Eleven 11 Laws About When Tisha B’Av Falls on Sunday

 

By Rabbi Yair Hoffman based on a shiur given by Rabbi Yitzchok Rubin from Har Nof

1. When Tisha B’Av Falls on Sunday There is No “Week in Which [Tisha B’Av] Falls”

The laws of mourning are typically divided into stages: from the 17th of Tammuz, from Rosh Chodesh Av, during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls, and on Tisha B’Av itself. The Shulchan Aruch and Rama disagreed about when certain restrictions begin – the Shulchan Aruch applies washing and laundering restrictions only in the week Tisha B’Av falls, while the Rama applies them already from Rosh Chodesh.

Thus, when Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday, the Shulchan Aruch (551:4) states there is no law of “the week in which it falls” at all, making hair cutting and laundering permitted. The Sha’arei Teshuvah (subsection 40) notes that for Ashkenazim this makes no practical difference since everything is already forbidden from Rosh Chodesh Av according to the Rama.

2. However, two matters are practically relevant even for Ashkenazim:

Laundering Children’s Clothing is Permitted

The Mishnah Berurah (551:82) quotes the Chayei Adam that the prohibition to launder children’s clothing applies only during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls, even for Ashkenazim who follow the Rama’s stricter approach.

Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday and there is no “week in which it falls,”laundering children’s clothing becomes permitted. However, only children’s clothing is allowed – one may not add adult clothing to the washing machine.

3. Jewish Craftsmen May Sew Garments

The Rama (Shulchan Aruch 551:7) records the custom to be lenient in giving work to a Jewish craftsman before Rosh Chodesh, even though he performs the work during the nine days. The Gra questioned this practice, and the Beur Halacha (s.v. “v’nahagu”) wrote that one should only be strict about this during the week in which Tisha B’Av falls.

Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday and there is no “week in which it falls,”this would be permitted. (Note: Sephardim are more stringent as they forbid this already from Rosh Chodesh according to the Shulchan Aruch.)

4. Preparing Laundered Garments on Shabbos is Questioned

Laundered garments are forbidden from Rosh Chodesh until after the fast. The question arises whether one may prepare garments by wearing them on Shabbos (such as changing shirts multiple times during Shabbos), since this appears to be preparation from Shabbos to weekday – doing something not for Shabbos needs but only for weekday needs.

Sources for permitting non-obvious preparation:

• Chayei Adam (rule 153:6), quoted in Mishnah Berurah (667:5): permitted bringing wine from first day to second day of Yom Tov when difficult to do at night
• Magen Avraham (321:7): permitted soaking unsalted meat on Yom Tov for weekday cooking when the action is light and not obviously for weekday needs

5. Changing Shirts on Shabbos May Be Permitted

Changing shirts appears to be in the category of light, non-obvious preparation. The Kaf HaChaim (551:91) distinguishes: if one changes shirts obviously it’s forbidden preparation, but if done going to sleep and upon waking, it’s not noticeable and permitted.

This is permitted according to the following Poskim:

• HaGaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l ruled it’s permitted, adding that one shouldn’t return the shirt to the closet but place it where it was removed
• HaGaon Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt”l agreed with this ruling

This is forbidden:

• HaGaon Rav Nissim Karelitz zt”l forbade changing shirts on Shabbos for weekday needs, reasoning that permission to wear laundered garments on Shabbos during the Three Weeks is only for honoring Shabbos, not for weekday preparation

6. Taking “Easy Fast” Medicine on Shabbos Chazon Raises Issues

For someone needing medicine to ease the fast who must take it on Shabbos afternoon, two prohibitions must be considered:

Preparation from Shabbos to Weekday

Unlike sleeping on Shabbos to be alert Saturday night (which is natural behavior), taking medicine is obviously for weekday needs. However, this may be permitted because:

• The pill’s action (fluid absorption) begins immediately on Shabbos, providing immediate benefit
• This resembles eating on Shabbos to avoid weekday hunger – strengthening the body today rather than preparing something for tomorrow

Taking Medicine on Shabbos

The Magen Avraham and Mishnah Berurah (328) forbid healthy people taking medicine on Shabbos to strengthen their constitution. Since “easy fast” medicine strengthens a person to avoid weakness during fasting, it appears to fall under the decree against grinding spices.

7. There’s a Solution for Taking Medicine

The Orchos Shabbos (chapter 20) suggests putting the medicine in a drink or crumbling it in food before Shabbos, then consuming the drink or food on Shabbos in a way that the medicine isn’t noticeable (similar to putting kohl on one’s eye). Done this way, there’s no concern about preparation since it’s not noticeable preparation.

8. Eating More at Shalosh Shiddus is Permitted

It’s permitted to eat more than usual at Shalosh shiddus on Shabbos Chazon to ease the fast, since the body benefits immediately on Shabbos. However, one should be careful:

• Not to say explicitly that one is eating it to ease the fast
• Not to urge household members to eat more for this purpose
• This follows the ruling of the Mishnah Berurah (290:4) quoting Sefer Chasidim about not saying on Shabbos that one is sleeping to enable work on Motzai Shabbos.

9. Changing Clothes and Bringing Kinos is Problematic

Evening prayers begin immediately at Shabbos’s end and one leaves for synagogue before Shabbos departs, changing from Shabbos clothes to weekday clothes before Shabbos ends is forbidden due to preparation. Similarly, bringing a Kinos book from home to synagogue is prohibited.

Solution practiced in many places: Delay the evening prayer on Saturday night to allow sufficient time to say “Boruch HaMavdil – blessed is He who separates between holy and profane” at home and change clothes. (Earlier authorities didn’t mention this because they wore weekday clothes on Shabbos Chazon and only removed shoes on Saturday night.)

10. Jerusalem Elders Had a Beautiful Custom

Rav Yitzchok Rubin heard from Jerusalem elders that they would throw their Kinos books into Shaimos – genizah every year after reciting them in synagogue, to feel anticipation for complete redemption in their hearts. Only on the eve of Tisha B’Av would they buy Kinos again.

PLEASE NOTE:  ONLY $1400 LEFT FOR MONTH OF JULY!! –  EACH MONTH, RABBI HOFFMAN TRIES TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR 17 SINGLE MOTHERS WHO ARE NO LONGER RECIPIENTS OF ANOTHER FUND THAT HELPED THEM AND THEY DESPERATELY NEED ASSISTANCE.  THEY RECEIVE $300 PER MONTH THROUGH THIS. IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO ASSIST IN THIS (tax deductible) EFFORT PLEASE CLICK BELOW: WHATEVER YOU GIVE HELPS! [IT IS CALLED THE BERDITCHEVER FUND]

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11. Great Rabbis Deferred Answering Tisha B’Av Questions

Rabbi Rubin relates that when he approached HaGaon Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l near Rosh Chodesh Av with a Tisha B’Av question, the Rabbi sweetly rebuked him: “Why are you asking today? Surely the Beis HaMikdash will be built speedily in our days!” He told him to return closer to Tisha B’Av if the Beis HaMikdash hadn’t been built.

Final Purpose: These Laws Lead to Redemption

All Three Weeks prohibitions are meant to remind us of destruction and mourning, preparing our hearts for proper repentance and yearning for Beis HaMikdash rebuilding. The external restrictions on washing, eating meat, and listening to music create an internal atmosphere of reflection and spiritual elevation.

The primary purpose isn’t the restrictions themselves, but directing our hearts to teshuvah and increasing desire for final redemption. As our Sages said: “Every generation in which the Beis HaMikdash is not rebuilt, it is as if it was destroyed in their time.”

While we do observe these laws carefully, we must still remember they’re meant for spiritual elevation, not for mere external observance. The goal is that through these mourning days we should achieve complete teshuvah and merit the Beis HaMikdash’s rebuilding and complete redemption speedily in our days.

Many elderly people customarily asked about Tisha B’Av laws only close to the time needed, hoping the Beis HaMikdash might be rebuilt before then and the fast cancelled. May it be His will that the Beis HaMikdash be built speedily in our days, that we no longer need to fast, and that these days be transformed to joy and gladness as promised by the prophet.

Rabbi Hoffman can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com

https://vinnews.com/2025/07/27/11-laws-about-when-tisha-bav-falls-on-sunday/