Some of you will know exactly what I mean, and some of you won't. A traditional, Torah-observant (notice that I didn't use any of the official adjective/labels) has to be very organized. There are times of the year when we're not supposed to do the laundry. Of course, if there are diapers (my generation had cloth ones which had to be washed) and other things that can't be kept for a long time and can't be reused, you may launder them.
There have been times, I found it easy not to launder and others when I used my washing machine almost as often as usual.
The hampers are pretty empty, and I even washed my bathing suits.
Now, back to the kitchen.
6 comments:
Batya,
Good for you! A day early, even. Happiness is an empty hamper.
My (perhaps mistaken?) understanding was that the restriction of the 9 days (for Ashkenazim) was about wearing freshly laundered clothing.
I didn't know there was a restriction on doing the laundry.
On Rosh Chodesh, there is a custom to refrain from doing chores, often including laundry. But (as far as I know) that is a custom, and not binding.
Please let me know if I've got it all wrong. (Not unprecedented, I assure you!)
jf, I understand it as part of the mourning restrictions, certain cleaning, swimming and bathing (though nowadays people do wash themselves) are forbidden.
Rosh Chodesh is the "women's holiday," so we are supposed to "treat" ourselves; though I never heard that any melacha was forbidden. It's not like chol hamoed.
Shalom!
I had the sense to marry a Sepharadi so I don't have the 9-Day restrictions until the week of Tisha B'Av, which means this year I don't have them at all - which is very, very good because I had a hectic week last week and still haven't dug myself out Mt. Laundry. According to all opinions that I've heard/read laundering is forbidden - except for very young children - during the Nine Days even if the items are not going to be worn or used.
(My advice to single women out there is to marry a Sepharadi (kitniyot on Pesach, easier Nine Days, etc.) - unless you like to eat out frequently, bishul Yisrael is stricter, or insist on wearing a wig. My advice to BT's,especially in Israel, is to seriously consult a rav about formally joining Ha'Eda HaSepharadit. But that's just my opinion.)
Hadassa
Hadassa, my daughter did the same! I didn't know of such things, but as long as we have an eruv for Shabbat, I'm ok.
ps we were in London for two years, including the birth of my third. That was hard, being stuck in the house on Shabbat.
I HATE this time of year, especially the dirt. Who else but the Jews would think of this?
It's part of our mourning laws, but it's also summer vacation. I wonder if it's easier in the southern hemisphere?
Post a Comment