Bathing During the Nine Days

Parsha Halacha | December 10, 2025

It is customary not to bathe during the Nine Days.
The Sefardic custom is to refrain from bathing only during the week of Tisha Be’Av. As such, this year, when Tisha Be’Av falls on Shabbat, Sefardim may bathe in the previous week.
If, as a result of heat and perspiration, one feels uncomfortable, one may shower or bathe, but only as necessary to relieve one’s discomfort.
One may wash parts of one’s body with soap and cold water.
Children who are constantly getting dirty may be bathed.
A man who goes to the mikvah on a daily or weekly basis may continue to do so during the Nine Days (but not on Tisha Be’Av).
A sofer who usually immerses in the mikvah before writing holy scrolls may do so during the Nine Days. Similarly, a sandak or a mohel may immerse in a mikvah before the brit.
By the letter of the law, Ashkenazim should not have a full shower on Erev Shabbat Chazon (August 1). Rather they should wash their hands, face, and feet with hot water and soap and their hair without soap. Some are lenient in this regard.
A woman whose Mikvah night is during the Nine Days may prepare for the Mikvah with a hot bath and immerse in the Mikvah as usual.
A woman whose Mikvah night is the night after Tisha Be’Av should bathe and prepare herself on Erev Shabbat Chazon. Some say she should do the preparations after Tisha Be’Av.

It is customary not to bathe during the Nine Days.
The Sefardic custom is to refrain from bathing only during the week of Tisha Be’Av. As such, this year, when Tisha Be’Av falls on Shabbat, Sefardim may bathe in the previous week.
If, as a result of heat and perspiration, one feels uncomfortable, one may shower or bathe, but only as necessary to relieve one’s discomfort.
One may wash parts of one’s body with soap and cold water.
Children who are constantly getting dirty may be bathed.
A man who goes to the mikvah on a daily or weekly basis may continue to do so during the Nine Days (but not on Tisha Be’Av).
A sofer who usually immerses in the mikvah before writing holy scrolls may do so during the Nine Days. Similarly, a sandak or a mohel may immerse in a mikvah before the brit.
By the letter of the law, Ashkenazim should not have a full shower on Erev Shabbat Chazon (August 1). Rather they should wash their hands, face, and feet with hot water and soap and their hair without soap. Some are lenient in this regard.
A woman whose Mikvah night is during the Nine Days may prepare for the Mikvah with a hot bath and immerse in the Mikvah as usual.
A woman whose Mikvah night is the night after Tisha Be’Av should bathe and prepare herself on Erev Shabbat Chazon. Some say she should do the preparations after Tisha Be’Av.

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Parsha Halacha | July 13, 2025