After Tisha B'Av: What Is Permitted, and the Hidden Treasures Found in Every Mitzvah

Two Daily Halachot from Hidabroot, based on Halachah and Aggadah and the rulings of Maran Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

May You Do Laundry After Tisha B'Av Ends?

It is permitted to get a haircut, shave, bathe in hot water, wash clothes, and immediately wear freshly laundered clothing after the conclusion of the Tisha B'Av fast.

The Ashkenazic custom is to refrain from these activities until midday of the following day. However, when Tisha B'Av falls on a Thursday, Ashkenazim may also take haircuts, bathe, and do laundry immediately after the fast in honor of Shabbat.

May You Listen to Music After Tisha B'Av?

It is permitted to listen to music accompanied by musical instruments after Tisha B'Av, since we are not permitted to prohibit anything beyond what the Sages themselves enacted.

Nevertheless, it is preferable not to wear new clothing or eat a new seasonal fruit even on the Tenth of Av, so as not to recite the blessing Shehecheyanu — "Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time" — during the period when the Holy Temple continued to burn, marking the culmination of the destruction and tragedy.

Daily Inspiration

A young man approached his father and said, "Dad, I'd like to travel through the Far East, but I'll need your help with 10,000 shekels."

His father replied, "I'm happy to help, but on one condition: promise me that every day while you're abroad, you'll put on tefillin."

The son agreed. His father gave him a special set of tefillin, and the young man left for his trip, expecting his father to transfer the money.

A week later, he called home.

"So, when are you sending the money?" he asked.

His father replied, "Are you putting on tefillin?"

"Of course," the son answered. "Every single day."

"Good. You'll receive the money in a few days," his father said.

Two more weeks passed.

"Dad, what about the money?" the son asked again.

His father responded, "You're still putting on tefillin like you promised?"

"Absolutely," said the son. "Every day since I arrived."

"Then you'll have the money within two days," his father assured him.

This continued for three months until the frustrated son finally returned home.

"Dad," he protested, "you didn't tell me the truth. How could you promise to send me money and never do it?"

"I didn't keep my promise?" his father laughed. "Let's open the tefillin bag I gave you."

Confused, the son opened the bag.

"Now take out the tefillin," his father said.

The son removed them — and 10,000 shekels in cash fell out of the bag.

God says to us in much the same way: "My beloved children, I have given you My mitzvot. Open them, and you will discover that all the treasures are already inside."

God does not ask very much of us. "Open for Me an opening the size of the eye of a needle..."

Just open the tefillin bag. Perform one good deed. Take upon yourself one positive resolution.

Then God promises: "...and I will open for you an opening as wide as the entrance to a great hall."

When we take the first small step toward Him, He opens the door to blessings beyond anything we could imagine.