What are the Prohibitions followed during Tisha B'Av?

Tisha B'Av, which is the ninth day of the month of Av on the Jewish calendar is regarded as the saddest day ever for Jewish people. This period is usually characterized by mourning, fasting and praying. It is the period in which the Israelites remain sober and deny themselves of pleasures. They are doing this to remember various evils, calamities that had befallen their ancestors in the past. There are prohibitions that guide how the period should be observed by people.

During this period, Israelites will subject themselves to fasting, there won't be anything like eating and drinking, even pregnant women and nursing mothers are not left out of this. Another thing is that, they are not expected to wear leather footwear throughout the period. Also, Jewish people should avoid washing, shaving, bathing and they are not expected to wear cosmetics. They must not also involve themselves in any sexual activities.

There are five rules known as prohibitions that must be followed during the Tisha B’Av. This helps people know what they can and can’t do to remember and honor the day properly. Some people think that there are many similarities to Yom Kippur because they have some similarities rules. These include not being able to eat or drink during the twenty-five hours that they remember this religious day.

They also can’t wash or bathe. They can’t use creams or oils to their skin. They can’t wear leather shoes, and they can’t have sex during this time. The only exception seems to be those who may suffer from a medical condition, and following these rules may cause them to get sick.