It is the time of year we hardly look forward to. Sombre and pensive, we sit as mourners, and reflect on the loss – millennia ago – of the true richness of religious Jewish life that was in Temple times.
This year, the 9th of Av falls on Shabbos and we will fast on Sunday instead. Is it really the same thing as had it fallen on a regular Shabbos?
IN the coming lines we’ll answer some FAQs about the paradoxical situation we find ourselves in – whilst both simultaneously celebrating the favourite of days, and mourning the age-old loss.
How do we balance mourning with Shabbos – aren’t they contradictory?
The occurrence of mourning on a Shabbos is nothing rare at all. In fact, anyone who mourns a relative almost always finds themselves in exactly the same situation. It is only Yom Tov which commutes the mourning; Shabbos, however, allows the count to go on. Yet, although he is mourning, he is not allowed to show any outward signs of public mourning. He leaves his house, and comes to daven in shul. Yet, once in shul, he is to move from his normal seat. This point was the matter of much halachic debate – would it be considered to be a sign of mourning to move seats on Shabbos. The consensus is that for lay members of the community, one does move seats. For a communal leader, it may be considered an outward show of mourning to move from their regular seat, and as such, he should stay in his regular seat.
Take another example. A mourner may not learn Torah. Nor, in fact may he have an Aliyah in shul. So what happens on Shabbos? We are told not to give a mourner an Aliyah – refraining from calling him is not a sign of Aveilus – mourning. If, however, he was called by mistake – he goes for his Aliyah – this because refraining from doing so would be a public demonstration of mourning. Similarly, Rabbeinu Tam the great Torah sage of 800 years, who would habitually be called to the Torah every Shabbos out of deference to his revered status, ruled that he must be given an Aliyah even when in his week of Shiva. This, because refraining from his Aliyah would be noticed by the shul members as being a sign that he was observing mourning on Shabbos.
Can I invite guests this Shabbos?
One may invite guests this Shabbos, and sing Shabbos songs as one would do on a normal Shabbos. Refraining from doing so would be a public sign of mourning.
The rule is that any outward signs of mourning don’t apply this Shabbos. Tisha B’av shoes, sitting low, fasting – all wait for after Shabbos. There is debate about learning Torah this Shabbos afternoon; however the custom is that even this is permitted. Some prefer to learn topics appropriate to the theme of the day rather than studying Torah topics of a general nature.
When does Tisha B’av begin?
The fast itself commences at sunset – this means that eating and drinking should cease at that point. Removing shoes, however, is not permitted as that would still be considered to be an overt display of mourning. Only when nightfall arrives are shoes removed – and we sit low. Practically speaking that will mean that for most people planning to attend Maariv and the Kinnos service after Shabbos, shoes should be brought to shul in advance in order to avoid issues of preparation on Shabbos for after Shabbos.
When is Havdalah made?
For anyone who is fasting, Havdalah is not be made until Sunday night. At that point, only the blessing on the wine and hamavdil are recited. The blessing on the spices will be omitted totally, whilst borei meorei ha’eish made on the Havdalah candle – should be recited by itself after Shabbos.
Someone who is not fasting should make the Havdalah blessings before they eat. A question arises at this stage. During the week preceding Tisha Bav wine and grape juice should not be drunk. What then does one do with the mitzvah of Havdalah? This point debated in the halachic writings, many in fact rule that one should drink beer, milk or pure fruit juice for this Havdalah.
Let’s pray that the coming Tisha B’av should be celebrated in Yerushalayim..
Good Shabbos,
Sruli