One Halakhah Closer to Becoming an Eshet Hayil

BS''D
8 Menahem Av 5772

Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Devarim

Hadlakat Nerot NY 7:55pm
Mossai Shabbat 9:02pm
Rabbenu Tam 9:26pm

**the fast of Tisha Be'Av begins at Shekiah on Shabbat Kodesh, which is tomorrow night at 8:10pm in NY

As you may realize, tonight is the 9th of Av, Tisha Be'Av. However, since we do not observe practices of mourning on Shabbat Kodesh, this year, we push off Tisha Be'Av to Sunday.

On Erev Tisha Be’av, the five categories of abstinence/infliction (no eating or drinking, no washing, no leather shoes, no oils, creams or perfumes, no marital relations) take effect immediately at Shekiah, sunset (8:10 in NY).

This means BH this year, the five categories of abstinence begin to take effect on Mossai Shabbat Kodesh through Sunday night, and therefore, there are some changes that we must be aware of.

1. Seuda Shelishit on Shabbat becomes the the Seuda Mafseket (the last meal before the fast). It is eaten on Shabbat afternoon.  Rabbi Mansour explains: 'The Bet Yosef writes that in such a case, one may eat and drink at this meal as much as he likes. He may eat meat and drink wine, and he may even, in the words of the Bet Yosef, partake of a lavish meal “like the meal of King Shelomo in his time.”'

Although the Seuda Mafseket is usually eaten alone, we are permitted to eat it with family, friends, congregation, if we normally do so on Shabbat Kodesh.

2. Since is forbidden to make preparations on Shabbat for after Shabbat, and thus although one certainly may eat and drink as he wishes on the Shabbat before the fast, he should not verbally state that this is being done in preparation for Tisha B’Av.

Rabbi Mansour adds 'Likewise, one may not prepare on Shabbat books that he will need on Tisha B’Ab....One should also not prepare his non-leather shoes on Shabbat.'

3. Regarding leather shoes, one should not remove his leather shoes immediately at Shekiah, sunset, in honor of Shabbat; rather, one should leave his leather shoes on until after nightfall which is approximately twenty minutes after sunset.  One should then recite, 'Barukh Ha’Mavdil Ben Kodesh Le’Hol,' remove his leather shoes and change into weekday clothing. This is when practices of morning start becoming implemented.

Otherwise, the Shabbat in such a case is treated as an ordinary Shabbat, even though it is actually the 9th of Av.

May this Tisha Be'Av become a joyous one with the coming of Mashiah and the building of Bayit Shelishi, the Third Beit HaMikdash, Amen.

For a Devar Torah on the Parashah, please visit www.flyingsoul-o.com

Shabbat Shalom uMevorakh!