5785: The Rarest Year of Them All Part XIV - The Ramifications of Not Having Shavua Shechal Bo Tisha B'Av
As detailed in previous installments in our series, our current year, 5785, is not only a rare one, but calendarically speaking, actually the hands-down rarest of them all. 5785 is classified as a HaSh”A year in our calendars. This abbreviation is referring to Rosh Hashana falling out on Thursday (hei), both months of Cheshvan and Kislev being shalem (shin - 30-day months instead of possibly 29; these are the only months that can switch off in our set calendar), and Pesach falling out on Sunday (aleph).
A HaSh”A year is the rarest of years, and out of the 14 possibilities in Tur’s 247-year calendar cycle, this year type occurs on average only once in about 30.19 years (approximately 3.3 percent of the time). Indeed, at times there are 71 years (!) in between HaSh”A years. The last time this year type occurred was 31 years ago in 5754/1994. The next time will be 20 years hence in 5805/2044. The next several times after that are slated to be 27 years further, in 5832/2071 and then a 51 year gap in 5883/2122.
The reasons and rules governing the whys and whens this transpires are too complicated for this discussion; suffice to say that when the Mishnah Berurah discusses these issues he writes “ain kan makom l’ha’arich,” that this is not the place to expound in detail, which is certainly good enough for this author.
Obviously, such a rare calendar year will contain many rare occurrences. This series has been detailing many of them over the course of the year. Let’s continue on our journey through our unique year.
Enter the ‘Three Weeks’ and ‘Nine Days’
The Mishnah in Maseches Ta’anis famously teaches that “Mishenichnas Av Mema’atin Besimchah - When the month of Av arrives (Rosh Chodesh Av), we lessen our joy.” This is due to the heralding of the beginning of the tragedies that took place prior to the destruction of both Batei Hamikdash, from the breaching of the walls of ancient Jerusalem on the 17th of Tamuz, until the actual destruction of the Beis HaMikdash on the Ninth of Av. As detailed in the Mishnah and Gemara Ta’anis (26b and on), both of these days (Shiva Assur B’Tamuz and Tisha B’Av) have long since become communal Fast Days, in remembrance of the tragedies that happened on these days. In order for us to properly commemorate and feel the devastation, halacha dictates various restrictions during this period, getting progressively stricter up until Tisha B’Av itself.
These restrictions include not getting haircuts or getting married (from Shiva Assur B’Tamuz), eating meat or chicken, not drinking wine, not doing laundry, nor wearing freshly laundered clothing nor pleasure bathing (during the ‘Nine Days’). Many of these restrictions are generally still in effect until midday (Chatzos) of the next day, the tenth of Av with some being stringent the whole next day for some of the restrictions (unless in a year when Tisha B’Av is actually being observed on the tenth of Av, since it fell out on Shabbos).
Ashkenazic or Sefardic Halacha?
However, this aforementioned timeline follows the general Ashkenazic minhag. On the other hand, many Sefardim only start most restrictions on beginning of the week that Tisha B’Av falls out on, aka ‘Shavua Shechal Bo.’
Although there is no mention of such in the Gemara, these restrictions are indeed binding Ashkenazic practice, as instituted by many Rishonim and later codified by the great Ashkenazic authorities, including the Rema, Rav Moshe Isserlis, and is cited by many later decisors as well.
While several later Sefardic authorities maintain that it is proper for Sefardim to follow the Ashkenazic minhag and start the restrictions from Rosh Chodesh Av, nevertheless, most Sefardim only observe these restrictions from the actual week that Tisha B’Av falls out on, as per the actual ruling of the Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 551:4).
Tisha B’Av on Sunday
In our rare year - 5785, Tisha B’Av will fall out on a Sunday, or to be more accurate, immediately as Shabbos ends, on Motza’ei Shabbos Chazon. This means that accordingly, without an actual ‘Shavua Shechal Bo Tisha B’Av,’ generally speaking, this year Sefardim will not undertake any Nine Days restrictions, save for the proscription of partaking of meat and wine. Hence, Sefardim may shower, shave, and do their laundry all the way up until Shabbos Chazon – which is Erev Tisha B’Av this year. On the other hand, Ashkenazim, generally speaking do not share this dispensation, and would still need to keep all the Nine Days’ restrictions.
However, and although this is the rule, this does not mean there aren’t any dispensations available for Ashkenazim. For example, more people are permitted to be invited to a fleishig Seudas Mitzva (see Rema O.C. 551:10, and Mishnah Berurah ad loc. 77) than normally would be in a standard year. Also, there would be more permissibility regarding cutting one’s nails (see Mishnah Berurah ad loc. 20) and washing childrens’ clothing (see Mishnah Berurah ad loc. 77) than normally would be as well. Perhaps if one has a hetter to swim for his health “until Shavua Shechal Bo Tisha B’Av,” he would also be able to benefit from Tisha B’Av being on Sunday this year, etc. As with most halachic topics, if one requires a special dispensation, he should certainly ascertain such from his reliable halachic authority.
Although Tisha B’Av being observed on Sunday occurs not infrequently (as when 9 Av falls out on Shabbos, the fast day’s observance is also pushed off to Sunday), nonetheless, in this author’s mind, it is quite fascinating that this remarkable coincidence will occur in our exceptional year.
Our fascinating journey detailing the many remarkable facets of our rare year will iy”H be continued…
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch famously wrote that “the Jew’s catechism is his calendar.” It is this author’s wish that by showcasing the uniqueness of our calendar year and its rare minhagim, this article will help raise appreciation of them and our fascinating calendarical customs.
*This author wishes to thank R’ Yosef Yehuda Weber, author of ‘Understanding the Jewish Calendar,’ for being a fount of calendarical knowledge and for his assistance with this series.
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda.
