EREV TISHA B’AV (9th of Av) 5778/2018 starts Shabat evening, July 21 this year; the fast begins, according to my calendars, BEFORE Shabat ends (about 40 minutes before the official end of Shabat).
One of only two roughly 25-hour fasts on the Jewish calendar, the other being Yom Kipor; when Tisha b’Av happens, you know the other fast is near at hand (in 2018, it starts on Tuesday, September 18).
SOME TISHA B’AV rules and customs from the North African (mostly Moroccan) perspective. The sources are cited near the end of the entry.
For others’ customs, check with a rabbi, hakham, or written sources. There are a multitude of sources for Ashkenazim; the late R. Ovadia Yosef seems the prime authority for Mizrachim (עדות המזרח). R. Ovadia and North African and Moroccan traditions often are different. All my sources are in modern, simple Hebrew.
This blog effort does not attempt to cover all things “Tisha b’Av.” Most, such as wearing non-leather shoes (belts are OK), and the reasons for Tisha b’Av are pretty much well known by all observant Jews. For curious non-observant Jews and non-Jews who might stumble onto this blog, may I recommend:
This Is My God (Wouk)
To Be a Jew and To Pray as a Jew (Donin) The (First) Jewish Book of Why (Kolatch).
Rosh Hodesh
When Rosh Hodesh Av is announced, instead of saying יהי רצון the hazan says מחדש חודשים.1
Personal care
Fingernails may be cleaned and trimmed until the week in which Tisha b’Av falls. For 2018, that would be Friday the 13th (of July).1
Many men take their last haircut before Tisha b’Av just before 17 Tamuz. Those that wait usually take their last haircut before Rosh Hodesh Av.1
No meat on Tisha b’Av until the evening meal after dark on the following day. (The fast ends at nightfall on 10th of Av and dairy and parve foods may be consumed, but no meat of any type until at least half the day of the 11th os Av has passed.)1
NON-leather shoes are worn on all fast days in most traditions; North African minhagim are no exception. 2
Shaving is omitted on all fast days in most traditions; North African minhagim are no exception.2
With the minyan
13 attributes are said aloud when ויחל is read. The reader comes to the 13 attributes, stops, and the congregation recites them aloud; then the reader goes back and reads them. Mizrachim, in contrast to North African tradition, remain silent during the reading.4
Cohanic blessings (ברכת הכהנים) is not said during either morning or afternoon services.4
HaAzenu (האזינו) is said in place of Sherat HaYam (שירת היים).4 R. Ovadia1, 4 follows the Ashkenazi tradition of הרמ’’א.
Kadish Tetkabel (קדיש תתקבל) is recited only at minhah, but not at erev Tisha b’Av or morning services.1, 4
Nahum (נחם) is said only in minhah; however, Eastern traditions recite it at all Tisha b’Av services.4
Tallit and tefillin are omitted at the morning (שחרית) services and worn at the afternoon (מנחה) service.3 However, R. Ovadia Yosel (עה”ש) said that the minhag Jerusalem is to don tallit and tefillin at the morning service. At the same time, Moroccan and later chief rabbi of Jerusalem, Hakham Shalom Messas, citing Maran (Yosef Caro/the Shulhan Aruk) and gaonim, writes that tallit and tefillin are not worn in the morning.4 Those who follow HaAri generally wear tallit and tefillin for the morning service. There also are those who put on tallit and tefillin at home, then remove them and join a minyan to pray without tallit and tefillin.1
Note in the image above there are men with tallit and tefilling and men sans tallit and tefillin. Different minhagim (traditions). (Click on the photo to enlarge in a new window.)
Sources
1. ילקות שמ’’ש
2. יהדות הלכה למעשה
3. הוד יוסף חי
4. דברי שלום ואמת
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