Eating meat on shabbat during the nine days

Eating meat and drinking wine on Shabbat during the Nine Days is permitted — in fact, it is considered a mitzvah (religious obligation) to honor Shabbat with meat and wine even during this period of mourning. The restrictions on meat and wine that apply during the Nine Days are suspended for Shabbat, because the joy and honor of Shabbat overrides the mourning practices of this period.

Key Takeaways

• Eating meat and drinking wine on Shabbat during the Nine Days is permitted and even encouraged as part of Kavod Shabbat (honoring the Sabbath).
• The prohibition on meat and wine applies to weekdays of the Nine Days, not to Shabbat itself.
• Leftover meat from a Shabbat meal may generally be eaten on Motza'ei Shabbat (Saturday night) according to many opinions, though this is subject to debate.
• The restrictions intensify as Tisha B'Av approaches — the Seudah Hamafseket (final meal before the fast) has the strictest limitations.
• If Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat and is pushed off to Sunday, some leniencies apply regarding meat eaten at the Shabbat meals.

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The Basic Rule: Shabbat Overrides Mourning Practices

The Shulchan Arukh establishes that the Nine Days customs of abstaining from meat and wine apply during the weekdays of this period [Shulchan Arukh, Orach Chayim 551:9-10]. However, Shabbat is explicitly excluded from these restrictions.

The reason is rooted in the Torah's command:

"זָכוֹר אֶת־יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ" — "Remember the Sabbath day to sanctify it." [Exodus 20:8]

Oneg Shabbat (Shabbat delight) and Kavod Shabbat (Shabbat honor) are positive Torah obligations. The Sages taught that meat and wine are primary vehicles for fulfilling these obligations, and therefore they must not be forsaken even during a period of national mourning.

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The Prohibition on Weekdays

The Peninei Halakhah explains the gradation of the restriction on meat and wine:

"נהגו הראשונים, להימנע מאכילת בשר ושתיית יין בימי האבלות על החורבן. יש שהחמירו בזה בכל ימות החול שבשלושת השבועות, ויש שהחמירו בזה בשבוע שחל בו תשעה באב, ודעת רוב הראשונים, שהמנהג הנכון להימנע מבשר ויין בתשעת הימים."

"The early authorities (Rishonim) had the custom to refrain from eating meat and drinking wine during the days of mourning over the destruction. Some were stringent throughout all the weekdays of the Three Weeks, some were stringent only during the week in which Tisha B'Av falls, and the opinion of most Rishonim is that the correct custom is to refrain from meat and wine during the Nine Days." [Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 8:13]

This makes clear that the restriction is a mourning custom, not a Torah-level prohibition — and mourning customs do not apply on Shabbat.

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What Counts as "Meat" During the Nine Days?

The prohibition on weekdays is broad:

"בכלל איסור אכילת בשר בתשעת הימים כלולים כל סוגי הבשר, בשר בהמה ובשר עוף, בשר טרי ובשר שהוקפא ונמלח. אבל דגים מותרים."

"Included in the prohibition of eating meat during the Nine Days are all types of meat — the meat of animals and poultry, fresh meat, frozen meat, and salted meat. But fish is permitted." [Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 8:14]

All of this applies only to weekdays. On Shabbat, all of these are permitted and encouraged.

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The Seudah Hamafseket — The Final Pre-Fast Meal

Even though Shabbat is permitted, the rules change dramatically when it comes to the Seudah Hamafseket (the final meal before the Tisha B'Av fast begins):

"ערב תשעה באב, בסעודה המפסקת שלפני הצום, לא יאכל אדם שני תבשילים... וכן לא יאכל בשר ולא ישתה יין, מפני שאלו מאכלים חשובים ומשמחים."

"On the eve of Tisha B'Av, in the Seudah Hamafseket before the fast, a person should not eat two cooked dishes... Similarly, one should not eat meat or drink wine, because these are important and joyful foods." [Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 9:1]

This restriction on the Seudah Hamafseket is rabbinic in origin (divrei chachamim), whereas the Nine Days restriction is a minhag (custom). The closer we get to Tisha B'Av, the more the mourning intensifies.

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Leftover Meat from Shabbat on Motza'ei Shabbat

A common practical question: may one eat leftover Shabbat meat on Motza'ei Shabbat (Saturday night going into Tisha B'Av eve)?

• The Shulchan Arukh [551:9-10] and later poskim discuss this. If Motza'ei Shabbat is the eve of Tisha B'Av, one generally may not eat the leftover meat, as the fast begins and mourning practices resume immediately.
• If there are still days before Tisha B'Av, many authorities permit eating leftover Shabbat meat on Motza'ei Shabbat on the basis that it was prepared l'kavod Shabbat (in honor of Shabbat).

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For personal guidance on your specific situation, consult your local rabbi or posek.