Laws of the week in which falls the Ninth of Av

Laws of the week in which falls the Ninth of Av – laws of laundering, wearing of laundered clothes, washing/bathing, haircutting, cutting of nails, immersion in the mikveh, cleaning of the house, and the rest of the practical laws according to the Poskim (Decisors) of Halacha (Jewish law).

24th of Tammuz 5786 | 09/07/2026 | 20:26

A. It is forbidden to launder clothes and towels and bedsheets etc. in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av, and even if they were already laundered it is forbidden to wear them, and to spread them on his bed. And therefore he who wishes to change clothes during this week, he must prepare before Shabbat Chazon, clothes and towels, and use them a little 7.

B. One who did not manage to prepare before Shabbat shall not do so on Shabbat because of the prohibition of preparing from Shabbat for the weekday. However, he is permitted to change clothes on Shabbat morning, and likewise when he rises from his sleep in the afternoon, in a manner that it will not be noticeable that he does [so] for the need of the weekday. And likewise towels, he shall use them in a manner that it will not be noticeable that he prepares for the need of the weekday 8.

C. Sweat-clothes that are tight to the body (such as: socks, undershirt, etc.) are not included in the prohibition, and it is permitted to change them in this week, and there is no need to prepare them beforehand 9.

D. It is permitted to wear a laundered Tallit Gadol or Tallit Katan, because it is the need of a Mitzvah, and it is not similar to what they forbade regarding his clothes. And if his Tallit tore, whether a Tallit Gadol or a Tallit Katan, and he does not have another, it is permitted to buy a new one and wear it in this week 10.

E. The custom of the Sephardim is to forbid washing in hot water only in the week in which it falls alone 11. However, washing in cold [water] according to the custom of the Sephardim is permitted even in the week in which falls Tisha B'Av 12, and there are those who disagree 13.

F. If he became soiled with mud and excrement etc., or if he has wounds that he needs to clean, and likewise one who sweats a lot and his odor emanates to the point that it is difficult to tolerate it, it is permitted to wash in cold [water] and even with soap. And if it is difficult for him, he shall wash in lukewarm 14.

G. One who is accustomed to immerse every day because of "Prepare to meet your      L-rd, O Israel", and likewise a Sandak and the father of the son [at a circumcision] where the custom is widespread that they immerse before the circumcision, and likewise a scribe who is always accustomed to this — they are permitted to immerse even in this week, however they shall make an effort to immerse in cold [water], and if it is difficult for him, it is permitted to immerse in lukewarm [water] 15.

H. They are accustomed to be lenient to wash the house with cleaning materials during all of the Nine Days, and all the more so that it is permitted on the eve of Shabbat in honor of Shabbat, and likewise in public places they are obligated to wash as usual with cleaning materials because this is the needs of the public and so that there will not be sick people, Heaven forbid 16.

I. From the letter of the law it is permitted to cut the nails in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av, and the one who is stringent not to cut his nails in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av, may a blessing come upon him 17. And if the nails exceed the flesh, there is no reason to be stringent in this, and it is permitted to cut them even on the eve of the Ninth of Av 18.

J. It is permitted to brush the hat, and to polish the shoes in this week, and this is not included in laundering 19.

K. A woman after childbirth, and likewise a pregnant woman in the ninth month, and likewise those who suffer from hemorrhoids, whose healing is to sit in a bathtub with hot water, are permitted to wash in hot water, even in the week in which falls Tisha B'Av. Since they do not do so except for healing and not for pleasure 20.

L. We do not get haircuts in this week 21. And even the central figures of a circumcision it is forbidden 22.

Footnotes & Deeper Analysis

7. Mishnah in Taanit (26b). Shulchan Aruch (Siman 551, Seif 3) and these are his words: The week in which falls the Ninth of Av, they are forbidden to cut hair and to launder, even if he does not want to wear it now but rather to leave it until after the 9th of Av, and even if he only has one shirt, it is forbidden; and likewise those laundered beforehand, whether to wear or whether to spread them on the bed; and even hand-towels and tablecloths, it is forbidden, until here are his words.

8. So wrote my master and teacher the Ohr L'Tzion (Part 3, Chapter 24, Responsum 1) and these are his words: And therefore, he who wishes to change clothes during this week, he must prepare before Shabbat Chazon clothes and likewise towels and use them a little.

How much time shall he wear the clothes so that it will not be considered laundered:

The Ohr L'Tzion wrote (there in the clarifications) and he shall wear them in order that sweat will be absorbed in them, and if he is sweating now a few minutes are enough, or even immediately after he wore [it] if the sweat was already absorbed, and if not, he shall wear them about half an hour or an hour. And towels, it is enough to wipe with them one time. And see in the Shach (Yoreh Deah Siman 389, Seif Katan 4). And in the Ben Ish Chai (Parashat Devarim, Ot 6), see there. And it appears that he can wear several clothes at one time, since in any case sweat was caught in them, and a person to whom they bring a garment that another wore, even if he only wore it over several clothes, the garment would be repulsive in his eyes to wear it.

Does it help to rub the garment on the ground:

And the Ohr L'Tzion wrote further (there) and a non-laundered garment, that means a garment that became soiled with sweat etc. by way of wearing it, but it does not help to rub the garment on the floor, and to consider it by way of this as non-laundered. For it is not similar to a garment that became soiled with sweat, for this garment that they bring to another person will not be repulsive to him like a garment that has sweat in it.

However, my master and teacher, the paragon of the generation, in Chazon Ovadia (Laws of the rules of laundering garments, in the clarifications for Halacha A) brought that the opinion of the Lechem HaPanim (Siman 376) in the name of the Maharash of Lublin, that if he forgot to prepare the clothes before the week in which falls the 9th of Av, and he placed the garment on the ground of the world [bare earth/floor] for one hour it is permitted. And so wrote in the Responsa Hararei Kedem (Siman 93, Ot 11). And he wrote there that even on the 9th of Av this remedy helps.

9. So wrote my master and teacher the Ben Ish Chai (Year 1, Parshat Devarim, Ot 6) and these are his words: But if he forgot to make this remedy before Shabbat and remembered on the Sabbath day, he shall not do so to wear the laundered [garment] for one hour and strip it off in order to wear it after Shabbat, for if so, it turns out he prepares from Shabbat for the need of the weekday, [rather] how shall he do? He shall strip off the shirt upon him that he wore on the eve of Shabbat and wear in its place the laundered [one] and it shall remain upon him and he shall not strip it off on that day, and then that shirt which he stripped off on the Sabbath day, he shall wear it after Shabbat because sweat and dirt have not yet been made in it since he did not wear it a long time; so I brought up in my small book Mikabtziel, and so he shall do with socks [undergarments] and the rest of the clothes that he needs in this week. And so wrote the Ohr L'Tzion (there) and my master and teacher, the paragon of the generation (there, Halacha A).

10. Such is the opinion of my master and teacher, the paragon of the generation (there). However, my master and teacher the Ohr L'Tzion (there in the clarifications) ruled that even they are included in the prohibition, and if he wishes to change in the middle of the week, he must wear them beforehand. And so ruled the Ben Ish Chai [abbr.] (there).

11. Responsa Rav Pealim (Part 4, Orach Chaim, Siman 29).

12. Maran the Shulchan Aruch wrote (there, Seif 16) and these are his words: There are those who are accustomed not to wash from the New Moon [Rosh Chodesh], and there are those who do not refrain except in this week. And the Ben Ish Chai wrote (there, Ot 16) and these are his words: They are accustomed not to wash his whole body, all of it, from Rosh Chodesh until Tisha B'Av, even in cold [water]. And my master and teacher the Ohr L'Tzion wrote (there in the clarifications for Responsum 5) and these are his words: And the custom of the sons of Sepharad [Sephardim] in the Land of Israel is like the second opinion, not to wash in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av, but before this week they wash as usual. And therefore even though the sons of Ashkenaz [Ashkenazim] are stringent from the eve of Shabbat Chazon according to the opinion of the Rama [Rabbi Moshe Isserles] there, the sons of Sepharad wash on the eve of Shabbat Chazon in hot water and soap as usual. And formerly there were also from the sons of Sepharad who practiced in this like the Rama, but nowadays the custom is widespread to be lenient. And such is the opinion of my master and teacher, the paragon of the generation, in Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Washing, Halacha A) and these are his words: Even though the prohibition of washing his body from the letter of the law is not forbidden except on the day of the Ninth of Av, nevertheless the custom of the Sephardim and the Eastern Communities [Edot HaMizrach] is not to wash his whole body in hot water during the entire week in which falls the Ninth of Av. And our Ashkenazi brothers are accustomed to be stringent in this from the day of the New Moon [Rosh Chodesh] of Av. And every community shall hold fast to its custom. And therefore according to the custom of the Sephardim it is permitted for them to wash their whole body in hot water on the eve of Shabbat Chazon, and to wash their head and their body with soap. And even for one who neglected a few times from washing on the eve of Shabbat, because of cold, or bother, it is permitted for him to wash on the eve of Shabbat Chazon. And only in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av is there [reason] to avoid washing in hot water. Until here are his words.

13. My master and teacher, the paragon of the generation (there) and these are his words: And to shower in cold [water] (shower) is permitted even in the week in which falls the Ninth of Av. And therefore it is permitted to enter a pool or the sea (where there is no mixture of men and women, Heaven forbid).

14. Our master and teacher the Ohr L'Tzion (there, Responsum 5) and he wrote there in the clarifications, and these are his words: And even if he suffers from sweat, he shall not wash even in cold [water]. And the House of our L-rd is worthy to lose a washing for it in this week. (See Taanit page 13.). For even a mourner does not wash during the week even in cold [water], as explained in the Shulchan Aruch (Yoreh Deah Siman 381, Seif 1), and we are mourners over the destruction of our Holy Temple. And only if he suffers greatly in a manner that he cannot tolerate the smell of the sweat, it is permitted for him to wash. For it is like the law of a mourner who is an istanis [spoiled/highly sensitive] who is permitted to wash, as explained in the Shulchan Aruch there, Seif 3. (And see also in the Mishnah Berurah in Siman 613, Seif Katan 2, see there). And every person shall estimate himself, that if he is within this category, he will be able to wash. And likewise if he became soiled, such as a construction worker and the like, he is permitted to wash, for it is like one who became soiled with mud and excrement, which is permitted to wash even on Tisha B'Av, as explained in the Shulchan Aruch (Siman 554, Seif 9), see there. And likewise when there are wounds on the legs etc. (And see in the Shulchan Aruch in Siman 554, Seif 14 and 15). And likewise in cities where the humidity there is particularly high and they sweat a lot, and it is difficult to tolerate the smell of the sweat there, it is like one who became soiled, where it is permitted to wash. Until here are his words.

15. Shulchan Aruch (Siman 554, Seif 9) and these are his words : If his hands were soiled with mud and excrement, it is permitted to wash to remove the dirt, and he shall not wash his whole hands but only according to the need to remove the dirt, until here are his words.

And our master, our teacher, the Ohr L'Tzion, wrote (Vol. 3, Chapter 27, Responsa 5) and even if one suffers from sweat, he has no permission to wash unless he cannot bear the smell of his sweat, or if the smell of the sweat is strong and noticeable in his surroundings, or if there is actual dirt upon him, such as a laborer or one who arrives from the road and the like. And so too, one who has wounds on his legs and the like. And even so, he shall not wash except in cold water. And he is permitted to add a little bit of hot water in order to slightly take off the chill of the water. And he is permitted to wash even with soap.

16. So wrote the Kaf Hachaim (Siman 551, se'if katan190) and this is his words: And people who are accustomed to go to the mikveh for the purpose of a keri immersion (immersion for ritual purity) are permitted to go between Rosh Chodesh and the Ninth of Av, even on weekdays. (Yeshu'ot Yaakov). And even on the eve of the Ninth of Av. (Ben Ish Chai, Parashat Devarim, ot 16). And specifically in cold [water]. (Tosefot Chaim on the Chayei Adam, there, ot 34). And it appears that if it is difficult for him to immerse in cold water, or if there is no cold water there, it is permitted to immerse in warm water, since there is great benefit in this immersion, which is that he does not intend for pleasure but only to remove the spirit of impurity from upon him, and so too a Sandak is permitted to immerse. (Ben Ish Chai, ibid.).

And so too our teacher our rabbi, the Ohr L'Tzion, wrote (there) and it is permitted to immerse in a mikveh in cold or lukewarm water for the immersion of Ezra or for the writing of Sifrei Torah, Tefillin, and Mezuzot if he is accustomed to doing so all year round.

And so too wrote our master, our teacher, the paragon of the generation, in the Chazon Ovadia (there, Laws of Washing, Halacha 2): It is permitted to immerse for the purpose of purity to pray and to read the Shema, because of "Prepare to meet your L-rd, O Israel," since this is not a washing for pleasure. And if it is difficult for him to immerse in cold water, it is permitted to immerse in lukewarm or hot water, for washing in these days is not forbidden from the strict letter of the law but rather from custom, and therefore one should not be stringent regarding the matter of immersion.

17. Our teacher, our master, the paragon of the generation in Chazon Ovadia (there, Halacha 4): There are those who practice not to wash and rinse the floor of the rooms of the house all nine days, and it is not a correct custom. And so we are accustomed to be lenient in this to wash and rinse the floor with cleaning materials during all nine days, and all the more so that the matter is permitted on the eve of Shabbat for the honor of Shabbat.

18. So is the opinion of our teacher, our master, the paragon of the generation in Chazon Ovadia (Laws of Haircutting, Halacha 7). And so is the opinion of the Kaf HaChaim (Siman 551, subsection 48) and in Moed LeChol Chai (Siman 10, Ot 13) that the one who is stringent not to cut [nails] is blessed. However, the Or LeTzion (there, response 4) wrote to forbid [it]. And with a change [an unusual manner] it is permitted, for even during mourning within seven [days of Shiva] it is permitted to cut nails with a change. As is explained in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah (Siman 390, section 7).

19. Ben Ish Chai (Torah portion of Devarim, Ot 13) and this is his words: "And in the book Mikavtziel I wrote that if the nails are excess beyond the flesh, it is permitted to cut them even in the week that the Ninth of Av falls in it, because there is a great obligation according to the secret [Kabbalah] to remove them, and as wrote the Arizal in Etz Chaim, Gate of Partzufim Z & N, chapter 1, and these are his words: 'What is excess from the nail and goes out beyond the flesh, it is necessary to cut because the external forces suck from them in extremity, therefore the punishment for one who grows nails is very harsh,' until here his words. Therefore, if they are excess and go out beyond [the flesh], it is permitted to trim them even on the eve of the Ninth of Av, and furthermore I say and I not afraid, that if it happened upon him a mourning of thirty [days] that he was not able to trim on the eve of the Ninth of Av, and the time of their trimming arrived on the Ninth of Av itself, it is permitted for him to trim them on the Ninth of Av itself and he shall not wait until after the Ninth of Av so that he will not give dominion to the external forces to suck more, especially a day that has a strengthening of severity in it. Until here is the quote."

And wrote the Kaf HaChaim (there, subsection 49): And it seems that if it is possible to cut them with his hands or with his teeth because this, even within the seven [days] of mourning it is permitted.

20. So too wrote our rabbi our master, the Or LeTzion (there). And our teacher, our  master, the paragon of the generation (there, Laws of Sewing New Garments, Halacha 5).

21. So too wrote our teacher, our  master, the paragon of the generation  (there, Laws of Washing, Halacha 3) and these are his words: "A woman who gave birth washes in hot water according to her way, even in the week that the Ninth of Av falls in it, because they did not forbid washing except for washing of pleasure. And furthermore, the authorities wrote that they did not forbid washing except to men and not to women, so that they do not become repulsive to their husbands. And so too, a pregnant woman is permitted to wash in hot water in the ninth month to ease from upon her the pain of childbirth. And it is written there in the Biurim and his words: 'And it seems that one who suffers from hemorrhoids, whose cure is to sit in a bathtub with hot water, for an hour or two, it is permitted to do so even in the week that the Ninth of Av falls in it, since he does not do so except for a cure. And so too in the book Shulchan Melachim, manuscript, that any washing that is for the sake of a cure is permitted. And see in Shulchan Aruch (Sign 561, section 14): one who comes from the road and his feet are aching, it is permitted to wash them on the Ninth of Av. And wrote Shulchan Gavoah (there, subsection 23), that even in hot water it is permitted, since he does not do so except for a cure. And so too the Gaon Rabbi Chaim Palagi in the book Ruach Chaim (Siman 551, subsection 7). And so I saw in the Responsa Shaar Shimon, part 2 (Siman 31) who brought in the name of the Responsa Pri Eliyahu, part 3 (Siman 19), until here are his words.'"

22. Shulchan Aruch (Sign 551, section 12) and these are his words: "Haircutting of this week, both of his head and every hair of his [body], is forbidden." And the opinion of the Rama (there, section 4) is to be stringent from the beginning of the month [of Av] regarding the matter of laundering, but regarding haircutting the custom is to be stringent from the seventeenth of Tammuz.