Shabbat Chazon

The Shabbat before Tisha Be’av is referred to as Shabbat Chazon, reflecting the first word of the Haftorah reading. Because the word Chazon means vision, the great Chassidic master, Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, taught that every year, on this Shabbat, G‑d shows us a vision of the future Bait HaMikdash. Even if we are not aware of this vision, our neshamot (souls) are aware of it, and this causes us to yearn for the rebuilding of this temple.

• In places where people customarily dance on Shabbat, they may do so on this Shabbat as well.
• One who accepts Shabbat early may eat meat and drink wine from that point and on.
• One may also feed one’s young children the meat or chicken from the Shabbat food several hours before Shabbat as mentioned above.
• One may wash clothes on Friday if one needs them for Shabbat as mentioned above.
• One should have a joyful Shabbat meal as one would every week.
• In some communities, the Haftorah is chanted to the tune of Eicha. This is not the Chabad custom.
• Some have the custom to call up the Rav of the community for the Maftir.
• We recite the prayer of Av HaRachamim as usual on this Shabbat.
• We do not recite Tzidkat’cha during Mincha of this Shabbat.
• We do not study Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) on this Shabbat afternoon since, according to many opinions, one may not study Torah after midday.
• One should go walking for pleasure on Shabbat afternoon.
• One may eat meat and drink wine (even) during the Third Meal (Shalosh Seudot).
• Although the Third Meal is the final meal before the fast, we do not treat it as the Se’udah HaMafseket (in terms of eating eggs dipped in ashes and sitting on the floor). Rather one should eat whatever foods one wishes as one does on a regular Shabbat. Some say that one should not have this meal with a large group. One may certainly eat it with one’s family.
• One should not say explicitly that they are eating extra food at this meal in preparation for the fast.
• One must stop eating before sunset.
• One should not remove one’s leather shoes or sit on a low stool until Shabbat ends.
• No preparations should be made on Shabbat for Tisha Be’Av. This includes bringing kinot or non-leather shoes to shul.