DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 780 KB)
Preparing Clothes Before the Week of Tisha B'Av

Halacha imposes several restrictions during the week of Tisha B'Av to remind us of the destruction of the Bet Ha'mikdash. These restrictions apply from the Motza'ei Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av through Tisha B'Av itself.

One of these restrictions is a prohibition against doing laundry during this week, which includes sending clothes to the cleaners (Shulchan Aruch 551:3). Additionally, it is forbidden to wear freshly-laundered garments during this week. Therefore, one must prepare ahead of time, before the week of Tisha B'Av, to ensure that he has enough changes of clothing that are not freshly washed. One does this by wearing all the garments he will need during that week for a couple of minutes (the time he takes to sweat) before the Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av. A person must therefore ensure to begin wearing ahead of time all the clothes he will need during the week of Tisha B'Av. This Halacha applies as well to tablecloths, towels, bed sheets, handkerchiefs and suits. It does not, however, apply to shoes, and thus one may wear a new pair of shoes during the week of Tisha B'Av.

As for shining shoes on Tisha B'Av, Chacham Bentzion Abba Shaul (Jerusalem, 1924-1998) writes in his work Or Le'Tziyon (vol. 3, chapter 27) that the prohibition against washing clothing was not intended to include shoes, and thus one may shine his shoes during the week of Tisha B'Av.

Summary: From the Motza'ei Shabbat preceding Tisha B'Av through Tisha B'Av, it is forbidden to wash clothing, send clothing to the cleaners, or wear freshly laundered clothes. Therefore, one must ensure to wear whatever garments he will need for a couple of minutes (after he sweats if it is hot, otherwise 20 minutes) at some point before the week of Tisha B'Av. One may wear new shoes or polish shoes during the week of Tisha B'Av.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Is it Permissible to Draw Hot Water From an Urn With Ladle on Shabbat?
The Woman’s Obligation in Kiddush
Using a Moistened Cloth or Napkin on Shabbat
Halachot Pertaining to Lel Shabbat: Covering the Table, Reciting Shalom Alechem, and Covering the Bread
The Recitation of “Bo’i Kalla” in Kabbalat Shabbat
Repeating Kiddush for Those Who Have Yet to Hear Kiddush
Cutting a Branch of Hadasim or a Cluster of Grapes on Shabbat
Fasting on Shabbat
When Should One Recite Kiddush and Begin the Shabbat Meal When Accepting Shabbat Early?
Situations Where One May Derive Benefit from a Light Turned on by a Gentile During Shabbat
The Status of Food Cooked by a Gentile on Shabbat; Asking a Gentile to Restore Power in Order to Heat Food on Shabbat
Does Dignity Supersede The Laws of Muktze, Such As In The Case of Tearing Toilet Tissue
Preparing Instant Coffee, Hot Chocolate and Tea on Shabbat
The Custom of Eating Sambusak on Shabbat
Food That Was Purchased Specifically for Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found