Sunday 27 July 2014

Siyum During the Nine Days

Question: Is it okay to plan a siyum for during the nine days so that I can eat meat together with my family and friends?

Answer: The Shulchan Aruch (OC 551:9) writes that one must not eat meat or drink wine during the nine days. The Rema (OC 551:10) adds that if one has a seudas mitzva during this time then one may partake of wine and meat as such celebrations are incomplete without them. This includes Shabbos meals, a bris seuda, a pidyon haben, or a siyum.

The Elya Rabba (551:26) and Mishna Berura (551:73) add that one must not change one’s pace of learning to ensure that they finish their learning during the nine days so as to make a siyum then. Additionally, one should only make a siyum then if they would have done so during a regular week, and only invite people who they would have otherwise invited.

Likewise, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 551:28) strongly disapproved of postponing one’s siyum to coincide with the nine days in order to eat meat, though writes that if one was learning something (extra) and planning on making the siyum then, that is commendable.

R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:40) writes that while there are poskim that take a more lenient stance, one should not rely on this, and one must not either delay or rush one’s learning to make a siyum then.

The Mishna Berura (551:75) writes that anyone who would normally be invited to one’s siyum may participate and eat meat, too, though one should not invite extra people.

In conclusion, one should not specifically plan to finish one’s learning during the nine days in order so they can eat meat during the siyum.

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