עברית
Halachot and Customs
When is it forbidden for Sephardim to eat meat during the Nine Days?
Question
This year, since the fast of Tisha B'Av falls on Saturday night, there is no week that Tisha B'Av falls on (Shavua she'chal bo). The topic is mentioned briefly in the compact version of Yalkut Yosef, but it is not fully clear. How should I behave regarding meat, haircuts, etc.? I am from Sephardic descent.
Thank you in advance.
Answer
Greetings,
This year, when Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat and is postponed to Sunday, Sephardim do not observe all the laws of the week in which Tisha B'Av occurs Shavua she'chal bo. Nevertheless, it is proper to be stringent and refrain from haircuts and shaving at least on the eve of Shabbat Chazon (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 558:4, and Hazon Ovadia The Four Fast Days p. 263-264).
Regarding meat consumption, even according to the Sephardim, it is forbidden to eat meat after Rosh Chodesh Av. However, the custom of the Sephardim in Jerusalem and the Land of Israel is to permit eating meat on Rosh Chodesh itself (Hazon Ovadia there p. 201).
Best regards,
Hillel Meirs
