The Gemorah in Mesechta Megillah relates that Rabeinu Hakadosh determined that Tishah B’av should be done away with when coinciding with Shabbos, but the other Chachomim blocked this proposal. What possessed Rebbi to nullify a Yom Tov that was mandated by the Neviim from generations past?

One explanation given is based on the wording of this Chazal . It says, “ Rebbi bikeish la’akor Tisha B’av shechal b’Shabbos etc. The word ‘la’akor ’ stems from the word- ‘ ikar ’- meaning- ‘the most important’. Rebbi declared that Tisha B’av that falls on Shabbos is more important than any other Yom Tov. All Yomim Tovim are celebrated with great happiness. Tisha B’av is a day of bitter mourning, and despite the circumstances , Yidden overcome their misery and strengthen themselves to rejoice and honor the Shabbos . Their joy is accompanied by the hope and yearning that Hashem will gather in the exiles and return us to the Bais Hamikdosh in its full glory. This ability to overcome despair and darkness to bask in the holiness of the Shabbos is held in the highest regard by Hashem .

Additionally, the aveilus on the churban essentially encompasses two aspects: the feelings of agony upon the void and the vacuum created by its absence, and the extreme yearning for the return of the Shechina and the rebuilding of the Bais Hamikdosh. Proper conduct of aveilus is the prerequisite to set in motion the process of rebuilding.

When Tisha B’av coincides with Shabbos , aveilus is prohibited. Nevertheless, Rebbi felt that although the first aspect of the aveilus , mourning about the past, must be bypassed, it would suffice to yearn for the future, behavior that would not conflict with the spirit of Shabbos. The Chachomim strongly disagreed. Contemplating the loss and the lack thereof is an integral component in the reestablishment of the Bais Hamikdosh. The understanding that the Shechina used to reside amongst Klal Yisroel, and the knowledge that each Yid was a vehicle upon which the Shechina once rested, is an integral stage in the process of the Shechina to reside amongst us. Since Shabbos does not allow these thoughts, Tisha B’av must be hosted after Shabbos, to allow for all the appropriate feelings of aveilus to pervade us. Thus, the Chachomim dissented with Rebbi’s opinion and this became the accepted halachah .

We are desperate that the Eibershte r replace our loss. We must appreciate what we had before He returns it to us. Proper estimation of a loss requires deep thought and reflection. It is not sufficient to merely plead for its return. One must recall and ponder the significance and importance of that which was lost in order to gain genuine appreciation. The Bais Hamikdosh was the epicenter of our universe. This is where any and all problems were solved. This was the destination to receive advice to navigate life and its challenges. Here one gained atonement and freshened one’s slate on a constant basis. The kohanim , our emissaries, were on 24/7 call to tend to our needs. There, the Ribono shel olam resided, waiting for us to announce ourselves and be assisted.



Gaining awareness of the profundity of that which we are sorely lacking and begging and beseeching for its return is the formula to gain the reacquisition of the Bais Hamikdosh and its chief resident- the Shechina.

Shearing an animal’s wool

The melachah of gozeiz (shearing wool from a living or dead animal) is forbidden both on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Mid’oraisa, it is only forbidden when shearing with a utensil; removing the hair by hand is forbidden mid’rabonon. According to some poskim, it is also forbidden min haTorah to remove goat hair by hand, since that was the standard way to remove goat hair. Some opinions maintain that shearing wool from a live animal is also a transgression of the melachah of kotzer-- i.e. detaching something that grew (the wool) from its place of growth (the animal’s body).

[ משנ"ב תצח, סב, סג ו־סו, וביה"ל יב, ד"ה בידו, ו־יג, ד"ה לא; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 60]

Plucking the feathers of a bird

Plucking the feathers of a bird (whether it is alive or dead) is a toldah of the melachah of gozeiz. The melachah is transgressed even when the feathers are removed by hand, since that is the standard way of removal. After shechting a bird on Yom Tov, plucking the feathers is permitted because doing so is necessary in order to prepare the food. The Rishonim disagree about whether it is permissible to pluck feathers while the bird is still alive in order to clear an area on the bird’s neck for the shechitah. Some Rishonim forbid it, since the plucking that is done before shechitah is indirect food preparation which could have been done before Yom Tov. Others argue that it would be nonsensical to permit plucking the feathers after shechita but not while the bird is still alive. Shulchon Aruch rules according the stringent view, but many shochtim are accustomed to following the lenient view. If it is possible for the shechitah to be done by just pushing away the feathers and not plucking them, one should do so.

[ שו"ע תצח, יג, ומשנ"ב סו ו־סח, וביה"ל ד"ה לא; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 66]

Preparing a non-Jew’s food

Food preparation for a non-Jew (that entails melachah) is forbidden on Yom Tov. The poskim disagree about whether this prohibition applies to food that is owned by a non-Jew but is being prepared on a Jew’s behalf (e.g. a Jew shechting an animal owned by a non-Jew for his own benefit). All opinions agree that if a Jew retains the right to use an item or place owned by a non-Jew, he is able to do melachah for food preparation with those items or that place. For example, a Jewish guest in a hotel owned by a non-Jew may light a candle from a flame if it is standard practice in that hotel to have guests do such actions by themselves.

[ ביאורים ומוספים דרשו תצח, 5]

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.

This Week's Limud

English Shiur

Rav Zev Smith, Shlita