T H E Y E S H I VA P I RC H E I S H O S H A N I M S H U L C H A N A R U C H P R O J E C T

Halachaic Questions and Answers

from the Israeli Defense Forces –
Tisha Ba'av 5768

Written and edited by Harav (Major) Samuel Dov Rosenberg

Team members: Harav Shlomo Levanon, Harav Yehuda Machpoud,
Harav Shlomo Yakobovitch and Harav Shmuel Derlich

A collection of Halachic questions that were asked by IDF

soldiers and commanders concerning the Jewish calendar on the
subject of Shabbos and the Moadim
5761-5766

© All rights reserved to the Israeli Ministry of Defense

Printed in Israel 2006

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Halachaic Questions and Answers

from the Israeli Defense Forces -
Tisha Ba'av
The Week in which Tisha Ba’av Falls
These responsa pertain to the week in which Tisha Ba’av falls for those who
follow, and for all of the 9 days from Rosh Chodesh Av until Tisha Ba’av for
those who follow Rama

1. Bathing in the week that Tisha Ba’av falls

We came back to the base after difficult exercises field. Are we allowed
to wash ourselves off in the sea or a pool on these days?

The Shulchan Aruch states that there are those whose custom is not to wash
from Rosh Chodesh and there are those who avoid this only during the week
that Tisha Ba’av falls. The custom is that in Jewish kehillos one does not wash in
these days, each according to his custom.

However, if one only washes to remove sweat or for medicinal reasons, it is

obvious that this is permitted. Therefore, soldiers who return from difficult
exercises can wash the sweat from their bodies but not in the sea or in a pool,
as these indicate that he is doing so for pleasure; rather, one should use the
shower, However, if there are no showers available, it is allowed to wash even
in the sea or a pool to get rid of sweat, but not for pleasure.

2. A new soldier putting on a new, clean uniform

Can a soldier who joins the army during the 9 days wear a new uniform?

One can be lenient in this case, as it resembles a situation in which one has no
other clothes, particularly if he must wear this uniform.

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3. Laundering a dirty uniform on Erev Shabbos Chazon

I am a soldier who has a Shabbos Chazon off, and a dirty uniform. Can I
wash it on Erev Shabbos (this applies only to those who follow the
Rama)?

The Mishna Berura rules that one who has only one shirt can wash it from
Rosh Chodesh until Shabbos, and it seems that this is not limited only to one shirt
but rather any case in which one remains with no clean clothes, he can do
laundry up until Shabbos. Therefore, one can be lenient and wash a uniform on
Erev Shabbos Chazon if one has no clean uniform for returning to duty. If
possible, it is preferable that he wear the clothes for even a short time before
Shabbos.

Tisha Ba’av — Laws of the Fast

4. Soldiers on duty during the fast

I am serving on Har Dov and there is a high likelihood that we will have
to go into battle during Tisha Ba’av. Do the rules of the fast apply to
me?

The fast of Tisha Ba’av dates back to the time of the prophets as an obligatory
fast, and is not to be annulled (as opposed to the other fasts). Therefore, its din
is much more stringent. Therefore, in this situation, one should follow the
following stages:

Start the fast at night, as this is when the fast of Tisha Ba’av begins.

1. During the day, if you feel that your operational ability will be
negatively affected, particularly when an order is given to go into
battle, one is allowed to drink leshiurim.

2. When the operation does not allow for limiting one’s drinking, or
if you feel that limited drinking is not enough, you may drink
without paying attention to quantities.

The above applies to a soldier who is healthy and in normal weather

conditions.

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5. Eating if one must drink on Tisha Ba’av

In the above conditions, would such a soldier be allowed to eat as well?

When a soldier must drink in order to be alert and fully functional for duties
and does not need to eat, he must make do with drinking. If he knows that
drinking something sweet will give him strength, it is preferable to drink
something sweet, as it seems from the poskim that if one needs to drink on
Tisha Ba’av, he should not eat. However, if the soldier feels that abstaining
from eating negatively affect his operational ability, he is allowed to eat as well.

6. A soldier on guard duty, during the fast, in desert conditions

I am on guard duty in the Jordan Valley. What should I do on Tisha

Ba’av, as I am in hot, desert conditions?

If your duties do not require that you go out, and you can remain inside a
structure, it is preferable to remain in a shaded area and maintain conditions
that will allow you to fast without endangering yourself. If, however,
conditions require you be exposed to heat and sun, you are obligated to drink
in order not to reach a state of dehydration.

7. Drinking leshiurim on Tisha Ba’av

In the above conditions, should I be careful to drink less than a shiur?

There are poskim who hold that the laws pertaining to drinking leshiurim apply
only on Yom Kippur, but the Mishna Berura writes that when there is only a
doubt about reaching a state of danger but the danger is not present before us,
it is preferable on Tisha Ba’av to drink less than the shiur, as this amount does
not invalidate the fast

Therefore, since drinking is intended only to prevent a situation of

dehydration, it is preferable to drink only what is needed as per the din of
leshiurim. However, if you feel that judging such a situation will make you
nervous and negatively affect your operational ability, and certainly if
you really feel a sensation in your head or any sort of dryness, you should
drink immediately and not leshiurim.

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8. The shiurim for eating an drinking on Tisha Ba’av

What are the shiurim according to which one should, in certain cases,
limit his food and drink intake on the fast day?

For eating, up to 30 cubic centimeters

For drinking, the average person (as the measure of melo lugmav varies from
person to person) is up to 40 milliliters.

The measures for eating and drinking do not combine.

One should be careful to keep a duration of 9 minutes between each eating

and each drinking.

In pressing circumstances, one can limit this duration to 2 minutes between

eating and eating or drinking and drinking. In extremely pressing
circumstances, concerning drinking one can leave a space of enough to drink a
revi’is, meaning 5 seconds, between one drinking and the next.

9. Eating and drinking leshiurim when there is no way to measure.

I have no available way to measure food or drink. What should I do?

As for food, the accepted measure is that what fills a box of matches equals
the allowed amount of food.

As for drinking, you can use the lid of an army canteen (40 samak) or four
times the lid of a plastic bottle (which holds 10 samak).

10. Anenu prayer on Tisha Ba’av if one began fasting from alos hashachar

Due to operations that we carried out on the night of Tisha Ba’av, I ate
and drank to maintain my operational level, and the following morning,
I began keeping the fast. Can I say Anenu in the tefillos?

Despite the fact that Tisha Ba’av starts the night before and continues
throughout the day, since you began fasting for the day, you can say Anenu in
shome’a tefilla, without a closing bracha, as do other mispallelim.

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11. Does one who eats say Nacheim in birkas hamazon?

I am a soldier in battle conditions and difficult weather conditions as well, and

we are obligated to eat on Tisha Ba’av. Should I say Nacheim in birkas hamazon?

The Rama writes that one who eats on Tisha Ba’av should say Nacheim in the
bracha, Bonei Yerushalayim of birkas hamazon but many Acharonim are uncertain of
this.

Therefore, “Shev veal taaseh adif — preferable to refrain from doing so,” and
after birkas hamazon, say “Harachaman Hu Yenacheim Es Aveili Tzion.”

12. A zimun in birkas hamazon for those allowed to eat

In the conditions described in the previous question, if we are three

soldiers, should we say birkas hamazon with a zimun?

On Tisha Ba’av one must behave like a mourner, and since we find that in the
seuda hamafsekes before the fast one does not sit together and make a zimun, one
should not do this on Tisha Ba’av as well/Therefore, the three of you should
not eat together.

13. Wearing shoes

Due to specific operational duties, I must wear leather shoes. What

should I do on Tisha Ba’av?

One of the afflictions we are required to do on Tisha Ba’av is not to wear

leather shoes. Therefore, one should wear rubber or cloth shoes on Tisha
Ba’av. If operational duties require that you wear leather shoes, or in a place
where there is a danger of scorpions or the like, wear leather shoes but put a
small amount of dirt in them, and when you reach a place where you can
remove them, you must do so immediately.

14. Saluting on Tisha Ba’av

Is one allowed to salute an officer on Tisha Ba’av?

The Shulchan Aruch notes that one does not give Shalom to his fellow man
on Tisha Ba’av, and the poskim write that one does not say ‘good morning’ or
even nod in place of saying good morning. Therefore, saluting on Tisha Ba’av is
forbidden as well.

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15. Shnayim Mikra Ve’achad Targum on Tisha Ba’av for one who does this
regularly

I am a soldier who learns Shnayim Mikra Ve’achad Targum every day.

Can I do so on Tisha Ba’av as well?

Since it states that on Tisha Ba’av, one does not read Torah, Nevi’im or Kesuvim,
or learn Mishna, Midrash, Gemara, Halachos or Agados, the Mishna Berura
concludes that one should not be lenient, even if he has a regular Seder of
learning Shnayim Mikra Ve’achad Targum every day. Therefore, you should make
up for the missing Seder of Shnayim Mikra Ve’achad Targum after the fast.

16. Tallis and Tefillin on Shacharis for one who is allowed to eat on Tisha
Ba’av

A soldier who due to operational duties is allowed to drink on the

morning of Tisha Ba’av, should he put on tallies and tefillin for
Shacharis as he does throughout the year?

Despite the act that he is allowed to eat, he should put on tallis and tefillin only
at Mincha.

17. Putting on tefillin before eating on the afternoon of Tisha Ba’av

I must eat on Tisha Ba’av, but only at noon. Am I obligated to put on

tefillin first?

If your eating is only from noon onwards, it is proper that you put on tefillin
after chatzos hayom before eating. If you can take part in tefillas minchah later in
the day, it is appropriate to put them on a second time for the davening.

18. Keriyas HaTorah at Mincha when no reading was done for Shacharis

We are soldiers who did not have a sefer Torah for the Shacharis
prayers, but did have one for Mincha. Should we read Vayachel or ki
tolid banim, which was not read at Shacharis?

If all of the soldiers in the unit were unable to hear ki tolid banim and only on
minchah were able to do Keriyas HaTorah, then they should read this parasha, as it
is the parasha specified by the Gemara for Tisha Ba’av, and not Vayachel. One
surely follows ki tolid with the haftara, “Asof Asifeim,” as it deals with the same
matter.

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However, if some of those present did hear the proper reading on Shacharis,
Vayachel should be read at Mincha.

19. Nacheim in the Shemona Esrei if one is allowed to eat

I was on a foot patrol in desert conditions and was therefore allowed to

drink. Should I say Nacheim in the Shemona Esrei?

The Nacheim prayer that is said on Tisha Ba’av is not dependent on whether the
davener is fasting or not, and certainly in your situation, you should say this
prayer together with the rest of Klal Yisrael.

When Tisha Ba’av Falls on Motzaei Shabbos

20. Coming to shul on Motzaei Shabbos Tisha Ba’av wearing shoes made of
cloth

Can I go to shul on Motzaei Shabbos for Maariv and Kinos while

wearing cloth shoes?

One does not take off ones regular shoes during the day of Shabbos, as this
would be a sign of mourning, which is forbidden on Shabbos. Therefore, it is
proper to hide cloth shoes in shul on Erev Shabbos and take off one’s leather
shoes just after answering the “Baruch Hu” of the shaliach tzibbur on Motzaei
Shabbos.

Certain places have a custom of saying Maariv on Motzaei Shabbos Tisha Ba’av a
bit later than tzeis hakochavim so that people can say “hamavdil” at home and
then put on cloth shoes appropriate for Tisha Ba’av and go to shul.

21. Havdala during the fast for one allowed to eat on Tisha Ba’av

I am a soldier on duty that requires me to eat and drink on Tisha Ba’av.

Do I have to make Havdala before eating?

Even thought there is a takana to say Havdala at the end of the fast, if you are
required to eat and drink, you must make Havdala before eating. However, you
must wait to make Havdala until just before you are required to eat, and not
make Havdala immediately after Shabbos.

Also, since one should not drink wine on Tisha Ba’av, you can make Havdala on
grape juice, (as according to many poskim, what is forbidden is wine that
intoxicates) or on chamar medina (beer, natural fruit juice, carbonated soft drinks
or even coffee or tea with sugar), and say shehakol and then hamavdil.

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22. One who hears Havdala during the fast

Some of our unit was allowed to eat during the fast, and they made
Havdala before eating (as mentioned in the previous response). Can I
fulfill my obligation of Havdala by hearing their Havdala, or do I have
to wait until the end of the fast to make Havdala?

If you did hear the bracha of Havdala during the fast and intended to fulfill your
obligation by saying “amen,” you do not have to make Havdala after the fast.

23. Eating meat in seuda shelishis on Shabbos-Erev Tisha Ba’av for one not
accustomed to this

We are soldiers spending Shabbos Erev Tisha Ba’av on a base and there
will be no seuda mafsekes as is customary before a fast. Can we have a
full meat meal for the third meal, even though our usual seuda shelishis
is very small?

Despite the fact that you are used to having a small third meal, on this seuda
mafsekes on Shabbos, you can eat meat and drink wine and, as Chazal state,
“arrange your table with delicacies like that of Shlomo Hamelech.”

24. Eating and zimun for the third meal, Shabbos-Erev Tisha Ba’av

Are we allowed to have a seuda mafsekes as a unit, together in the mess

hall, and have a large zimun at end of the seuda?

While the Magen Avraham says that at this seuda one should not sit together
with friends, there are other Acharonim who disagree, as this is a sign of public
mourning that is forbidden on Shabbos. Certainly, if your custom on a regular
Shabbos is to eat together, you can eat this way on this Shabbos as well and make
a zimun as usual.

25. Eating after the third meal on Erev Shabbos Tisha Ba’av

Are there any limitations placed on this seuda?

You must be careful to finish the seuda before shekiyas hachama, and if after you
finish there are a few minutes left, you can continue eating as you wish until
sunset, as you did not make your completion of the seuda conditional on
anything.