Tisha B’Av

Having Tisha B’AV on Saturday night presents some Halachic differences from a weekday Tisha B’AV.

There is no mourning on Shabbat so that a regular Seuda Shlishit can be enjoyed with Zemirot. The problem is with the transitional time between sunset and three stars.

We cannot begin to show signs of mourning until three stars, but we also can no longer show the joy of Shabbat. Sunset is at 7:48 so that we should stop eating a few minutes before and wait until 8:27 for this interim period to end.

After 8:27, or three stars, we begin the mourning of the fast. We take off our shoes after saying ברוך המבדיל בין קדש לחול, and put on our weekday clothes and non-leather shoes.

We then pray ערבית with אתה חוננתנו, followed by the reading of איכה and קינות. A blessing on the candle is made in Shule and no blessing on בשמים, spices.

The fast is broken on Sunday night at 8:15 with only the blessing of בורא פרי הגפן and המבדיל. It is preferable not to break the fast before hearing Havdalah.

May we merit seeing the rebuilding of בית שלישי in our lifetimes.