The Nine Days: Laws and Customs
Parsha Halacha | July 23, 2024
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The Nine Days: Laws and Customs

Parsha Halacha | June 25, 2025

Monday, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av/August 5 to Wednesday, 10 Menachem Av/August 14

From Rosh Chodesh Av until after Tisha Be’av, it is appropriate to minimize joy in the manner explained below. Despite this, one should maintain and even increase in permissible joy, such as Torah study.

Court Cases

If one has a court case with a non-Jew, one should try to postpone it until after the Nine Days. If possible, one should reschedule it for after 15 Av (August 19) or, better yet, for the month of Elul.

Renovations – New Homes

One should not build or renovate one’s home (unless it’s essential. See below).

  • One who is in middle of renovating his home and is paying non-Jewish workers by the job need not stop the workers from their job if this will cause him a significant financial loss. If one can pay them a small amount for them to delay their work, it is better to do so.
  • One who is renovating because his living quarters are too cramped, may do the work in the Nine Days, up until the seventh of Av.
  • Building for the sake of a mitzvah (e.g., a shul), yeshivah or other communal building) is permissible as is building to prevent a financial loss (e.g., if a wall needs strengthening to prevent it from breaking).
  • One may sign a contract to buy or lease a home or apartment if by not doing so he may lose that opportunity.
  • It is best not to move into a new home or apartment during this time. If possible, one should postpone this until after the 15th of Av or, better yet, until the month of Elul.
  • One should not plant a garden for pleasure. But one may plant for the purpose of eating fruits or vegetables. One may water and maintain their garden even if it does not produce food.

Buying New Items

  • One should refrain from buying furniture or other expensive household items in the Nine Days even if one does not recite Shehechiyanu on these items. The same applies to a new car. One may, however, purchase such items for business use. One who needs items for their homes urgently (e.g., if they need a new air conditioning unit or washing machine) may purchase them.
  • One should also not buy simple clothing such as underwear.
  • One may not buy articles of clothing even if they don’t plan to wear them until after Tisha Be’Av.
  • If necessary, one may purchase non-leather shoes to wear on Tisha Be’Av. In this case, one should wear them for the first time before Tisha Be’Av.
  • One may purchase a sefer (holy book) from which to study Torah.
  • One may purchase simple items for home use such as plates and cups.

Washing Clothes

  • One may not wash or iron clothes during the Nine Days even if one does not plan to wear them until after Tisha Be’Av. Neither may one have a non-Jew wash or iron his clothes for him. It is even forbidden to wash with water alone without any detergent.
  • The Sefardic custom is to allow washing of clothes up until the week of Tisha Be’Av.
  • The clothes of very young children that are constantly getting dirty may be washed. It is customary to be lenient with the clothes of children under six years of age. If one can have a non-Jew wash these clothes, that is preferred.
  • It is not necessary to purchase new clothing for one’s young children in order to avoid washing.
  • If all of one’s clothes are soiled to the extent that they cannot be worn, one may wash the minimum that one needs to wear.
  • In the case where one is permitted to wash certain clothes (as explained above), one may not add other clothes (that are not permissible to wash) to the washing machine.
  • When starting a wash load on Erev Rosh Chodesh (Sunday, Aug. 4), one should take care to start it at such a time that the washing cycle will be complete before sundown. If necessary, one may begin the load if it will finish before nightfall. Some permit even starting the wash load right before sunset if the main washing will be complete before nightfall.
  • One should not bring his clothes to the laundromat or dry cleaners even if he tells them not to clean the clothes until after Tisha Be’Av. Some are lenient in this matter.
  • Some say that a woman may not wash her wig (sheitel) during the Nine Days. Others allow it.
  • One who is traveling should take as many clothes as he will need for the trip rather than wash them during the trip. Others say that if it would be a great bother to take this amount of clothes, one may take less clothes and wash them when he has used them up.
  • Some say that one should not polish his shoes in these days. However, one may do so in honor of Shabbat.
  • One may spot-wash a stain as this small act does not distract one from mourning.

Wearing Freshly Laundered Clothing

  • One may not wear freshly laundered clothes during this time. Sefardim only need to observe this law during the week of Tisha Be’Av.
  • Similarly, one should not use fresh sheets, tablecloths, towels or hand towels.
  • If one needs to change one’s underwear due to discomfort, it is permissible.
  • If necessary, a woman may wash and wear the white garments she needs in order to count the seven clean days.
  • It is customary to “pre-wear” other articles of clothing to be able to wear them during the Nine Days. The changes of clothing should be worn for enough time for them to be considered “worn” (a half hour is recommended) and not merely put on and taken off. Some say that for white clothing, even one minute is sufficient. This is not necessary for underwear and socks (see above).
  • One may not “pre-wear” one’s clothes on the Shabbat during the Nine Days as this is considered a preparation for the weekdays. But one may put on a different shirt when they wake up in the morning and again after their afternoon nap as it is not obvious why one is doing so. One should not specify as to why they are doing this.
  • One who did not prepare clothes in this manner and needs to change his clothes should put the fresh clothes on the ground in such a way that they get (a bit) dirty (or at least wrinkled). He may then wear them.
  • One may provide a (new) guest with fresh sheets and towels.
  • One may wash towels that are needed for public use such as a mikvah.
  • One should educate older children to observe these laws as well.
  • One may wear fresh clothes on Shabbos. The same applies to towels and tablecloths.
  • One who is going on a date (for shidduch purposes) may wear fresh clothes (and, if necessary, even new clothes) in order to look presentable.
  • One should also not wear new clothes even if they were purchased before the Three Weeks began.
  • One who is staying in a hotel should ask them not to change the sheets and towels during his stay there but may use the fresh ones that are on the beds upon his arrival.

Wearing Shabbat Clothes

One may not wear Shabbat clothes during the weekdays of the Nine Days. (In general, one should not wear one’s Shabbat clothing during the week unless it is a special occasion.) While in some (non-Chassidic) communities, the custom is not to wear Shabbat clothes on Shabbat of the Nine Days except for the Shabbat shirt, the Chassidic custom is to wear Shabbat clothing. This is also the custom of the Vilna Gaon as well as the Sefardic custom. The reason for this custom is that it is forbidden to show public signs of mourning on Shabbat, and wearing weekday clothes on Shabbat is considered a public sign of mourning.

  • One may don Shabbat clothes (as per the customs mentioned above) on Friday afternoon at the same time one normally does on other Fridays. After Shabbat, some say that one should remove these clothes immediately. Others disagree.
  • According to most opinions, one may not wear new clothes on the Shabbatot of the Nine Days. If there is a brit or a pidyon haben, the parents, mohel, sandek or Kohen may wear (freshly laundered) Shabbat clothes. The woman who brings in the baby (kvater) may do so as well.
  • A bar mitzvah boy as well as his parents and grandparents may wear Shabbat clothes at his bar mitzvah celebration.

Sewing

One may not crochet, do needlework, knit, sew or do alterations on clothing at this time, nor may one ask (or pay) a non-Jew to do it. The reason for this is that the word for spinning (shetiyah) is similar to the even hashetiyah (the stone in the Holy of Holies upon which the Aron Kodesh was placed). By refraining from spinning thread, weaving, and sewing clothes, we remember that the building that stood over the even hashetiyah was destroyed.

  • In addition, this activity distracts one from the focus on mourning and is similar to washing clothes.
  • Both Sefardim and Ashkenazim should refrain from this for all of the Nine Days.
  • One may sew a button or a patch on a torn garment as the above rule does not apply to minor repairs.
  • By the letter of the law, one may hire a non-Jew to sew a new garment if it will not be ready until after Tisha Be’Av. It is, however, better to refrain from this as well.

Eating Meat and Drinking Wine

It is customary not to eat meat or chicken or to drink wine or grape juice during the Nine Days. The reason for this is to commemorate the loss of the wine libations and animal (meat) sacrifices.

  • In some Sefardic communities it is customary to permit eating meat and drinking wine on Rosh Chodesh and only to forbid it after this.
  • One may eat meat and/or drink wine if it is a seudat mitzvah (mitzvah feast). This includes: a Brit Milah, Pidyon Haben or a Siyum of a masechta which was completed on one’s regular learning schedule.
  • This only includes one who would normally attend this simcha if it had happened during the rest of the year.
  • It is customary not to eat food cooked with meat or chicken. If the food was not cooked with actual meat but was merely cooked in a fleishig (meaty) pot, it may be eaten.
  • One may cook with wine if the taste of the wine will not be noticed in the dish.
  • If one made a bracha on a piece of meat (or on wine) and then realized it is in the middle of the Nine Days, he should taste a small amount so that his bracha not be in vain.
  • If a young child needs to eat meat or chicken for health reasons, one may feed it to him.
  • One who is ill may eat meat in order to gain strength.
  • On Shabbat one may eat meat and drink wine.
  • One who accepts Shabbat early may drink the Kiddush wine and eat meat at the Shabbat meal even before the sunset.
  • On Shabbat Chazon, if one is having the third meal with a community, one may continue to eat meat and drink even after dark. Some disagree.
  • Regarding Havdalah see below.
  • It is customary not to drink grape juice, but it is permissible to drink other alcoholic beverages including cognac.

Bathing

  • 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.
  • 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 sandek 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 9). 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 Tisha Be’Av. Some say she should do the preparations after Tisha Be’Av.

Nail-cutting

There are differing opinions regarding cutting one’s nails during the week of Tisha Be’Av. In practice, Ashkenazim should be strict in this regard. During the rest of the Nine Days, it is permissible.

Engagements

It is permissible to get engaged during the Nine Days. One may have an engagement party without music or dancing. One may serve snacks but not a meal.

Trips

During the Nine Days, it is customary not to take a pleasure trip as this distracts from the mourning. One who needs to go on a non-pleasure trip should begin the preparations for the trip before the Nine Days.

Giving Gifts

  • Some say that one should refrain from giving gifts during the Nine Days. Others disagree.

(See the upcoming article regarding Tisha Be’Av.)

Monday, Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av/August 5 to Wednesday, 10 Menachem Av/August 14

From Rosh Chodesh Av until after Tisha Be’av, it is appropriate to minimize joy in the manner explained below. Despite this, one should maintain and even increase in permissible joy, such as Torah study.

Court Cases

If one has a court case with a non-Jew, one should try to postpone it until after the Nine Days. If possible, one should reschedule it for after 15 Av (August 19) or, better yet, for the month of Elul.

Renovations – New Homes

One should not build or renovate one’s home (unless it’s essential. See below).

  • One who is in middle of renovating his home and is paying non-Jewish workers by the job need not stop the workers from their job if this will cause him a significant financial loss. If one can pay them a small amount for them to delay their work, it is better to do so.
  • One who is renovating because his living quarters are too cramped, may do the work in the Nine Days, up until the seventh of Av.
  • Building for the sake of a mitzvah (e.g., a shul), yeshivah or other communal building) is permissible as is building to prevent a financial loss (e.g., if a wall needs strengthening to prevent it from breaking).
  • One may sign a contract to buy or lease a home or apartment if by not doing so he may lose that opportunity.
  • It is best not to move into a new home or apartment during this time. If possible, one should postpone this until after the 15th of Av or, better yet, until the month of Elul.
  • One should not plant a garden for pleasure. But one may plant for the purpose of eating fruits or vegetables. One may water and maintain their garden even if it does not produce food.

Buying New Items

  • One should refrain from buying furniture or other expensive household items in the Nine Days even if one does not recite Shehechiyanu on these items. The same applies to a new car. One may, however, purchase such items for business use. One who needs items for their homes urgently (e.g., if they need a new air conditioning unit or washing machine) may purchase them.
  • One should also not buy simple clothing such as underwear.
  • One may not buy articles of clothing even if they don’t plan to wear them until after Tisha Be’Av.
  • If necessary, one may purchase non-leather shoes to wear on Tisha Be’Av. In this case, one should wear them for the first time before Tisha Be’Av.
  • One may purchase a sefer (holy book) from which to study Torah.
  • One may purchase simple items for home use such as plates and cups.

Washing Clothes

  • One may not wash or iron clothes during the Nine Days even if one does not plan to wear them until after Tisha Be’Av. Neither may one have a non-Jew wash or iron his clothes for him. It is even forbidden to wash with water alone without any detergent.
  • The Sefardic custom is to allow washing of clothes up until the week of Tisha Be’Av.
  • The clothes of very young children that are constantly getting dirty may be washed. It is customary to be lenient with the clothes of children under six years of age. If one can have a non-Jew wash these clothes, that is preferred.
  • It is not necessary to purchase new clothing for one’s young children in order to avoid washing.
  • If all of one’s clothes are soiled to the extent that they cannot be worn, one may wash the minimum that one needs to wear.
  • In the case where one is permitted to wash certain clothes (as explained above), one may not add other clothes (that are not permissible to wash) to the washing machine.
  • When starting a wash load on Erev Rosh Chodesh (Sunday, Aug. 4), one should take care to start it at such a time that the washing cycle will be complete before sundown. If necessary, one may begin the load if it will finish before nightfall. Some permit even starting the wash load right before sunset if the main washing will be complete before nightfall.
  • One should not bring his clothes to the laundromat or dry cleaners even if he tells them not to clean the clothes until after Tisha Be’Av. Some are lenient in this matter.
  • Some say that a woman may not wash her wig (sheitel) during the Nine Days. Others allow it.
  • One who is traveling should take as many clothes as he will need for the trip rather than wash them during the trip. Others say that if it would be a great bother to take this amount of clothes, one may take less clothes and wash them when he has used them up.
  • Some say that one should not polish his shoes in these days. However, one may do so in honor of Shabbat.
  • One may spot-wash a stain as this small act does not distract one from mourning.

Wearing Freshly Laundered Clothing

  • One may not wear freshly laundered clothes during this time. Sefardim only need to observe this law during the week of Tisha Be’Av.
  • Similarly, one should not use fresh sheets, tablecloths, towels or hand towels.
  • If one needs to change one’s underwear due to discomfort, it is permissible.
  • If necessary, a woman may wash and wear the white garments she needs in order to count the seven clean days.
  • It is customary to “pre-wear” other articles of clothing to be able to wear them during the Nine Days. The changes of clothing should be worn for enough time for them to be considered “worn” (a half hour is recommended) and not merely put on and taken off. Some say that for white clothing, even one minute is sufficient. This is not necessary for underwear and socks (see above).
  • One may not “pre-wear” one’s clothes on the Shabbat during the Nine Days as this is considered a preparation for the weekdays. But one may put on a different shirt when they wake up in the morning and again after their afternoon nap as it is not obvious why one is doing so. One should not specify as to why they are doing this.
  • One who did not prepare clothes in this manner and needs to change his clothes should put the fresh clothes on the ground in such a way that they get (a bit) dirty (or at least wrinkled). He may then wear them.
  • One may provide a (new) guest with fresh sheets and towels.
  • One may wash towels that are needed for public use such as a mikvah.
  • One should educate older children to observe these laws as well.
  • One may wear fresh clothes on Shabbos. The same applies to towels and tablecloths.
  • One who is going on a date (for shidduch purposes) may wear fresh clothes (and, if necessary, even new clothes) in order to look presentable.
  • One should also not wear new clothes even if they were purchased before the Three Weeks began.
  • One who is staying in a hotel should ask them not to change the sheets and towels during his stay there but may use the fresh ones that are on the beds upon his arrival.

Wearing Shabbat Clothes

One may not wear Shabbat clothes during the weekdays of the Nine Days. (In general, one should not wear one’s Shabbat clothing during the week unless it is a special occasion.) While in some (non-Chassidic) communities, the custom is not to wear Shabbat clothes on Shabbat of the Nine Days except for the Shabbat shirt, the Chassidic custom is to wear Shabbat clothing. This is also the custom of the Vilna Gaon as well as the Sefardic custom. The reason for this custom is that it is forbidden to show public signs of mourning on Shabbat, and wearing weekday clothes on Shabbat is considered a public sign of mourning.

  • One may don Shabbat clothes (as per the customs mentioned above) on Friday afternoon at the same time one normally does on other Fridays. After Shabbat, some say that one should remove these clothes immediately. Others disagree.
  • According to most opinions, one may not wear new clothes on the Shabbatot of the Nine Days. If there is a brit or a pidyon haben, the parents, mohel, sandek or Kohen may wear (freshly laundered) Shabbat clothes. The woman who brings in the baby (kvater) may do so as well.
  • A bar mitzvah boy as well as his parents and grandparents may wear Shabbat clothes at his bar mitzvah celebration.

Sewing

One may not crochet, do needlework, knit, sew or do alterations on clothing at this time, nor may one ask (or pay) a non-Jew to do it. The reason for this is that the word for spinning (shetiyah) is similar to the even hashetiyah (the stone in the Holy of Holies upon which the Aron Kodesh was placed). By refraining from spinning thread, weaving, and sewing clothes, we remember that the building that stood over the even hashetiyah was destroyed.

  • In addition, this activity distracts one from the focus on mourning and is similar to washing clothes.
  • Both Sefardim and Ashkenazim should refrain from this for all of the Nine Days.
  • One may sew a button or a patch on a torn garment as the above rule does not apply to minor repairs.
  • By the letter of the law, one may hire a non-Jew to sew a new garment if it will not be ready until after Tisha Be’Av. It is, however, better to refrain from this as well.

Eating Meat and Drinking Wine

It is customary not to eat meat or chicken or to drink wine or grape juice during the Nine Days. The reason for this is to commemorate the loss of the wine libations and animal (meat) sacrifices.

  • In some Sefardic communities it is customary to permit eating meat and drinking wine on Rosh Chodesh and only to forbid it after this.
  • One may eat meat and/or drink wine if it is a seudat mitzvah (mitzvah feast). This includes: a Brit Milah, Pidyon Haben or a Siyum of a masechta which was completed on one’s regular learning schedule.
  • This only includes one who would normally attend this simcha if it had happened during the rest of the year.
  • It is customary not to eat food cooked with meat or chicken. If the food was not cooked with actual meat but was merely cooked in a fleishig (meaty) pot, it may be eaten.
  • One may cook with wine if the taste of the wine will not be noticed in the dish.
  • If one made a bracha on a piece of meat (or on wine) and then realized it is in the middle of the Nine Days, he should taste a small amount so that his bracha not be in vain.
  • If a young child needs to eat meat or chicken for health reasons, one may feed it to him.
  • One who is ill may eat meat in order to gain strength.
  • On Shabbat one may eat meat and drink wine.
  • One who accepts Shabbat early may drink the Kiddush wine and eat meat at the Shabbat meal even before the sunset.
  • On Shabbat Chazon, if one is having the third meal with a community, one may continue to eat meat and drink even after dark. Some disagree.
  • Regarding Havdalah see below.
  • It is customary not to drink grape juice, but it is permissible to drink other alcoholic beverages including cognac.

Bathing

  • 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.
  • 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 sandek 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 9). 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 Tisha Be’Av. Some say she should do the preparations after Tisha Be’Av.

Nail-cutting

There are differing opinions regarding cutting one’s nails during the week of Tisha Be’Av. In practice, Ashkenazim should be strict in this regard. During the rest of the Nine Days, it is permissible.

Engagements

It is permissible to get engaged during the Nine Days. One may have an engagement party without music or dancing. One may serve snacks but not a meal.

Trips

During the Nine Days, it is customary not to take a pleasure trip as this distracts from the mourning. One who needs to go on a non-pleasure trip should begin the preparations for the trip before the Nine Days.

Giving Gifts

  • Some say that one should refrain from giving gifts during the Nine Days. Others disagree.

(See the upcoming article regarding Tisha Be’Av.)

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Parsha Halacha | July 23, 2024