Special Features ASK THE REBBE from the virtual desk of the OU Vebbe Rebbe The Ask the Rabbi project is a joint venture of the OU, Yerushalayim Network, Eretz Hemdah... and the Israel Center. The following is a Q&A from Eretz Hemdah... Question: Could you please explain how to handle the transition from Shabbat into Tisha B’Av (which falls on Motzei Shabbat) regarding seuda shlishit, havdalah and changing clothes? Answer: Seuda Shlishit: One should have normal Shabbat meals (Ta’anit 29b) including seuda shlishit (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 552:10). However, he must finish eating before sunset (Rama, ad loc.). [Ed. note: Seuda Shlishit can be more "sumptuous" than usual, even meat. No mourner's meal of bread & egg this year. One should refrain from inviting guests for this Shabbat, unless one has company so often that the absence of guests would be an overt sign of mourning. Recommended time to stop eating and drinking this Shabbat (Jerusalem) is 7:35pm.] Havdalah: One says havdalah in tefilla or in the declaration of “Baruch Hamavdil…”, which enables him to do actions forbidden on Shabbat. Havdalah over a cup of wine is done after Tisha B’Av (Shulchan Aruch OC 556:1). However, the minhag regarding the bracha on the fire, which is specific to Motzaei Shabbat and does not require a cup, is to say it in shul after davening, before the reading of Eicha (Mishna Berurah 556:1). There are those who say that a woman should avoid making havdalah, because of the doubt whether she is obligated especially in the bracha of me’orei ha'eish,which is not directly related to Shabbat (Bi'ur Halacha 296:8). Therefore, one should be particularly careful that she hears “borei me’orei haeish” from a man who has not yet fulfilled the mitzva, and thus, avoid a safeik bracha (Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 62:(98)). There is no bracha on b’samim that week [neither on Motza'ei Shabbat nor on Sunday after the fast]. Taking off shoes: One may not do a noticeable act of mourning before Shabbat is over. Not eating or washing is not noticeable; taking off shoes [Ed. note: and putting on sneakers!] is. There are two minhagim: [1] wait 20 minutes after sunset, say “hamavdil” [Ed. note: 8:05-ish. But "regular" melacha is not permitted until 8:20pm.] and then change clothes [and shoes] and go to shul (hopefully, they will wait to give people time to arrive); [2] take off shoes after borchu of Ma’ariv in shul. One who takes the second approach should bring sneakers and Eicha/Kinot (unless he uses the book a little before Shabbat ends - i.e. reads/learns from it) to shul before Shabbat to avoid the problem of hachana (preparations on Shabbat for after Shabbat) (see Shemirat Shabbat K’hilchata 62:39-40). “Ask the Rabbi” Q&A is part of Hemdat Yamim, the weekly parsha sheet published by Eretz Hemdah. You can read this section or the entire Hemdat Yamim at
www.ou.org or www.eretzhemdah.org. If you would like to receive Hemdat Yamim by email, on a weekly basis, please send an email to
lists@eretzhemdah.org with the message: Join Hemdatya - Please leave the subject blank. The Torah was handed down to us in fire, so that we would know to uphold it with burning passion and commitment. If I could, I would cancel all of the fast days save the Day of Atonement and Tish'a b'Av which commemorates the destruction of the Temple. REASON In accord with the pasuk in Eicha (2:17): BITZA EMRATO... He fulfilled His decree. The Sages... interpret the pasuk as, He tore His garments. REASON The Midrash (Vayikra Raba 22:2) recounts that at the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, the evil Titus "entered the Sanctuary and slashed the Parochet with his sword. On Tish'a b'Av night it is the custom to dim the lights when reading Eicha and saying Kinot. (Shulchan Aruch) REASON In accord with Midrash Eicha (1:1): HaShem gathered the ministering angels and said to them - If one beloved to a human king passes away, how does the king express his mourning? The angels answered: He extinguishes the lanterns. Said the Almighty: I will do the same, as Yoel 2:10 states - The sun and moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.
(Avudraham) Hashem told Moshe that even though Esav would fear Israel, Bnei Yisrael were nevertheless to circumvent Esav’s territory. Here, the King of Seir would agree to provide them with provisions and they would then bypass the land, as instructed, “For Hashem, your G-d, has blessed you in all your handiwork.” Do we thus understand that at this juncture of Jewish history there was harmony between Esav and the Jewish people? Let us compare this incident with the episode in which Moshe sent words of peace to Sihon, King of Edom, who some also identify with Seir. Again, Moshe requests provisions and passage through the king’s land. Now, however, Israel is faced with an advancing army and forced to withdraw on Hashem’s command. Who are Edom and Seir? Rashbam indicates that they are two separate descendants of Esav. Edom is belligerent and Seir is more amenable. However, one of Rashbam’s disciples advocates that Seir and Edom are one and the same. Seir, he posits, was also preparing to fight. In that case, it only remains for us to recall – as always – how adept Esav is at portraying a false friendly face. Sincerely yours, Menachem Persoff, Director, Israel Center [The D'varim Homepage]
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