סימן קכד סעיף ה

דִּבְרֵי תּוֹרָה מְשַׂמְּחִין אֶת הַלֵּב, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר פִּקּוּדֵי ה' יְשָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי לֵב. וְלָכֵן אָסוּר בְּתִשְׁעָה בְּאָב לִלְמֹד תּוֹרָה, כִּי אִם בִּדְבָרִים שֶׁמַּעֲצִיבִים אֶת לִבּוֹ, כְּגוֹן בְּסֵפֶר יִרְמִיָּה בַּדְּבָרִים הָרָעִים שֶׁבּוֹ, וּפְסוּקֵי נֶחָמָה שֶׁבּוֹ יְדַלֵּג. וְכֵן פֻּרְעָנִיּוֹת עַל אֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁכְּתוּבוֹת שָׁם יְדַלֵּג. וְכֵן מֻתָּר לִלְמֹד בְּסֵפֶר אִיּוֹב, וּמִדְרַשׁ אֵיכָה, וּגְמָרָא פֶּרֶק אֵלּוּ מְגַלְּחִין וְכוּ', דְּמַיְרֵי בְּדִינֵי אָבֵל וּמְנֻדֶּה, וּבַהַגָּדָה דְּפֶרֶק הַנִּזָּקִין, וִירוּשַׁלְמִי סוֹף מַסֶּכֶת תַּעֲנִית, דְּמַיְרֵי מֵחֻרְבָּן. וְאַף בְּאֵלוּ שֶׁהוּא מֻתָּר לִלְמֹד, אָסוּר לְעַיֵּן בָּהֶם אֵיזֶה קֻשְׁיָא וְתֵרוּץ אוֹ דְרוּשׁ, כִּי מְשַׂמְּחִים אֶת הַלֵּב. וְכָל מַה שֶּׁמֻּתָּר הָאָדָם לִלְמֹד בְּעַצְמוֹ, מֻתָּר לִלְמֹד גַּם עִם תִּינוֹקוֹת. מֻתָּר לִקְרוֹת כָּל סֵדֶר הַיּוֹם, אֲפִלּוּ אֵיזֶהוּ מְקוֹמָן. וְסֵדֶר מַעֲמָדוֹת אֵין לוֹמַר, אֲפִלוּ מִי שֶׁרָגִיל לְאָמְרוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם (תקנד).

The words of the Torah gladden the heart, as it is said, "The precepts of Hashem are upright, gladdening the heart" (Psalms 19:9). Therefore, it is forbidden to study Torah on Tishah beAv, except for subjects that sadden the heart, such as the chapters of the book of Jeremiah,¹¹According to Shulchan Aruch 554:2, it is also permitted to study commentaries on Jeremiah and Job. regarding the ominous events he prophesied, omitting the verses of consolation. Also the verses foretelling the punishment to be meted out to the nations of the world that are written there, should be omitted. It is also permitted to study the Book of Job, as well as Midrash Eichah. [The following Talmudic selections may also be studied:] the Talmud, chapter Eilu megalchin, (Moed Katan, 3rd chapter), which deals with the laws of a mourner, and a person who was excommunicated, and the Aggadic portion of the chapter Hanizakin (Maseches Gittin 55b), and in the Jerusalem Talmud, the last part of the Maseches Ta'anis, which discusses the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. But even the chapters you are permitted to study, you are forbidden to study in depth, to find an answer to a difficult question or a homiletic interpretation, for that would gladden the heart. Any subject you, yourself, are permitted to study, you are permitted to teach to children. You are permitted to read the entire order of daily prayers, even the Mishnah of Eizehu mekoman¹²The portion of prayers that deal with the order of sacrificial offerings should not be said, with the exception of the daily sacrifice. (See Mishnah Berurah 554:7) (What is the location [of the offerings?]). But you should not say Ma'amados, even if you are accustomed to saying it every day.

תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא שנאמר הליכות עולם לו אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות (נדה ע"ג.)