The following activities are forbidden on Tisha B’av:
– Eating and drinking (If one has any medical concerns please contact me before the fast)
– Intimacy
– Studying Torah that does not pertain to Tisha B’av
– Washing oneself in any way. This includes a prohibition against brushing one’s teeth and putting on deodorant. However, one may wash their fingers upon waking up. If one’s hands become dirty in any way, one can wash whatever part of their hand is dirty. If one wishes to bathe a child or wash dishes and their hands will get wet in the process it is permitted to do so.
On Tisha B’av one may not wear leather shoes.
One should not greet others. If one is greeted, it is permitted to respond.
One must sit on a low stool until Halachic midday, which in Baltimore will be at 1:13 PM on Tisha B’av.
One should not work for the first half of Tisha B’av. Ideally, one should not work the entire day.
There are some who sleep in a less comfortable fashion on the night of Tisha B’av. For example, if they normally sleep with two pillows they sleep with one. If they normally sleep with one pillow they sleep with none. If one can do so, it is a meaningful custom. If it will prevent them from sleeping and they will have a harder time fasting, or they have some condition which will make sleeping (or the next day) extremely uncomfortable, there is no need to do so.
Usually, the restrictions of the Nine Days continue until midday of the day after Tisha B’av. This year. 2023, because the day after is Erev Shabbos the following applies:
Laundry may be done as soon as the fast is over (whether or not the clothing is needed for Shabbos).
All other restrictions of the Nine Days end Friday morning.