A cup of wine is normally part of the circumcision ceremony. What is to be done when a brit milah takes place on Tisha BeAv and everyone is fasting? There are various opinions.
1. Early authorities cited by the Ba’al HaItur say that the blessing is made over the wine, but the wine is then put aside until the fast is over, at which point someone drinks it. Many Rishonim object to this because of the length of time which elapses from the recitation of the blessing until the actual drinking of the wine. Additionally, if the wine spills in the interim, the blessing will have been made in vain.
2. Some say that wine is not part of the ceremony on Tisha BeAv.
3. Others agree but add that once the blessing over wine is left out, the blessing that is generally recited after the brit should also be left out.
4. Still others posit that wine should be used, and children should be given it to drink. Some object because they feel that doing so might get the children used to drinking on the fast. However, advocates of this approach maintain that since a Tisha BeAv circumcision happens only infrequently, no bad habit will be ingrained as a result.
5. Some believe that a taste of the wine should be given to the infant who is being circumcised. There is certainly no concern in this case that the baby will acquire a bad habit.
There are many additional issues which relate to Tisha BeAv. Let us hope for the time when Tisha BeAv will become a joyful day, following the coming of the Messiah and the redemption of the Jewish people.
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