123:3 Concerning the last meal1 (before the fast) there are several laws. The correct way is to eat before the afternoon service a normal (full) meal, and afterwards to pray Mincha but without saying Tachanun,2 because the 9th of Av is termed a ''Mo-ed''3 as is written:4 ''He called a mo'ed against me''. Towards evening we sit on the floor, but we do not need to remove the (leather) shoes. Three should not sit together so as not to be obliged to ''Zimmun''5 We eat only bread and a cold, hard-boiled egg,6 and dip a piece of bread in ashes and eat (it). One needs to be careful to finish (the meal) while it is still daytime.

1) The hebrew phrase ''se'udah hamafseket'' means the meal that separates - between the normal day and the fast day. 2) The Prayers of Supplication. See also Ch. 22. 3) A Jewish holiday. Literally ''meeting'' ie; we meet together to celebrate and praise the Lord. 4) Lamentations 1:15. 5) The extra prayers before Grace after Meals when three or more have eaten bread together. See also Ch. 45. 6) No meat or wine should be eaten during this meal. Water can be drunk. Only one type of cooked food is allowed. One can eat and drink after the meal and before the fast, if one had this in mind before starting the meal. 

1) Such a private custom becomes established as a vow ''neder'' and must be annulled by a Rabbi, by finding a halachic reason - such as he would not have started the custom if he had realised it would mean fasting two days in a row. 2) The anniversary of the death of a close relative. Many have the custom to fast on this day. 3) ''Chatzot'' is half the time between sunrise and sunset. See also Ch. 18:1.

1) The period between sunset and the appearance of three stars is termed ''Bein Hashemashot'' - between the suns - and is considered as partly day and partly night.