Seudah Hamafsekes
Towards evening, the seudah hamafsekes is eaten. There are no restrictions as to what type of foods may be eaten and how they are to be eaten (as would be the case when erev Tisha B’Av occurs during the week).
Unlike other years, if there are three adult males present, bentch with a zimun. All eating and drinking must conclude before shekiah.
Between Shekiah and Tzeis Hakochavim
Washing for pleasure is also forbidden starting from shekiah. However, continue sitting on an upright chair and wearing leather shoes until tzeis hakochavim.
It is forbidden to prepare kinos and/or non-leather footwear for Tisha B’Av until tzeis hakochavim.
At Tzeis Hakochavim
At tzeis hakochavim, say Boruch hamavdil bein kodesh lechol. No melachah may be performed until saying Boruch Hamavdil (or Atah Chonantanu during Maariv). Replace leather shoes with non-leather footwear. However, continue wearing your Shabbos clothing.
Maariv and Kinos
Before Maariv, the paroches is removed from the aron kodesh.
Say Atah Chonantanu in Shemoneh Esrei. Shemoneh Esrei is followed by Kaddish Shalem. Then, a havdalah candle is lit and the berachah of Borei meorei ha’eish is recited.
We sit on a low object, and Eichah is recited. The one leading Eichah raises his voice a bit higher with each passing chapter. The congregation recites the last possuk (Hashiveinu) aloud, followed by the leader.
After Eichah we recite kinos. This is followed by Ve’Atah Kadosh, Kaddish Shalem (omitting the segment of tiskabel), and Aleinu.
Do not verbally wish others a gutte voch.
“In Lubavitch they would play with berelach (burs) on Tisha B’Av, and it wasn’t necessarily frowned upon...” (Toras Menachem vol. 3, p. 262)
