Learning Torah on Shabbos After Chatzos [Midday]
The Rema (end of 553) writes: The minhag is not to learn Torah on erev Tisha B’Av from chatzos and on, besides for devorim hamutarim [specific topics that one is allowed to learn on Tisha B’Av]. Therefore, if erev Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos (like it does this year) we don’t recite Pirkei Avos. The Mishnah Berurah (s.k. 9) explains not only if Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos, but even if just erev Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos we don’t recite Pirkei Avos. However, we need to understand why we don’t refrain from krias haTorah as well by Mincha for the same reason? The Bigdei Yesha (end of siman 553) answers: Pirkei Avos is different as it is entirely mussar, and if one learns it carefuly he will come across wonderful chiddushim in the words of Chazal, and he will come to have a great simcha, this is unlike krias haTorah which is just a simple cursory reading of the pasukim.
However, the Mishnah Berurah (s.k. 10) cites the Taz (s.k. 2) who is very unhappy with saying that one should refrain from learning on Shabbos. He asks on the Rema, that just like there is no prohibition to eat meat and drink wine on Shabbos as there is no aveilus on Shabbos, the same thing should be with learning and there should be no need to refrain from learning, especially if one has a fixed shiur that he goes to on Shabbos afternoon. The Taz brings that the Maharshal would learn on erev Tisha B’Av in afternoon. The Taz then concludes that if one learns on Shabbos after chatzos he doesn’t lose out, both when Tisha B’Av itself falls on Shabbos, and certainly when it’s just erev Tisha B’Av that falls on Shabbos. On the other hand, there are poskim that are stringent.
The Bechor Shor (end of Ta’anis) asks on the Taz, that on Shabbos there is a mitzvah of oneg like it says: וקראת לשבת עונג – “You shall proclaim Shabbos a delight”, however, there is no mitzvah of simcha. Since there is a mitzvah of oneg one shouldn’t refrain from meat and wine which brings oneg. However, when it comes to learning Torah, which brings simcha like it says: משמחי לב פקודי ה 'ישרים – “The commandments of Hashem are very straight and they bring joy to the heart”, then there is a reason to refrain. The reason we learn on Shabbos is not because of oneg Shabbos, rather, it is because Shabbos is a day off, and since learning brings simcha and not oneg, it is very different to the heter of eating meat and drinking wine.
Insights Into Halachah
We can add an additional reason to be stringent not to learn after chatzos based on the Chasam Sofer. The Chasam Sofer (Shu”t, Orach Chaim 156) writes that the reason we don’t learn on erev Tisha B’Av after chatzos (during a regular year) is because one will come to think about his learning on the night of Tisha B’Av. According to this, even when erev Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos one should still refrain from learning after chatzos, in order to avoid coming to think in learning on the night of Tisha B’Av. (However, see the Shu”t Divrei Yatziv 2:241 who writes that sadly nowadays this doesn’t apply, as it’s bad enough that even during the actual time we are learning we struggle to think of the learning.)
The Chazon Ish told R’ Chaim Kaniesvky zt”l not to be lenient with learning things other than devorim hamutarim when erev Tisha B’Av fell on Shabbos. (See reshimos at the beginning of the sefer Kora Olai Mo’ed, ois 17 – It could be that this was a special ruling just for R’ Chaim. See Orchos Rabbeinu Vol. 2, pg. 136 where they bring a story with the Chazon Ish that when erev Tisha B’Av fell on Shabbos, when chatzos arrived the Chazon Ish stopped his regular learning, and started to learn Mo’ed Kotan).
May The Regular Shabbos Afternoon Daf HaYomi Shiur Go Ahead?
Practically, if one is going to end up not learning altogether, certainly it is better for him to follow his regular learning schedule then it is to not learn at all (as is clear from the Mishnah Berurah and Biur Halachah end of 553).
Regarding the regular Shabbos afternoon Daf HaYomi shiur, it’s clear from the Shu”t Divrei Yatziv (Orach Chaim, Vol. 2, siman 241, s.k. 2) that cancelling it would be considered aveilus in public on Shabbos, therefore, it should go ahead. The Mishnah Berurah (554:23) brings from the Bechor Shor that if one has the custom to eat his Shabbos meals with lots of people, he shouldn’t refrain from doing this when Tisha B’Av falls on Shabbos, as refraining would be considered aveilus in public. The Divrei Yatziv understands that the same is with learning, consequently, if there is a public Daf HaYomi shiur it should go ahead.
However, the Shevet HaLevi told R’ Yom Tov Sanger shlita, that one shouldn’t be lenient with this, and one should follow the Rema, and just like we don’t say Pirkei Avos, there shouldn’t be a shiur either. The Shevet HaLevi added, that even if they won’t learn otherwise, the shiur still shouldn’t go ahead.
Avos U’Banim on Shabbos Afternoon
R’ Elyashiv zt”l ruled that “Avos U’Banim” on Shabbos afternoon is not considered public learning as each person learns individually with his son. And one doesn’t need to go out his way to learn devorim hamutarim with his son, as this is not his regular schedule (cited in Mevakshei Torah, Koivetz 47, pg. 10).
