**Reminder that all attendees must be FULLY vaccinated**
Fast of Tisha B’Av
Saturday night July 17th
Fast Begins – 8:27 PM
Shabbat Ends – 9:18 PM
Reading of Eicha – 9:45 PM
**Books with Eicha will be provided**
Sunday July 18th
Shacharit – 8:00 AM
Mincha – 8:15 PM
Fast Ends – 9:04 PM
Customs & Laws of the Fast
This Saturday night, at sunset, 8:27 PM (Before Shabbat ends) we begin the fast of the 9th of Av, which commemorates the destruction of the first and second Temples in Jerusalem.
This is one of the strictest fast days of the year. If one has any medical concerns please consult your doctor and then rabbi to see if you are able to fast. There are also certain exceptions for regularly taken medicine if it can not be skipped for a day.
For those who are fasting, the 9th of Av includes the following practices;
- No eating
- No drinking
- No wearing leather shoes
- No bathing (Washing hands after using restroom is permitted)
- No marital relations.
There are additional customs that begin Saturday night and continue until Sunday afternoon such as not sitting on a chair (Unless you’re in a car or you must sit on a chair/bench for medical reasons) and not greeting people. If one greets you then you may respond in a subdued manner out of respect.
Havdallah Saturday Night
On Saturday night after Shabbat, 9:18 PM, we do not make the full havdallah, rather we say “Baruch HaMavdil Beyn Kodesh L’Lchol”, “Ata Chonantanu” in the Amidah of Ma’ariv and then, when we see the light of a candle, we recite, “Baruch Ata H’ Elokeinu Melekh Haolam Borei Meorei HaEsh”.
On Sunday night after the fast, 9:04 PM, Havdallah consists of the two blessings of Borei Pri Hagafen over wine/grape juice (Or SheHakol over an appropriate drink) and the full blessing of “HaMavdil Beyn Kodesh L’Khol”.
