The Nine Days

Although the Nine Days start on Rosh Chodesh Av, with its being Shabbat this year, we treat the Shabbat as we would any other.

Of course, we say Hallel (with skipping) and Yaale V'yavo, and conduct ourselves as we would on any other Shabbat.

Because of the restrictions of laundering clothes during the Nine Days, and the additional restriction of wearing freshly laundered clothes, it is a good idea to prepare for the Nine Days before this Shabbat by taking several clean shirts, etc. and wear them each for a brief period of time. This way, they are not considered freshly laundered and may be worn during the Nine Days. (For Shabbat during the Nine Days one may wear freshly laundered clothes.) Clean underwear is considered a hygienic necessity and not a luxury and therefore may be worn without the "pre-9 days processing" of outer clothes. So too, if one runs out of clean underwear during the Nine Days, he may wash them in private.

If one forgot to prepare shirts, for example, he may throw them on the floor and rough them up a bit, so that it is obvious that they are no longer fresh.
Also, on Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, one may change clothes a few times if it is not obvious that he is doing so to prepare for after Shabbat. This means that one may put on a fresh set of clothes on Shabbat morning, even if he usually puts on the same clothes that he wore Friday night. Similarly, after a Shabbat afternoon nap.

There are different opinions as to whether one uses wine for Havdala for this Shabbat, Rosh Chodesh Av. Some hold that Havdala belongs to Shabbat and wine can and should be used for Havdala. Others consider Havdala to be the first act of the weekday and recommend using another beverage for Havdala (consult a Rav as to what drinks qualify for Havdala). Some say that if there is a child present at Havdala who is old enough to understand the concept of a Bracha, but still too young to understand Mourning the Churban, then he should drink the Havdala wine. In the absence of such a child, the person saying Havdala should drink the wine himself. Tiyulim are forbidden by halacha only on the afternoon of Erev Tish'a b'Av and on Tish'a b'Av itself. However, it is the common practice to abstain from pleasurable tiyulim during the Nine Days.

Coming to Israel (not leaving it) is one note-worthy exception to the no-tiyul rule.

Buying new clothes and other new items should be avoided during the Nine Days, even if the item does not warrant a SHE'HECHYANU. There are exceptions to this rule; consult a Rav when in doubt. One such exception is the purchase of items (even ones that gladden the buyer) that will not be available after Tish'a b'Av, or even if they will just be more expensive after Tish'a b'Av. In such cases, one should not use the item until after Tish'a b'Av but may buy them and put them away.
One should not listen to music, either live or recorded, during the Nine Days.

Some say that mellow, sad music is permitted. Singing without musical accompaniment is disputed.

There are appropriate songs from Eicha and other sources, which are in the spirit of the Nine Days.

Pleasurable bathing is prohibited during the Nine Days. Washing for health purposes is permitted. The line between the two types of bathing is often blurry. As a rough guideline (again, consult a Rav for specific situations), showering in warm climates (such as Israel) should be done with colder water (the water need not be uncomfortable, but should not be warm enough to be pleasurable), less frequently than normal, and if possible, one should wash his body in parts, rather than bathe the whole body at once.

Our practice is not to eat meat or drink wine during the weekdays of the Nine Days. There is no restriction on Shabbat. That includes both Shabbatot this year. The ban on wine includes grape juice. The ban on meat includes chicken. We are dealing with two ideas here - reduction of joy and abstention from the association with meat of korbanot and wine of libation in the Beit HaMikdash, whose destruction we are mourning.

There are other issues during the Nine Days for which it is better to consult a Rav rather than rely on a short review of practices during the Nine Days. These issues include practicing musical instruments, moving house, gardening, house repairs and renovations.

For next Friday, Erev Shabbat Chazon, many hold that one can bathe as he usually does on Friday for Shabbat; others say that some restrictions apply.
We'll focus on Tish'a b'Av, specifically when it falls on Sunday, and the Shabbat of Erev Shabbat in next week's TT, IY"H. But let's end this piece with a few notes.

This year, there is no Week in which Tish'a b"av falls. Therefore, the strictest practices will not be active.