Tisha B’Av Questions You May Not Have Thought to Ask

Tisha B'Av comes with many well-known customs and restrictions, but some of the day's most interesting halachic questions are the ones people don't think to ask until they encounter them. From swimming and music lessons to fragrances, medicine, and even baby names, here are some lesser-known Tisha B'Av questions and their answers.

Can You Go to the Pool During the Week of Tisha B'Av?

Yes. It is permitted to go to a swimming pool during the week of Tisha B'Av, and it is likewise permitted to swim in the sea (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 238).

Is It Permitted to Give Someone a Gift on Tisha B'Av?

Generally, no. However, if the recipient is poor or in need, it is permitted (Yalkut Yosef, Festivals, Four Fasts, p. 441).

What If a Sick Person Needs Medication?

Someone who is ill and must take medication but cannot swallow pills without water should drink less than the halachic minimum measure at a time. This generally means up to 40 mL every nine minutes. Some authorities permit even shorter intervals when necessary (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 279; Halichot Moed, Yom Kippur, p. 120).

May You Read Stories About Great Rabbis and Righteous People?

Yes. Stories about righteous individuals are permitted because they inspire fear of Heaven, strengthen faith, and teach valuable lessons in serving Hashem (Responsa Merkavot Argaman, vol. 4, siman 11).

Can You Hold a Baby on Your Lap?

Generally, one should avoid doing so if it brings feelings of joy and amusement. However, if the baby is crying and needs comfort, it is certainly permitted to pick the child up and calm them (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 333).

Which Mitzvah Deserves Special Attention on Tisha B'Av?

Giving charity.

Some sources emphasize increasing support for the poor and for Torah scholars on Tisha B'Av, since shortcomings in caring for the needy were among the spiritual failings that contributed to exile (Moed Lechol Chai, siman 10, letter 68).

May You Smell Fragrances or Spices?

Yes. Smelling spices or pleasant fragrances is permitted on Tisha B'Av (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, pp. 339–341).

May a Widow Listen to Music During the Three Weeks?

If she lives alone and listens to music in order to ease loneliness or fear, there is room to be lenient (Halichot Shlomo, ch. 14, note 8).

Why Isn't Megillat Eichah Written Like Megillat Esther?

One reason given is that we await redemption at every moment. Since the mourning described in Eichah will one day come to an end, it was not established in the same manner as Megillat Esther (Moed Lechol Chai, siman 10, letter 22).

Can You Brush Your Teeth on Tisha B'Av?

Only in cases of significant discomfort is there room to be lenient. Care should be taken not to swallow water, and one should use only a small amount while keeping the head tilted downward (Halichot Moed Bein HaMetzarim, p. 88).

What Name Is Traditionally Given to a Baby Circumcised on Tisha B'Av?

The custom is to give the name Menachem, which is associated with consolation and comfort (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 396).

What About Headache Medication?

A healthy person who develops severe headaches during a public fast may take acetaminophen or similar medication. If water is necessary to swallow the pill, it may be taken with a minimal amount of water, although on Tisha B'Av one should be stringent when possible (Yalkut Yosef, Festivals, Four Fasts, p. 110).

Is Someone With Severe Headaches Required to Fast?

If a person experiences severe symptoms, such as headaches accompanied by excessive sweating or significant weakness, they may be exempt from fasting and should consult a competent halachic authority regarding their specific situation (Halichot Moed Bein HaMetzarim, p. 95).

Should One Sit on the Ground at Home as Well?

Yes. The custom of sitting on the floor or on a low stool until midday applies at home as well as in the synagogue (Responsa Birkat Yehuda, vol. 2, Orach Chaim 56).

May Music Lessons Continue During the Three Weeks?

If interrupting lessons would cause a significant setback in learning, there is room to be lenient. Likewise, a teacher who depends on teaching music for a livelihood may continue giving lessons (Yalkut Yosef, Festivals, p. 444).

Is Perfume Permitted on Tisha B'Av?

Perfume may not be used for pleasure. However, it is permitted when needed to eliminate or prevent unpleasant odor (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 295).

Must Someone Who Is Not Fasting Still Eat the Pre-Fast Meal on the Ground?

Yes. The widespread custom is that even someone who is exempt from fasting participates in the pre-fast meal in the customary manner, seated on the ground or on a low stool (Halichot Moed Bein HaMetzarim, p. 123).

Are Alcoholic Beverages Permitted During the Nine Days?

Yes. The custom of refraining applies specifically to wine. Other alcoholic beverages are generally permitted (Responsa Or LeTzion, part 3, ch. 26).

May Meat Be Eaten on the Tenth of Av?

At a seudat mitzvah, eating meat is permitted even on the night of the Tenth of Av (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 414).

When the Tenth of Av falls on a Friday, however, one should not be lenient regarding meat consumption (Chazon Ovadia, Four Fasts, p. 419).

Can You Use a Sauna During the Nine Days?

Using a sauna for medical or therapeutic purposes is permitted. Using it for pleasure and recreation is forbidden (Yalkut Yosef, Festivals, Four Fasts, p. 196).

These practical questions highlight an important lesson: Tisha B'Av is not only a day of mourning, but also a day of mindful observance. Understanding the details of the day's laws allows us to focus less on uncertainty and more on the deeper purpose of the fast—reflection, growth, and longing for the rebuilding of Jerusalem.