Guide to the Jewish Year

אָב

Visible layers

290 The fast begins at dawn (see law 48) [שו"ע או"ח, תקסד: א]. If the 17th of Tammuz falls on Shabbat, the fast is postponed to Sunday [שו"ע או"ח תקנ, ג].

291 Shaḥarit: for weekdays. During the Repetition of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says עֲנֵנוּ between the seventh and eighth blessings (page 121) [שו"ע או"ח, תקסו: א]. This is followed by Seliḥot, and Taḥanun with Avinu Malkenu [ערוה"ש או"ח, תקסו: ח].

292 Torah Reading: Page 1166 (see law 51).

293 Minḥa: for weekdays, except that after Ashrei and Half Kaddish, the Torah is read. The reading is the same as that of the morning. The third oleh reads the Haftara (page 1166) [רמ"א, או"ח, תקסו: א]. After the Torah is returned to the Ark, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says Half Kaddish, and Minḥa continues as for weekdays.

294 During the silent Amida, those who are fasting say עֲנֵנוּ as part of the sixteenth blessing, שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה (page 239). During the Repetition of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says עֲנֵנוּ between the seventh and eighth blessings, as in the morning (page 233). After the eighteenth blessing (מוֹדִים), the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says the paragraph relating to Birkat Kohanim (page 245). After the Amida, the congregation says Avinu Malkenu in the middle of Taḥanun, Full Kaddish and Aleinu.

295 From the 17th of Tammuz until Tisha B'Av (the "Three Weeks"), certain mourning rituals are observed: one does not cut one's hair, shave, listen to music, buy new things, or hold weddings and other parties [שו"ע או"ח תקנא, א]. Some permit shaving during this period.

אָב

AV

296 From Rosh Ḥodesh Av through Tisha B'Av (the "Nine Days") additional mourning rituals are observed: one abstains from eating meat or drinking wine, clothes are not laundered or pressed, and one generally minimizes joyful activities [שו"ע ורמ"א או"ח, תקנא].

שַׁבַּת חֲזוֹן

Shabbat Ḥazon (Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av)

297 The Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av is known as Shabbat Ḥazon, named for the first word of the Haftara, חֲזוֹן. On Friday night, many congregations sing Lekha Dodi to the melody of אֱלִי צִיּוֹן. The special Haftara (Is. 1:1-27) is read to the tune of Eikha.

298 On Motza'ei Shabbat, Kiddush Levana is not said [רמ"א או"ח, תקנא: ח].

עֶרֶב תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב

Erev Tisha B'Av (8th of Av)

299 Taḥanun is omitted from Minḥa.

300 The Se'uda Mafseket (final meal) is eaten after Minḥa. The custom is to eat no more than one cooked item. Three adult males should not eat together, so that no zimmun is said. Some have the custom to sit on the floor and eat eggs with ashes [שו"ע ורמ"א או"ח, תקנב].

301 When the final meal is eaten on Shabbat afternoon, these restrictions do not apply; however, the meal must be finished before sunset [שם: י].

תִּשְׁעָה בְּאָב

Tisha B'Av (9th of Av)

302 According to the Mishna (Ta'anit 4:6), the fast of the 9th of Av commemorates five calamities that befell the Jewish people on that date: (1) God decreed that the children of Israel would not be allowed to enter the land of Israel, (2) the First Temple was destroyed, (3) the Second Temple was destroyed, (4) Beitar was captured, and (5) Jerusalem was plowed over.

303 The fast begins at sunset. In addition to eating and drinking, one is prohibited from washing and anointing oneself and from wearing leather shoes. Marital relations are likewise forbidden. One abstains from Torah study, except for topics such as mourning laws, Eikha, Job, and the unhappy portions of Jeremiah [שו"ע או"ח, תקנד: א-ב]. One does not greet other people or inquire after their welfare [שם: כ].

304 Ma'ariv: for weekdays. The Amida is followed by Full Kaddish, the reading of Eikha and the recitation of Kinot. The congregation says וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ (page 307), followed by Full Kaddish (omitting the line beginning תִּתְקַבַּל), Psalm 121, Mourner's Kaddish, Barekhu, Aleinu, and Mourner's Kaddish.

305 If the fast falls (or is observed) on Motza'ei Shabbat, וִיהִי נֹעַם is omitted, and Havdala is not said. The blessing בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ is said on a flame [שו"ע או"ח, תקנו: א].

306 Shaḥarit: Neither tallit nor tefillin is worn in the morning [שו"ע או"ח, תקנה: א]. During the Repetition of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says עֲנֵנוּ between the seventh and eighth blessings (page 121). Taḥanun is omitted.

307 Torah Reading: page 1167. Three men are called up. The third oleh reads the Haftara: page 1168 [רמ"א או"ח תקנד, ד]. Afterwards, the first three blessings following the Haftara (page 579) are said. After the Torah is returned to the Ark, Kinot are said. This is followed by Ashrei (page 177), וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן (omitting the verse וַאֲנִי זֹאת בְּרִיתִי, see page 179), Full Kaddish (omitting the line beginning תִּתְקַבַּל), Aleinu, and Mourner's Kaddish.