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Tisha Bav Customs The Week Tisha B'Av Occurs: A Few Final Customs to Remember This year, Tisha Bav starts Motzei Shabbos so your Shalosh Seudos is kind of going to be like the Seudas Hamafsekes. You aren't going to eat the bread and ashes and egg, but you do need to finish eating before Shekiya (sunset) on Shabbos. This year, when you plan your Shabbos menu for the Shabbos before Tisha Bav, just increase your menu and keep the food coming throughout the day! Shop and prepare foods that you will serve for your pre- and post-fast meals as well as foods for your children. (Click here to view my previous letter about good foods for these meals). It's smart to drink 10-12 glasses of water both days to hydrate yourself properly. (Some people believe drinking Powerade helps maintain energy and hydration during a fast. Buy a bottle and give it a try.) Tisha B’Av: There are five activities that are forbidden on Tisha B’Av: · Eating and drinking · Washing oneself · Anointing oneself (no hand lotion, perfumes, and the like) · Wearing leather shoes · Spousal relations
It’s also customary to avoid sitting on couches or chairs (until mid-day) and to not learn Torah – as these are considered pleasures. There are many other pleasures and comforts we avoid and its useful to learn them – try Aish.com or Chabad.org for a detailed discussion of these laws or read about them in Book of Our Heritage If you plan to go to shul, be sure to bring your copy of Eicha and Kinos and a small cushion or low chair to sit on. I would get yourself one of these types of seats. You can get them in Target or online, I believe they are called the "Floor BackJack" Break the Fast and The 10th of Av: Have a light meal ready to eat. We avoid eating meat and drinking wine at this meal since we know the Bais HaMikdash was still burning into the 10th of Av. Don’t start that laundry yet either, because its customary to wait until mid-day before starting the laundry, eating meat or wine, or cutting our hair and nails. Once you’ve crossed into mid-day you can begin washing your laundry. Think about what you most need and start with that load first. It may be fresh towels or linens that need to be washed first, or maybe you desperately need some clean work clothes or perhaps just the essentials: socks and underwear. Get those out of the way first and then work backwards until you‘ve finished all the laundry. Wishing you all a light fast and a speedy redemption for us all!
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by Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov – a book about the Jewish year and its days of significance - a must have book for every Jewish home. 
