SHABBAT CHAZON
On Friday, one may bathe as usual in honor of Shabbat, go to Mikvah, cut one’s nails, and use fresh Shabbat clothing and tablecloths (that were laundered before the Nine Days). [However, the linens shouldn’t be changed.]
If necessary, one may taste the meaty food when preparing it for Shabbat, provided that it is expelled without swallowing. Apart from that, one may not partake of any meaty Shabbat foods on Friday, even if one is normally accustomed to doing so.
If there won’t be enough time after Shabbat, one should bring Tishah B’Av shoes and Kinot to Shul before Shabbat. Shabbat clothing is worn as usual, and care is taken not to display any signs of mourning. In fact, one should be even more joyous than usual.
One may – and should – eat meat and drink wine on Shabbat Chazon.
One may not stroll for pleasure the entire Shabbat.
It is a Mitzvah to publicize in the name of R’ Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev that this Shabbat is called “Chazon” (vision) because the Neshamah is shown a vision of the Beit Hamikdash. The purpose of this vision is to arouse a yearning to actually see the Beit Hamikdash, and to do all that is necessary to realize this dream.
A Siyum is made as per the rest of the Nine Days. If after midday, it should be performed on a topic which may be learned on Tishah B’Av (such as the conclusion of Moed Kattan).
In Kriat Hatorah, the first Aliyah ends at the end of Passuk 11, and the second Aliyah begins with the word Eicha.
A Brit (including the Seudah) should be conducted before Mincha.
SHABBAT AFTER MIDDAY
Starting from midday (12:45pm), one learns only those parts of Torah which may be learned on Tishah B’Av (see section “Learning on Tishah B’Av”).
A public Kiddush may be conducted as usual. However, words of Torah should focus on those topics that one may learn and discuss on Tishah B’Av.
Mincha is davened early enough to leave sufficient time for the Seudat Hamafseket. Ideally, Kriat Hatorah should not begin prior to Mincha Gedolah (1:19pm). The Amidah may certainly not begin before then.
Tzidkatecha is not recited.
In practice, the third chapter of Pirkei Avot is not recited after Mincha.
SEUDAT HAMAFSEKET
After Mincha, the Seudat Hamafseket is eaten. There are no restrictions as to what may be eaten. In fact, one is not permitted to minimize the meal, as this would amount to exhibiting sorrow on Shabbat. For the same reason, eggs and ashes are not eaten.
One may eat this meal together with his entire family as usual, even if this means that three adult men will make a Mezuman. However, one should not invite company over, unless they normally come over at this time every Shabbat, or they have nowhere else to eat.
During the Seudah, one sits on a chair of regular height and wears leather shoes.
One should eat and drink sufficiently well in preparation for the fast. Nevertheless, one should not state so explicitly, as this would make it clear that one is preparing on Shabbat for the weekday.
Shir Hamaalot is recited before Bentching, and a Mezuman is made if three adult men ate the Seudat Hamafseket together.
One may eat and drink after Birchat Hamazon, until sunset (7:39pm). As it is Shabbat, there is no need to stipulate one’s intention to do so before Birchat Hamazon.
One must stop eating and drinking before sunset. Similarly, all the other restrictions of Tishah B’Av are applicable from sunset – the exceptions being that one must still wear leather shoes and sit on a chair of regular height until the conclusion of Shabbat.
One may not prepare Tishah B’Av shoes and Kinot whilst it is still Shabbat – even if there is an Eruv.
TISHAH B’AV EVENING
Shabbat concludes at 8:15pm. One should not make any Tishah B’Av preparations before reciting Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol.
The prevalent practice is to delay Maariv so that everyone has enough time to make their way from home to Shul after Shabbat has ended.
Accordingly, when Shabbat ends, one first recites Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol. Then, one replaces his leather footwear with non-leather footwear before going to Shul.
[One who came to Shul whilst it was still Shabbat does not exchange his footwear as soon as Shabbat ends. Rather, he does so right after Barchu at the beginning of Maariv, or before Barchu if he is Chazzan.]
One should try not to touch his footwear with his hands when exchanging them. If he does so, he should wash his hands up to the knuckles in order that he may daven.
One still wears his Shabbat clothing on Motzei Shabbat.
The Parochet is removed from the Aron HaKodesh (or moved to the side) before Maariv, but only after Shabbat ends.
The lights in Shul are dimmed to a bare minimum.
Atah Chonantanu is recited during the Amidah.
After the Amidah, the Chazzan recites Kaddish Titkabel.
Havdallah is not recited until Sunday evening, after the fast. However, a Havdallah candle is held aloft in Shul between Kaddish and the reading of Eicha, so that everyone can recite the Brachah of Borei M’orei Ha’eish. [One must come close enough to actually benefit from the light before a Brachah can be made.] If one did not do this in
