Kiddush Levana and Siyumim During the Nine Days

Kiddush Levana

• It is customary not to do Kiddush Levana until after Tisha Be’Av since until then people are in a state of sadness and mourning. The Vilna Gaon was of the opinion that one should do Kiddush Levana as soon as possible after the 3rd day of the month and not wait until after Tisha Be’Av.
• In a place that often has clouds, one may do Kiddush Levana before Tisha Be’Av in order to ensure that he not miss it completely.

Positive Things

• It is a Chassidic custom to make or participate in Siyumim (celebration of completing a Torah Tractate) during the Nine Days. The Lubavitcher Rebbe explained that by increasing in Torah joy, we begin the transformation of these days to a time of joy and rejoicing, a transformation that will be complete in the Messianic era, as the verse says: “So said the L-rd of Hosts: ‘The Fast of the Fourth (the Seventeenth of Tammuz which comes out in the fourth month from Nissan), the Fast of the Fifth (Tisha Be’Av), the Fast of the Seventh (Tzom Gedalya), and the Fast of the Tenth (Asara BeTevet) shall be for the house of Judah for joy and happiness and for happy holidays.”
• If possible, the siyumim should take place on every day of the Nine Days including Tisha Be’Av. Since on Tisha Be’Av it is forbidden to study most parts of the Torah, the siyum should be made on Mo’ed Kattan whose last chapter may be studied on Tisha Be’Av.
• One should endeavor to include as many people as possible in these siyumim in a manner of Berov Am Hadrat Melech (A large crowd is an honor to the king).
• One who cannot make it to the siyum can participate in the simcha of the siyum by hearing it on the radio or the phone. If that is how he participates, it is forbidden for him to eat meat or drink wine.
• The Chabad custom is not to eat meat or drink wine at these siyumim unless the person finished the tractate in the course of their regular learning. Even in such a case, only people who would otherwise be invited to the siyum may eat meat as explained above.
• The Rebbe suggested that this custom of having siyumim be extended to the 15th Av.
• One should add in giving tzedakah and studying Torah during this time.
• It is especially appropriate to add to the study about the Bait HaMikdash at this time (see above).