Yamim Tovimימים טובים

Meat Consumption on Rosh Chodesh Av: Sephardi Custom

Sources address the permissibility of eating meat during Rosh Chodesh Av according to Sephardi custom, and whether advance recitation of evening prayer affects the observance of restrictions on the Ninth of Av.

למנהג רוב יוצאי ספרד, מותר לאכול בשר בראש חודש

2 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

For Sephardim, Peninei Halakhah (Zemanim 8:13) rules explicitly that meat and wine are permitted on Rosh Chodesh Av itself, and the prohibition begins only when that day ends — meaning a Sephardi may eat meat throughout Rosh Chodesh Av.

The question of whether praying Arvit early could shift one into the next day's status is addressed in a parallel context by Mishnah Berurah (554:1), which rules that even if one has already prayed Maariv, this does not help to end the prohibitions of a fast day — they remain in force until nightfall; that same logic would argue against treating early Arvit as a mechanism to extend the prohibition of the Nine Days backward into Rosh Chodesh.

Taken together, the sources indicate that a Sephardi may eat meat on Rosh Chodesh Av because, per Peninei Halakhah (Zemanim 8:13), the prohibition does not begin until after that day concludes, and early prayer does not alter that boundary.

Source 1 · Acharonim

Verified

Mishnah Berurah 554:1

משנה ברורה תקנ״ד:א׳

Mishnah Berurah 554:1

The passage prohibits washing, reading Torah, and other activities throughout the entire day of the Ninth of Av, even during twilight until stars appear, and praying Arvit in advance provides no dispensation; however, those who conduct business with non-Jews and engage in commerce after midday are permitted to do so, though the custom of leniency derived from them should be objected to.

(א) אסור ברחיצה וכו' ואסור לקרות בתורה וכו' - ואסור בכל אלו הדברים כל היום ואפילו בין השמשות עד צאת הכוכבים ואין מועיל לזה מה שיתפלל מעריב מקודם אך אותן ההולכים בין הנכרים ועוסקים במשא ומתן אחר חצות אותן מותרין לנעול [ועיין לקמן בסי"ז בהג"ה ובמ"ב] ומהם למדו כולם להקל ויש למחות בידם:

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Source 2 · Modern

Verified

recovered from “Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim”

Peninei Halakhah, The Three Weeks and the Nine Days

פניני הלכה, זמנים ח׳:י״ג

Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 8:13

This contemporary halakhic overview explains the practical observance of meat-eating restrictions from Rosh Chodesh Av and distinguishes between different communal customs, including Sephardi practice.

למעשה, מנהג יוצאי אשכנז שלא לאכול בשר ולא לשתות יין כל תשעת הימים, כולל ראש חודש אב, וכן נהג האר"י. ולמנהג רוב יוצאי ספרד, מותר לאכול בשר ולשתות יין בראש חודש, ומסיום יום ראש חודש מתחיל האיסור (משנה ברורה תקנא, נח; כה"ח קכה). ואף ביום עשירי באב, שבו נשרף בית המקדש, מחמירים שלא לאכול בשר ולשתות יין. למנהג יוצאי אשכנז וחלק מיוצאי ספרד מחמירים עד חצות יום עשירי, ולחלק מיוצאי ספרד עד סיום יום עשירי באב (רמ"א ושו"ע או"ח תקנח, א, כה"ח י).

In practice, the Ashkenazic custom to abstain from meat and wine throughout the Nine Days includes Rosh Ḥodesh Av. This was also Arizal’s practice. According to the custom of most Sephardim, however, one may eat meat and drink wine on Rosh Ḥodesh; the prohibition begins when the day ends (MB 551:58, Kaf Ha-ḥayim 551:125). We are stringent on the tenth of Av as well, taking care to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine then too, because the Temple continued to burn on that day. Ashkenazim abstain only until midday on the tenth of Av, while most Sephardim are stringent until the end of the day on the tenth of Av (SA and Rema 558:1, Kaf Ha-ḥayim, ad loc. 10).

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