Please review the following brief summary of this year’s Erev Shabbos specific Hilchos Tisha B’Av.
Shabbos Chazon, July 21st, we daven Mincha at 5:50 p.m. The early
Minchah allows enough time to return home for S'udah Sh'lishis before the fast. No classic pre-Tisha B’Av rules (i.e., eating on the floor, eggs, ashes et al) apply to this meal. The meal may include all foods, including meat and wine[1]. Finish eating before sunset (8:52), when eating becomes prohibited[2]. Other aspects of Tisha B’Av (low chair, non-leather shoes et al) are not, according to contemporary custom, applicable until after the Borchu of Maariv[3].
Motza’ei Shabbos is at 9:42. Wait until 9:42 and say Baruch Ha-Mavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol before doing work or making any preparations for Motzaei Shabbos. Our shul delays Maariv (followed by Eichah) until 9:55 to allow people to drive to Shul after Shabbos.
If you begin to walk to Shul for Maariv before Motzaei Shabbos (9:42), then wear your Shabbos clothes and shoes. In that case, bring Tisha B’Av shoes to Shul before Shabbos, (bringing them on Shabbos for Motzaei Shabbos use is forbidden) so that you can slip into them right after the Sh'liach Tzibbur says the Borchu of Motzaei Shabbos Maariv. Those who say Baruch Ha-Mavdil Bein Kodesh L'Chol after 9:42 and then leave their homes, switch into Tisha B’Av shoes at home, although having regular shoes in shul allows you to switch back into appropriate shoes for Kiddush L'vanah on Motzaei Tisha B’Av[4].
We do not make a Motzaei Shabbos Havdalah, but the Aish-fire B'rachah is said, all by itself, on Motzaei Shabbos. This B'rachah will be said in Shul after Maariv for those who will not be saying it at home. The rest of Havdalah (without the introductory Hineih) is said on Motzaei Tisha B’Av, Sunday night, without fire (done the prior night) or B'samim (the B'samim B'rachah is not said at all)[5]. Because Havdalah is a
Mitzvah, we use grape juice/wine for this Havdalah, even though the meat/wine restrictions still apply that night[6]. Ill people, who eat on the fast, and make Havdalah on Tisha B’Av, should use Chamar M'dina (beer) rather than grape juice/wine for Havdalah. If need be, coffee or tea may be used. Cool the coffee/tea, so you can drink it within the short time span required by Halachah[7]. Although the ill person says Havdalah and the Aish B'rachah on Tisha B'Av, he omits the introductory Hineih passage and the B'samim B'rachah.
May the Beis Ha-Mikdash be rebuilt speedily in our days.
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[1] SA, OC, 552, 10
[2] Rema, OC, 552, 10
[3] Shemiras Shabbos ke’Hilchasah, 62, footnote 88
[4] As per Shemiras Shabbos ke’Hilchasah, 62, footnote 88
[5] SA, OC, 556
[6] Mishnah Berurah, 556, 3, although see Arukh ha’Shulchan, 556, 2
[7] See Mikra’ei Kodesh, Pesach, 2, 47
