Can you feed your kids hot dogs on Tisha B'Av?

The question of feeding children on Tisha B'Av touches on the halachic distinction between adults, who are obligated to fast, and minors, who are generally not. Children who have not yet reached the age of bar/bat mitzvah are not obligated to fast on Tisha B'Av, and parents are permitted — and in fact obligated — to feed them. However, there are nuances based on the child's age and the nature of Tisha B'Av as a more stringent fast.

Key Takeaways

Children under bar/bat mitzvah are not obligated to fast on Tisha B'Av and must be fed.
Tisha B'Av is a more stringent fast than the other four minor fasts, instituted by prophetic decree rather than mere custom.
Younger children (roughly under 9-10) should simply be fed normally; older children approaching bar/bat mitzvah age may be trained to fast for part of the day.
There is no prohibition on the type of food given to children — hot dogs or any permitted (kosher) food is fine.
The prohibition on meat and wine applies to the Nine Days leading up to Tisha B'Av, but on Tisha B'Av itself, that restriction is technically not the primary issue for children who must eat.

The Status of Tisha B'Av as a Fast

Tisha B'Av is the most severe of the four rabbinic fasts mentioned in the verse from Zechariah:

"כֹּה אָמַר יְהֹוָה צְבָאוֹת צוֹם הָרְבִיעִי וְצוֹם הַחֲמִישִׁי וְצוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי וְצוֹם הָעֲשִׂירִי יִהְיֶה לְבֵית יְהוּדָה לְשָׂשׂוֹן וּלְשִׂמְחָה" "So said the Lord of Hosts: The fast of the fourth, the fast of the fifth, the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth shall become for the House of Judah joy and gladness." [Zechariah 8:19]

Rabbi Akiva identifies "the fast of the fifth" (the fifth month, Av) as Tisha B'Av [Mishnat Eretz Yisrael on Mishnah Ta'anit, citing Rabbi Akiva].

The Mishnah in Ta'anit 4:6 lists five calamities that occurred on the 17th of Tammuz and five on Tisha B'Av — including the destruction of both Temples — establishing why this day carries unique weight:

"בְּתִשְׁעָה בְאָב נִגְזַר עַל אֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לָאָרֶץ, וְחָרַב הַבַּיִת בָּרִאשׁוֹנָה וּבַשְּׁנִיָּה" "On the Ninth of Av it was decreed upon our ancestors that they would not enter the Land, and the First and Second Temples were destroyed." [Mishnah Ta'anit 4:6]

Peninei Halacha explains the foundational difference between Tisha B'Av and the minor fasts:

"On Tisha B'Av one is obligated to fast by prophetic decree (takkanat ha-nevi'im), therefore all the laws of the fast apply in full. Whereas on the minor fasts, we are obligated because Israel accepted them by custom." [Peninei Halacha, Zemanim 10:1:5]

Children and the Obligation to Fast

Young Children (Under ~9 years old)

Young children are completely exempt from fasting and must be fed normally. There is no halachic issue with giving them whatever food they need, including meat products like hot dogs.

Older Children (Ages ~9-12, approaching bar/bat mitzvah)

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 550 and 616) and its commentators discuss chinuch (training in mitzvot). The majority opinion holds:

On Yom Kippur, children are trained to fast progressively closer to bar/bat mitzvah age.
On Tisha B'Av, the practice is more lenient — most poskim (halachic decisors) hold that even older children approaching bar/bat mitzvah are not required to fast, though some communities have the custom of training older children to fast for part of the day.

The Meat Question — Hot Dogs Specifically

This is a very practical question with two layers:

During the Nine Days (Rosh Chodesh Av through Tisha B'Av): There is a well-established minhag (custom) to refrain from eating meat and wine. Hot dogs would normally be avoided by adults and older children during this period.
On Tisha B'Av itself: The Nine Days' restriction on meat is essentially subsumed — one is not eating at all (if fasting). For children who must eat, the Nine Days' prohibition on meat technically still applies to them according to many opinions. However, if the child genuinely needs the protein and nutrition, most poskim are lenient for young children.

Practically speaking, for a young child who needs to eat, feeding them hot dogs on Tisha B'Av is generally permissible, especially if that is what the child will readily eat and it meets their nutritional needs.

Practical Summary

| Child's Age | Fasting Obligation | Meat (Hot Dogs)? | |---|---|---| | Under ~9 | None — feed normally | Permissible if needed | | 9-12 (approaching mitzvot) | Partial fast in some communities | Consult your rabbi | | Bar/Bat Mitzvah and older | Full fast required | Not eating at all |

For personal guidance on your specific children's ages and your family's custom, consult your local rabbi or posek.