18 Jul LEARNING TORAH ON TISHAH B’AV

In this issue we
will discuss the
halachos nine
days. During the
nine days we are
not allowed to do
many more actions
than those that are
customarily not
done from Shivah Asar B’Tammuz
through during the time before Rosh
Chodesh Av. Issues such as painting,
buying clothing, showering,
swimming, cutting nails, eating
meat, washing clothing many other
halachos will be discussed in this
issue. (Please note: Hhaircuts,
Wweddings, Mmusic and reciting
a Shehecheiyanu apply complete
three- week period, and we will not
be discussing them in this issue.)
The Source
The Gemara mentions that one is
not allowed to learn Torah, Nevi’im,
Kesuvim, Mishnah, and Aggadah.
This is recorded in halachah as well.
Reason
There are two reasons given for this
restriction. One reason is that Torah
gladdens the heart, as the pasuk
sayd Pikudei Hashem misamchei
lev.” The Maharsha says that
this is why children may not learn
Torah. However, the reason for
adults associated with Tishah B’Av
takes one’s mind off the aveilus

Aruch Hashulchan explains this as
follows: When learning Torah, one
has joy, and also the discomfort in
trying to figure out what the Torah
is saying. The main learning of
Torah is joy, even if there is a little
pain.
The discomfort of learning the sad
things allowed on Tishah that B’Av
(see below), outweighs apply to the
the joy, so one is allowed to learn
these topics on Tishah B’Av.
Permitted
One is allowed to read kinos, Iyov,
and the bad things expressed in
Yirmiyah. One is permitted to learn
Midrash Eichah and the chapter
of elu migalchim in Moed Kattan
which discusses aveilus. One may
learn the story of the second Beis
Hamikdash, as well as the story of
the and destruction found in the end
of Yerushalmi on Ta’anis, and the
accounts of the destruction of the
Beis Hamikdash such as that of
Josephus. Anything to the which
is said in the normal course of
davening may be said on Tishah
B’Av as well. Included in this is
korbanos (Parshas Tamid), Eizehu
Mekoman, and Rabbi Yishmael.
A ba’al korei can look over the
leining before he Gemara, Midrash,
Halachos, leins it on Tishah B’Av.
Krias Shema and birchos Krias
Shema are also permitted. Stories
of righteous people may be read.
One is allowed to study the kinos
recited on Tishah B’Av. Even
when pasuk says, Pikudei learning
permitted topics, if there are
pesukim of consolation one needs
to skip them. Mussar sefarim may
be studied on Tishah B’Av in is
that learning topics not order to
arouse the heart to do teshuvah
and improve oneself. Based on
this, tens of and focus of the day.
The thousands of people all over
the world watch the Chofetz
Chaim Heritage Foundation video

and other such videos on Tishah
B’Av.Even while learning the
permitted topics, it should not be
done in depth. The custom is to
permit learning the topics which
are allowed on Tishah B’Av even
with a chavrusa, or through public
lectures, classes etc.
Other Non-Permitted
Learning Tehillim should not be
recited unless one is doing so for
a sick person and recites Tehillim
every day. A dayan should not
monetary issues if it can wait until
after Tishah B’Av.
Children
There is a discussion if children
B’Av. Although the children
may not feel the joy of learning
Torah, it is still forbidden to teach
children (even permitted topics),
because of the joy of the teacher
in teaching Torah. Others allow an
adult to teach the permitted topics.
Some twelve who does not derive
joy from learning may study any
Torah topic. twelve and above may
not learn non-permitted topics by
themselves since it brings joy.
Thinking
There are some who maintain
learning if the topic is not on the
permitted list. Although thinking
is not considered like talking, one
feels joy while thinking in learning.
Writing – Typing
According to some poskim one is
not allowed to write down Torah on
Tishah B’Av from non-permitted
topics. Writing permitted topics is
not an issue.
Obligation to Learn or No
Obligation
There is a discussion in the poskim
if one has an obligation to learn the
permitted topics on Tishah B’Av,
or perhaps there is no obligation
to learn even the permitted topics

since all other areas of Torah are
not pasken a question regarding
allowed. Some maintain that
once one read Krias Shema in the
morning, there is no obligation
to learn the permitted topics.
However, can learn Torah on Tishah
most other poskim disagree with
this. Obviously, even according
to the ones who hold there is no
obligation to learn, if one does learn
the permitted topics he gets reward
like learning Torah.
Erev Tishah B’Av The opinion of
some is that maintain that a child
under after chatzos (midday) on
Erev Tishah B’Av one should only
learn the topics which are Children
age permitted. In general, refraining
from learning after chatzos on Erev
Tishah B’Av is only a chumra.
Tishah B’Av That Falls on
Shabbos
that one may not think in In
addition, if Tishah B’Av falls out
on Shabbos and is pushed off until
Sunday, Pirkei Avos is not recited.
The reason for this restriction is
that when one learns he will think
about it afterwards on Tishah B’Av
itself. Others question how it is
possible to forbid Torah on Erev
Tishah B’Av if we eat during this
time. We can eat meat on Shabbos
when Tishah B’Av is pushed off,
so why is learning more stringent?
Therefore, they permit learning on
Shabbos after chatzos when Tishah
B’Av falls out on Shabbos.