Sunday, August 03, 2008

Elie’s tips for the Nine Days

I've found Elie's post on the Nine Days extremely helpful, and strongly recommend that you check it out.

I haven't quite figured out how to get around the fact that, with Tisha B'Av following immediately after Shabbat, I'll be without a shower for two days straight. To the best of my knowledge, it's forbidden to shower on either day. If anyone has any other information about the halachic rules concerning showering, please pass it along!

9 Comments:

Blogger Elie said...

Thanks for the link!

If the issue is hygiene/health related and not only discomfort, you should ask a Rav about whether some degree of washing, if not a full shower, can be permitted on Tisha Bav.

Mon Aug 04, 11:14:00 AM 2008  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

You're welcome!

The only issue is that I can't stand the thought of being sweaty and smelly for two days straight. I don't suppose that counts.

On the other hand, there's this:

From http://www.ou.org/holidays/calendar:

Mincha Gedola:
1:35 P

I understand that some people are more lenient after Mincha time on fast days. Does this apply to half-fasts only? Is there any possibility of a case being made for a light partial wash after Mincha time on Tisha B'Av?

Mon Aug 04, 11:20:00 PM 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Can't you take a sponge bath or something on shabbos?

Tue Aug 05, 11:02:00 AM 2008  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

On Shabbat, I usually wash up a bit at the sink using my hands and liquid soap. (Using a washcloth is prohibited on Shabbat, because one is not permitted to wring or squeeze liquid out of anything. Using a bar of soap is also forbidden, I've heard--I think there's a halachic problem with converting a solid into a liquid on Shabbat.) I don't shampoo my hair at all because shampooing seems to be a major no-no, since wringing or squeezing out liquid is prohibited. That's my understanding, at least. My hair will probably look as greasy as French fries by the end of the fast. Mostly, though, I'm concerned about being offensively smelly (not to mention uncomfortably sweaty).

Tue Aug 05, 02:01:00 PM 2008  
Blogger Larry Lennhoff said...

On shabbat it is permitted to wash one limb at a time in cold water, if that helps any.

Tue Aug 05, 11:16:00 PM 2008  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Larry, thanks for the information. That's pretty much what I do (though, in the winter, I bring in pre-heated water from the urn in the kitchen, which I hope isn't cheating, 'cause it's *freezing* in our bathroom). I guess I can manage with dirty hair on Tisha B'Av as long as I can wash a bit the day before.

Wed Aug 06, 12:12:00 AM 2008  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Two of the comments seem to have been deleted by Blogger. I'm copying them from my e-mail records. Here's the first:

Larry Lennhoff:

On shabbat it is permitted to wash one limb at a time in cold water, if that helps any.

Thu Aug 07, 12:26:00 AM 2008  
Blogger Shira Salamone said...

Here's my reply:



Shira Salamone:

Larry, thanks for the information. That's pretty much what I do (though, in the winter, I bring in pre-heated water from the urn in the kitchen, which I hope isn't cheating, 'cause it's *freezing* in our bathroom). I guess I can manage with dirty hair on Tisha B'Av as long as I can wash a bit the day before.

Thu Aug 07, 12:26:00 AM 2008  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was taught that using solid soap creates a problem of carving.

Tue Aug 12, 09:31:00 PM 2008  

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