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May one swim on Shiva Asar B"Tamuz? If not, why not? (sources)

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    Yes, unless it is a dangerous place. See this [related question here:][1] [1]: judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/8923/…
    – avi
    Jul 19, 2011 at 12:59
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    @avi, if you have a source or argument to support this answer, why not post it as an answer? Gershon Gold, do you have any reason to think it's forbidden? Can't one just as well ask whether it's forbidden to swim on the seventeenth of Teves?
    – msh210 ♦
    Jul 19, 2011 at 16:47
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    It is a time of Tzara, and therefore maybe it is prohibited.
    – Gershon Gold
    Jul 19, 2011 at 17:26
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    @msh210 I did post that as an answer, but it was too short and became a comment. The sources are in the link I provided.
    – avi
    Jul 19, 2011 at 18:31

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The Debriciner, Rav Moshe Stern in Shaalos U'Teshuvos Be’er Moshe 3:77 says it is permissible. The reasoning is that the Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 550:2 says that bathing is permitted on the three fasts (Tzom Gedalia, Asara B’Teves, and Shiva Asar B’Tammuz). Although the Acharonim argue on the Michaber and our minhag is to be Machmir, the Pri Megadim says that we are only Machmir for hot water but not cold water.

There are those who argue that swimming should be prohibited since it is (Rechitzas Taanug) bathing for pleasure, which from the Gemara Taanis 13a it seems to be prohibited. However the Debriciner Rov says that Rechitzas Taanug is only prohibited in hot water. If the water is cold, yet you manage to find a way to enjoy yourself, that is not called Taanug.

The Tshuva ends by saying that maybe mourning the destruction of Hashem’s house merits being extra stringent even when the Halacha does not prohibit it.

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There are two reasons for not swimming, one applying more than the other:

The Mishna Berurah 549:1 has a piece explaining that the purpose of the fast is a means toward introspection and teshuva. He concludes that those who fast and go on pleasure walks have grabbed the unimportant (tafel) and abandoned the important (ikar).

A second point is brought in 550:6. Although when klal Yisrael accepted the fast days, they did not include washing (rechitza), et. al., that was because most would not be able to handle the extra stringency. However a "baal nefesh" should be strict.

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In addition to the other excellent answers, I want to point out one more source because of its direct relevance to the specific question asked.

The Talmud records (Megillah 5b) that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi publicly bathed in the city of Tzippori on the 17th of Tammuz. Tosfot and Rashba there already point out that he was making a public statement that the strictures of Tisha b'Av (such as not bathing) do not apply nowadays to the other three Temple-related fasts.

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  • is bathing equatible to swimming here? washing because you're dirty vs washing for pleasure?
    – Baby Seal
    Jul 20, 2014 at 21:29
  • @BabySeal Is it so clear he was solely washing off dirt in the story?
    – Double AA ♦
    Jul 21, 2014 at 2:48
  • Probably not but is it so clear he wasn't? Seems inconclusive
    – Baby Seal
    Jul 21, 2014 at 4:54

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