Is it permitted or forbidden to play softball on Tisha b'Av?
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3Perhaps if you dislike softball so much it reminds you of the destruction of the temple it may be permitted. Also you'll be fasting and not allowed to wear shoes– יהושע קJul 15, 2018 at 20:33
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2judaism.stackexchange.com/q/18073/759– Double AA ♦Jul 15, 2018 at 20:39
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@JoshK it is allowed to wear Converse shoes, which are not leather, on Tisha b'Av, so that makes that point irrelevant.– kennebunkportJul 15, 2018 at 20:42
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2@kennebunkport Actually, not everyone agrees Crocs and Converse are permitted to be worn on Tisha B'Av, because of how comfortable they are.– ezraJul 15, 2018 at 22:35
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1@JoshK funny comment "Perhaps if you dislike softball so much it reminds you of the destruction of the temple"– kennebunkportJul 17, 2018 at 2:43
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2 Answers
The Three Weeks by Rabbi Cohen pg 145-146
"One should try not to divert one's mind from mourning on Tishah B'Av. Therefore it is proper to refrain from all pleasurable activities, such as taking a stroll, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, playing games."
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so it is mashma from Rabbi Cohen that it is not, in fact, forbidden to play softball on Tisha b'Av. It is only "proper to refrain" from doing so. Jul 15, 2018 at 21:29
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pri zahav, does Rabbi Cohen list a source or footnote for that halacha? Jul 15, 2018 at 21:30
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@kennebunkport - Not divert one's mind - שולחן שלמה סי' תקנד סעי' ב. Pleasurable activities - שו"ע סי' תקנד סעי' כא. taking a stroll - עפ"י הרמ"א סי' תקנג סעי' ב Reading the newspaper - הגר"נ קרליץ שליט"א, הובא בספר יד בבין המצרים עמוד קכח הערה יז. Playing games - שו"ת מקדש ישראל בפסקי הלכות פ"ד דיני ת"ב אות פג.– פרי זהבJul 15, 2018 at 21:53
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@kennebunkport - The language used in the מקדש ישראל is "אסור". He writes אסור לשחוק במשחקים משך כל היום אפילו אחר חצות דיש בו משום שמחה יתירה ובפרט לאותו שלבסוף מנצח ועוד משום היסח הדעת יתירה– פרי זהבJul 15, 2018 at 21:56
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pri zahav, is it an outright issur or just "proper to refrain," as Rabbi Cohen claims. Jul 15, 2018 at 22:00
From what Rabbi Jaeger and Rabbi Barclay write in their sefer "Guidelines: over 400 commonly asked questions about the Three Weeks," it appears that there is an outright prohibition on playing softball on Tisha b'Av. As they write, "A person should refrain from all pleasurable activities on Tisha B'Av. For example, one may not go for a stroll, read a newspaper, or listen to the radio."