When Tisha B’Av Starts Right After Shabbos: A Halachic Guide

This year, Tisha B’Av starts just as Shabbos ends, so we’ve got some unique guidelines to follow. Here’s a straightforward rundown to help you observe everything properly, based on classic sources.

Taking Pills to Help with the Fast

If you want to take those easy-fasting pills on Shabbos, mix them into some food or a drink on Friday afternoon. That way, they’re not standing out on their own and count as part of your meal, making it okay to have them on Shabbos.

Forgot to do that on Friday? No worries, you can still take the pills straight up on Shabbos.

Eating Meat and Wine on Shabbos

Go ahead and enjoy meat, wine, and all your usual Shabbos treats. Singing zemiros at the table? Totally fine, just like any other Shabbos.

Learning Torah on Shabbos

You can study Torah as normal all Shabbos long, right up until sunset.

Once the sun sets, switch gears: no regular learning, but stick to topics about the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash.

Seudah Shlishis on Shabbos

For your third meal, eat whatever you like until sunset, just make sure you wrap it up before then!

The whole family can sit together and sing zemiros, no problem.

If you finish early, you can still sip some water until sunset.

What to Do After Sunset

After sunset, that’s it, no more eating, drinking, or anything like that. Also, skip Torah study and don’t greet people with “shalom.”

Change out of your Shabbos clothes once the stars come out (tzeis hakochavim).

When you head to shul, take off your leather shoes after Barchu. You can change out of Shabbos clothes after Maariv.

Or, after tzeis, say “Baruch hamavdil bein kodesh l’chol,” switch to weekday clothes, and go to shul in those.

Havdalah on Tisha B’Av

No Havdalah over wine or spices, just say the blessing “Borei me’orei ha’eish.” A woman can say this one for herself if needed.

On Motza’ei Tisha B’Av, do “Borei pri hagafen” over wine or grape juice, then the hamavdil blessing. Skip the spices and candle.