{"id":4926,"date":"2010-02-10T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-10T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/testing.tip.org.il\/wordpress\/05-10-13\/"},"modified":"2010-02-10T13:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-02-10T11:00:00","slug":"05-10-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-10-13\/","title":{"rendered":"13 – Sitting and Lying on the Ground"},"content":{"rendered":"

According to [the letter of] the law, there is no obligation to sleep or lie on the ground on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/em>. For Chazal<\/em>\u2019s statement – \u201cAll mitzvot<\/em> that apply to a mourner apply on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/em>\u201d (Ta\u2019anit 30a) – refers only to those acts that are forbidden<\/em> during the [seven-day] mourning period, like washing, anointing, wearing shoes, marital relations, greeting one another, and Torah study. However, the mitzvot<\/em> that a mourner must keep, like turning over the beds and sitting on the floor, do not apply on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/em> according to [the letter of] the law (Tur, O.C. 555). Nonetheless, the custom is to exhibit our mourning on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av<\/em> in the way we lie and sit, as well. But since this law is based on custom, it is more lenient [than the other prohibitions are], as we will explain presently.<\/p>\n

Lying down: Some people sleep on the ground; others sleep without a pillow; and still others place a stone beneath their heads (Sh.A. 555:2). One who finds it difficult to sleep in this manner, may sleep normally (M.B. 555:6). The prevalent custom is to\u2026 place one\u2019s mattress on the ground, thus precluding the need to remove one\u2019s pillow. It is best to place a stone underneath the mattress. This way, one observes the custom of mourning without having much difficulty falling asleep.<\/p>\n

Sitting: The custom is to sit on the ground like mourners. However, since there is no halachic obligation to do so, we are not strict about this all day long (Bach 559:1). Ashkenazim [sit on the ground] until midday, while Sefardim [do so] until the Minchah<\/em> (Afternoon) service (Sh.A. and Rama 559:3). Thus, one who takes a nap in the afternoon need not place his mattress on the ground.[16]<\/a><\/p>\n

We already learned (above, 9.3) that some have a custom, based on Kabbalah<\/em>, not to sit on the ground without a piece of cloth or wood to separate [between the person and the floor] (Birkei Yosef 555:8). If the floor is tiled, however, many [poskim<\/em>] maintain that there is no need [for a separation], even according to Kabbalah<\/em>. Some are meticulous to make a separation even on tiled floors, but many people follow the lenient custom.<\/p>\n

Since there is no halachic obligation to sit on the ground, one may sit on a small cushion or a low bench, but they should preferably be no higher than a tefach<\/em> (handbreadth) off the ground. If it is difficult to sit so low, one may be lenient and sit on a chair that is less than three tefachim<\/em> (24 cm) high. And if even this is difficult, one may sit on a chair that is slightly higher than three tefachim<\/em>.[17]<\/a><\/p>\n

Sitting on stairs is considered sitting on the ground, because people step on them (Mekor Chayim by the [author of] Chavot Ya\u2019ir). Some [authorities] allow one to sit on an overturned stender<\/em> (lectern), even if it is higher than three tefach<\/em>im. Since it is not designated for sitting, one who sits on it is not considered as one who sits on a chair. Pregnant women, the elderly, the sick, and those who suffer from back aches – for whom sitting on a low chair is difficult – may sit on regular chairs (A.H.Sh., Y.D. 387:3).<\/p>\n

\n
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[16]<\/a>Some say that one may sit on a chair immediately following the recitation of Kinot. This is the opinion of Sefer HaBrit, and one can infer it from Tractate Sofrim 18:7, as well, as [the author of] Hilchot Chag BeChag (7:95) points out. Those who find it difficult to sit on the ground may rely on this. Sefardim, as well, may be lenient, when necessary, starting midday, or at least half an hour after midday, which is the [earliest] time [one can pray] Minchah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
[17]<\/a>The Maharil sat directly on the ground, but since there is no obligation [to do so], the Magen Avraham (559:2) allows one to sit on a cushion. The [Chafetz Chayim], in Mishnah Berurah 11 and Sha\u2019ar HaTziyun 9, permits one to sit on a low bench, when necessary. The Ben Ish Chai (Devarim 20) writes that it should be no higher than a tefach. Many are lenient up to three tefachim, which is considered still attached to the ground, and the Chazon Ish permits even more than three tefachim. See Piskei Teshuvot 559:4 and Hilchot Chag BeChag 7:65:92. Regarding the Kabbalistic custom [not to sit directly on the ground], see Kaf HaChayim 552:39, which says that there is no obligation to put a separation on tiled floors. However, it is best to act stringently, when possible. See Torat HaMo\u2019adim 10:2 and Hilchot Chag BeChag 7:66.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

According to [the letter of] the law, there is no obligation to sleep or lie on the ground on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av. For Chazal\u2019s statement – \u201cAll mitzvot that apply to a mourner apply on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av\u201d (Ta\u2019anit 30a) – refers only to those acts that are forbidden during the [seven-day] mourning period, like washing, anointing, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-05-10"],"yoast_head":"\n13 - Sitting and Lying on the Ground - Peninei Halakha<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ph.yhb.org.il\/en\/05-10-13\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"13 - Sitting and Lying on the Ground - Peninei Halakha\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"According to [the letter of] the law, there is no obligation to sleep or lie on the ground on Tish\u2019a B\u2019Av. 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