Monday, July 31, 2017

The Five Prohibitions on Tish'a Be'av

The Five Prohibitions on Tish'a Be'av
Day: Monday
Date: July 31, 2017
Parshat: Vaethanan
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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There are five main prohibitions that apply on Tish'a Be'av. These prohibitions begin at sundown on the night of the 9th of Av and continue until sundown the following night. They are:
1. Washing and bathing are forbidden whether with hot or cold water. This prohibition extends even to washing ones hands. In the morning and after using the restroom one may wash only his fingers. It is permissible to wash with soap dirt off of oneself from any part of the body. Washing for hygiene is also allowed.
2. Putting creams and oils onto oneself for enjoyment is also forbidden. However, these items may be used for medical reasons such as for acne or to soothe cracked skin. Ointments may be used as well to prevent infection of cuts and bruises.
3. It is also forbidden to wear leather shoes. Cloth or rubber shoes may be worn instead. Shoes that have a strip of leather for decoration or leather shoelaces are also fine to wear.
4. Intimacy between a husband and wife is forbidden, however the harchakot do not need to be observed.
5. Eating and drinking is also not allowed. However, a women who gave birth within thirty days and a person who is sick - even if it's not life threatening - does not need to fast. There are other exemptions and conditions that apply, and therefore anybody with a doubt should be sure to discuss their situation with their Rabbi. Children under Bar/Bat Mitzvah do not need to fast. We do not even train them for future years because we believe that the Mashiach will come and this fast will no longer be observed. A child who is not fasting should nevertheless not be given treats and special things to eat. May Hashem answer our prayers soon and may we not suffer in this exile any longer.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Laws of Erev Tish'a Be'av

Laws of Erev Tish'a Be'av
Day: Thursday
Date: July 27, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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It is proper after hatzot on Erev Tish'a Be'av to refrain from learning things other than the laws of Tish'a Be'av, mourning, or other somber topics. However, a person who will feel pained in some one way if he cannot follow his normal Torah study routine may learn any topic he wants.
We eat a meal just before the fast starts called the Seudah Hamafseket. This meal is eaten while sitting on the floor and in groups of less than three to avoid having to have a zimun. If one ate in a group of three or more, no zimun is said.
During this meal we may not eat more than one cooked food. Even if two foods were cooked together in one pot, they are still considered to be two separate foods and one may only partake of one or the other. If one food was cooked in multiple pots because there were no pots big enough to fit the entire amount needed, that is still considered one food. One food prepared two different ways, such as a hard boiled egg and a scrambled egg, is considered two different foods. A dish of multiple foods that are normally cooked together is considered one food and may be eaten if the one eating normally has them that way. Even though it is permissible to have salad during this meal, it is better to be strict and not have it.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Washing Children's Clothing During the Shavu'a Shehal Bo



Washing Children's Clothing During the Shavu'a Shehal Bo

Day: Thursday
Date: July 27, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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With the exception of cloth diapers, it is also forbidden to wash clothing for children three years and older. The accepted custom is to be leniant with regards to children under three years old and to allow washing their clothes. In addition to the prohibition against washing and wearing freshly laundered clothes, it is also forbidden to during the week of Tish'a Be'av to put fresh sheets on the beds and to wash napkins and towels and other such things. During the week of Tish'a Be'av it is permissible to polish ones shoes, and one need not worry that doing so falls under the prohibition agianst laundering clothing. Some people have the custom to refrain from washing some or all of the floors in the house from Rosh Hodesh Av and on, however our custom is to allow it even during the week of Tish'a Be'av.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org



Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Laundry During the Week of Tish'a Be'av

Laundry During the Week of Tish'a Be'av
Day: Wednesday
Date: July 26, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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It is forbidden to do any laundry during the week of Tish'a Be'av. Even if a person has only one outfit, he still may not launder it during the week of Tish'a Be'av. Likewise, we also do not wear freshly washed clothing, including undergarments. In hot climates where it is necessary to change clothing, one may wear the garments in advance for a short time so that they will not be considered freshly laundered when he puts them on later. One may even switch garments a number of times before the Shavua Shehal Bo starts just so that he can wear them once it starts. Switching clothes frequently may even be done on Shabbat and is not considered preparing for the weekday since after all the clothes are being worn on Shabbat. If a person didn't prepare any clothing beforehand and he's worried about losing his self respect, he may wear fresh clothes.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Shaving During the Shavu'a Shehal Bo



Shaving During the Shavu'a Shehal Bo

Day: Tuesday
Date: July 25, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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It is forbidden for men to shave and get haircuts during the week of Tish'a Be'av. However, trimming ones mustache is permitted if it interferes with eating. Women may get haircuts during the Shavua Shehal Bo. It is also permissible for anyone to brush or comb their hair even if some hairs will be caused to fall out.
Some poskim maintain that it is forbidden to cut ones nails during the Shavua Shehal Bo. Other poskim allow it and that is the generally accepted view among Sepharadim. Even those who are strict and don't cut their nails during these days may cut them if their nails extend past the end of their finger.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, July 24, 2017

Drinking Wine During the Nine Days

Drinking Wine During the Nine Days
Day: Monday
Date: July 24, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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Some people have the custom not to drink wine during the shavua shechal bo. Others have the custom not to drink wine during the whole nine days. Still others, including many Sepharadim, do not have any custom to refrain from wine even during the shevua shechal bo. Regardless of ones personal custom, he may drink the havdala wine on motzei Shabbat even if the cup contains more than the absolute required amount. Other alcoholic drinks such as beer and liquor are not included in any prohibition. It is proper to not eat meat or drink wine the day after Tisha Be'av also since the Bet Hamildash continued to burn through that day as well. 


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, July 23, 2017

Eating Shabbat Leftovers During the Nine Days

Eating Shabbat Leftovers During the Nine Days
Day: Sunday
Date: July 23, 2017
Parshat: Devarim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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There is a disagreement among the poskim regarding foods containing meat that are leftover from Shabbat Hazon (the Shabbat immediately preceding Tisha Be'av) or from a Rosh Chodesh meal. Some poskim allow one to eat the food after Shabbat and some don't. One does not need to protest against those who do eat such meat during these days. This is especially so if the meat is being eaten for the seuda after Shabbat and one normally eats meat during that meal. However, even according to those poskim that do allow eating meat left over from Shabbat, may not cook extra meat for Shabbat so that it will be left over afterward. 


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, July 21, 2017

Eating Meat During the Nine Days

Eating Meat During the Nine Days
Day: Friday
Date: July 21, 2017
Parshat: Matot/Mas'ei
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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Our custom is to refrain from eating chicken or meat from after Rosh Hodesh Av through the tenth of Av. At a seudat mitzvah however, such as a Brit, or a Sheva Berachot, it is permitted as long as one came to be part of the celebration and not just to eat meat. Children may be given chicken and meat if they are still young and do not yet understand the idea of mourning for the Bet Hamikdash. Our custom is to also not eat food that was cooked with meat even if there are no pieces of meat in the food. However, food cooked in a meat pot may be eaten if there was no meat cooked with the food. It is permissible on Erev Shabbat to taste the Shabbat food even if that includes meat, since tasting the Shabbat food is part of the mitzvah of honoring Shabbat.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, July 20, 2017

When Av Begins we Decrease our Joy

When Av Begins we Decrease our Joy
Day: Thursday
Date: July 20, 2017
Parshat: Matot/Mas'ei
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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When Av begins we reduce our simcha, this is accomplished in the following number of ways. One who has a court case against a non Jew should try to push it off until after Tisha Be'av. Likewise one who needs a surgery should should, if possible, push it off until after Tisha Be'av. One should also hold off on building and renovations (including painting) that are being done for convenience or to look nice. If he needs the space to live in, then the building may be done. It is also permissible to build a shul during this time since that is done for a mitzvah. 


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, July 17, 2017

Haircuts and Shaving During the Three Weeks

Haircuts and Shaving During the Three Weeks
Day: Monday
Date: July 17, 2017
Parshat: Matot/Mas'ei
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 551

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The Ashkenazi custom is for men to refrain from getting haircuts and shaving during the three weeks. Sephardim are lenient in this regard and may get haircuts and shave up until the the week of Tisha Be'av. Children are also included in this prohibition. Even if the Sephardic person is around Ashkenazim most of the time it is still permissible for him to cut his hair before the Shevua Shehal Bo. If such a person decides not to cut his hair in order to not differentiate himself from the people around him, that is commendable. However he should say that he's doing it without accepting this custom upon himself. It is permissible for any person during this time to trim his mustache if it interferes with eating.


The DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org