06 Aug 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.