Seudah HaMafseket: The Final Meal Before Tisha B’Av

The meal eaten before the fast of Tisha B'Av is called the Seudah Mafseket. We will give a few rules regarding the halakhot connected to the Seudah Mafseket. First of all, at the Seudah Mafseket on the eve of Tisha B'Av, one does not eat meat or drink wine, and some also have the custom not to eat fish, and it is proper to follow this practice of not eating fish at the Seudah Mafseket as well. Of one who eats meat and drinks wine, the Gemara says that the verse is applied to him, "And their iniquity shall be upon their bones." So, one must be careful not to eat meat or drink wine, and it is also proper to be stringent and not eat fish. Likewise, regarding the law of the Seudah Mafseket, we have a special ruling that one may not eat more than a single cooked dish. That is, one does eat bread. Bread is permitted, but the bread is eaten with only one cooked dish. The common custom was to prepare a dish of lentils. Some make rice and lentils together, since it is customary to eat this dish together. This is not considered two kinds, but rather one kind. And some eat hard-boiled eggs with the bread. But one must be careful to keep to a single cooked dish. One eats a single cooked dish at the Seudah Mafseket. The next matter, one sits upon the ground, sitting on the floor. Although our custom is not to sit directly on the floor, we place some separation such as a garment or a cushion or something similar, and we sit and eat the Seudah Mafseket on the floor. Some have the custom to take a little ash, just a tiny bit of ash, and to dip the bread in the ash to fulfill what is stated in the verse, "He has broken my teeth with gravel." "He has broken my teeth with gravel. He has covered me with ashes." Therefore, some have the custom to dip a little in ash and eat it at the Seudah Mafseket. In addition, it is proper to be stringent at this time not to sit three people together so that they will not become obligated in a zimun. But if there is no choice and they did sit together, then they should make a zimun in any case. One should know that although two cooked dishes were forbidden, instant coffee or tea at the end of the meal is permitted to drink. This is not considered two cooked dishes, and one who is stringent, may a blessing come upon him. And may it be his will that this year we already merit the complete redemption and will not need to fast.