Tisha B’Av message from Rabbi Pessin

Just a reminder to all that this year like last year the weekend Taanis of Tisha B’av is a Nidcheh. The ninth day of Av is Shabbos so Lkvod HaShabbos we commemorate the Tzom on Motzaei Shabbos through Sunday evening. This therefore has the following ramifications:

  • The Pirkei Avos shiur will take place, but will last only until 6:35 to allow everyone to get home and eat a robust Shalosh Seudos
  • All eating on Shabbos must come to a complete END at 7:55pm. Shkiya is at 7:57pm and one must stop eating 2 minutes prior to shkiya. All other minhagei availus and enuyim ARE NOT PRACTICED WHILE IT IS STILL SHABBOS. (we sit on regular chairs, wear our regular shabbos shoes etc)
  • Make sure to bring appropriate Tisha B’av footwear to the Shul before shabbos. We will be davening Maariv at 8:45 pm (the normal 45 minutes or so, after shkiya) and we put the tisha B’av footwear on immediately after Borachu.
  • The shul will be providing Tisha B’av seats (cartons obtained from Hellman’s Memorial Chapels they distribute to Availim for shiva purposes) as we did last year (you will find them prepared iy’h in the small bh’m).
  • There is no formal Havdala made until Sunday evening, Therefore everyone MUST MAKE SURE THEY SAY BARUCH HAMAVDIL BAYN KODESH L”CHOL immediately after 9 pm (motzai Shabbos) women at home should take special care to say it PRIOR TO DOING ANY MELACHA on motzai Shabbos. There will be a ner in Shul for everyone to make a Birchas Borai Meorai Ha’aish in shul which is the Minhag.
  • The Shul will iy’h lain Aicha at 9:35 (or 35 minutes more or less after we complete Maariv) to provide everyone with the time needed to gather the family and come to shul.
  • Davening and Kinos on Tisha B’av morning (Sunday AM) begin at 9:00 am iy’h
  • Mincha is at 1:36 pm followed by a program similar to that which we had on Shiva Asar Betamuz, namely, speakers on Inyanei Tisha B’av. More information can be found here.
  • Again, BECAUSE TISHA B’AV IS A NIDCHEH THIS YEAR, questions regarding breaking ones fast due to illness or related weakness should be asked of a competent Rav. DO NOT RELY UPON ANSWERS YOU RECEIVED IN THE PAST. If you wish to contact the Rabbi you can do so confidentially here.

Yehi Ratzon that our fasting and Enuyim will bring about what they are intended to: The rebuilding of Yerushalayim and the Bais Hamikdosh, and this will have been the final Tisha B’av we commemorate in this way!