Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
- Sections
- Peninei Halakha
- Shabbat and Holidays
- The Three Weeks
- The Ninth of Av
The fifth way in which we afflict ourselves on Tisha Be-Av is by abstaining from sexual relations. In order to distance ourselves from transgressing this prohibition, a couple must behave on the night of Tisha Be-Av as they do when the woman is a nida. That is, they may not touch each other, sleep in the same bed, or pass things to each other from hand to hand. During the day, they do not need to observe all the precautionary measures that apply while the woman is a nida, but they still may not touch each other affectionately or sleep in the same bed.12
12 554:18. Two adjacent beds are considered one bed. The Aĥaronim write that one should be stringent on Tisha Be-Av with regard to all the precautionary measures that couples observe during the nida period, just as one does on Yom Kippur ( 615:1). According to most poskim, one should be stringent both on the day and night of Yom Kippur. Taz maintains that one does not need to be stringent during the day of Yom Kippur. Regarding Tisha Be-Av, however, many poskim write that one does not need to observe the precautions during the day, since everyone is mourning and the women do not adorn themselves; therefore, there is no reason to be concerned that contact between husband and wife will lead to sexual intercourse ( 554:37, Kaf Ha-ĥayim 554:85). Some rule stringently with regard to touching even during the day (Kitzur 124:12, Hilkhot Ĥagim 26:49). Either way, it seems that everyone agrees that affectionate touching is prohibited even during the day, as is sleeping in the same bed.
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Peninei Halakha 18. Torah Verses in the Prayers and in the Berakha of She-asa Li Kol Tzorki
Chapter 10: The Laws of Tisha Be-Av
The Laws of Purim 16. Costumes and the Prohibition of Lo Yilbash
Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness
Rabbis in Midrash
Various Events FOR WHOM NOT TO VOTE
Rav Zvi Yehuda Kook stressed that Israeli politics is G-dly, so I have no problem answering this common question on a Torani blog. Also, Free-Will is a G-d-given right and obligation, to "destine one's fate" (R. Soloveichik, Kol Dodi Dofek, 67), so I obviously don't tell others how to vote. But once not a few (especially young) have already asked, a couple of personal words from experience and thoughts from chazal & Rav Kook which may be of help to others, mainly for whom NOT to vote.
P'ninat Mishpat Fallout from Failure to Install Elevator – part II
based on ruling 85007 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
