Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Bath Time

July 20, 2023

Q Because Tisha B’Av falls on a Thursday this year, are bathing and laundry permitted earlier than usual?

A Because most of the destruction of the Bais Hamikdash occurred on the 10th of Av, the restrictions of the Nine Days normally continue until chatzos (halachic midday) of the 10th (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 558:1). When the 10^th of Av is Friday, leniency is afforded in deference to Shabbos, and the restrictions are lifted earlier. Some poskim say they end at nightfall of motza’ei Tisha B’Av (See Magein Avraham ibid. 1), while others say they persist until Friday morning (Sha’arei Teshuvah ibid. 2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 124:20).

Later poskim disagree about which view to follow. R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichos Shlomo 15 n. 26) differentiates among the restrictions: Laundry may be done on motza’ei Tisha B’Av, because one only benefits from it later, when he wears the clothes; but bathing, haircutting, and nail cutting must wait for morning.

The prevailing minhag in America today—which takes into account the availability of washing machines—is to wait until Friday morning even for laundry. In pressing situations, one may be lenient (Koveitz Halachos 22:7).

Those restrictions that don’t interfere with kvod Shabbos remain in place until chatzos,  including refraining from meat, wine, and music (Aruch Hashulchan 558:2). The same applies to the restrictions on construction and gardening.

One may not swim in the morning if he plans to bathe for Shabbos afterward (Koveitz Halachos 22:11). Likewise, one may not shower in the morning if he plans to do so again closer to Shabbos (ibid. 10).

Laundry is only permitted in the morning if one will be using the clothes on Shabbos. But when washing clothes for Shabbos, one may add weekday clothes to the load, because the additional effort is insignificant (Halichos Shlomo ibid. n. 27).