdala?

A. One who will not be fasting, whether a man or a woman, must hear havdala on Motzoei Shabbos before eating or drinking. A child may eat and wait with havdala till Motzoei Tisha B’av.

If there is a male child (who has reached the age of chinuch etc.) present, havdala should be made on wine (or grape juice) and the cup is given to the child to drink, as is customary during the nine days. If a woman made havdala, the wine must be given to a female child. If there is no child present, havdala should be recited over chamar medina, such as beer, coffee or tea.

A woman who is not fasting may ask her husband to recite havdala for her although he is fasting. In that case, he will have also fulfilled his own obligation to recite havdala (and will thus not need to repeat it on Sunday night). The wine should in this case be given to a male child. (It is important to note that a man cannot fulfill his obligation of havdala from a woman, but another woman can.)

The text of havdala is unchanged, except for the omission of the blessing over spices. The blessing over a flame is included only when havdala is recited on Motzoei Shabbos (as opposed to Sunday) and if it had not been recited on its own previously (in Shul etc.). #15867

100 Brachos on Tisha B’Av?

Q. I will not be able to attend a Minyan on Tisha B’Av, is there a way I can reach 100 Brachos anyway?

A. Following is a list of Brachos a married man will make on Tisha B’Av* when not davening with a Minyan:

4 Shema at Maariv

19 Amida of Maariv

1 borei meorei ha’eish (*when Tisha B’Av is on Motzoei Shabbos)

1 hamapil

17 birchos ha’shachar (no sh’asa li kol tsorki)

3 birchos haTorah

2 baruch sh’amar and yishtabach

3 Shema at Shacharis

19 Amida of Shacharis

2 tallis and tefillin

19 Amida of Mincha

The total is 90 brachos.

The other 10 brachos are usually accomplished through hearing and answering amen to the brachos of the Kriah and Haftorah of both Shacharis and Mincha (which are a total of 20 Brachos), and even to the Chazaras HaShatz (which, because of the separate bracha of aneinu recited by the chazan on a fast day, make up a total of 40 brachos).

This especially applies to Tisha B’Av, when we do not smell spices (as opposed to on Yom Kippur) – and thus cannot make the bracha of besamim – since there are opinions that state it is forbidden.

Subsequently, when davening without a Minyan, the only solution seems to be having to say asher yatzar at least 10 times.

Additionally, if saying the birchas ha’mazon (4 brachos) of the Seuda Ha’mafsekes after shkiah, it may perhaps count as part of the 100 brachos of Tisha B’Av, thus lowering the number of asher yatzar needed to 6. #16076*

Washing on Tisha B’Av

Q. May a men’s Mikva be heated to the regular temperature during the nine days/week of Tisha B’Av?

A. The common custom is to keep the mikva at regular temperature or close to that temperature (not to deter anyone from using it), but not to be in the water longer than needed. #15900*

Q. Is it permitted to bathe a one-year-old on Tisha B’Av?

A. Yes, if you bathe him regularly every day. It would be best to wear gloves, though strictly speaking this isn’t necessary. #10415*

Learning about Moshiach on Tisha B’Av

Q. I was wondering if it is permitted to learn past Chatzos on Erev Tisha B’Av, and/or on Tisha B’Av itself if it’s about Moshiach? For example, learning the Sichos from Nun Alef and Nun Beis?

A. See in the sichos you mention – Sefer HaSichos Nun Alef chelek beis page 691 footnote 87 – that the restriction applies also to Hilchos Beis HaBechira (and the same is true regarding learning Moshiach and Geula). #10305

Q. Can I make a siyum on Makkos on Tisha B’Av? The mesechta finishes with the story of the fox on har ha’bayis, which is also brought in Eicha Rabba.

A. No. Although it speaks about Makom HaMikdash and how foxes were walking there, it is a story of nechama and should not be learned on Tisha B’Av. [One may fulfill the Rebbe’s horaaah to increase in permissible joy on these days through siyumim by completing masechtos Moed Katan and Smachos] #36264*■

*References are available for this Halacha on the websites: www.Halacha2Go.com and www.AskTheRav.com

Please note that these halachos apply in general situations. If you are unsure whether the halacha applies to your particular situation, please consult a Rav

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