Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

category:  Holidays

Sewing during the 9 Days

During the first nine days of Av, girls in summer camps are sometimes given embroidery as an activity. Are we allowed to mend old clothes during the nine days? Are we allowed to sew on buttons that have fallen during the nine days?

The sages forbade “sewing of new clothes” during the first nine days of the Jewish month of Av.


The category of “new clothes” has two definitions:



  1. It must be a garment, and not embroidery, like the girls’ activity in summer camp, which is not used as clothing.

  2. It must be a new garment, not an old one.


Thus, it is permitted to mend clothes, as well as to sew on buttons.

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