[Avodah] why are we more lenient after chatzos on Tbav

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

RnTK wrote:
: The mood of despair lightens in the afternoon because we are expecting
: the imminent arrival of Moshiach. I have read somewhere that some people
: (Sefardim maybe?) have a custom to sweep the floor and tidy up the house
: on Tisha B'Av afternoon in anticipation of Moshiach's arrival.

R' Yirmiyohu Kaganoff provided sources at
<http://www.yeshiva.co/midrash/shiur.asp?id=6869>:

    In some places there is a custom to wash the floors and clean the
    house on the afternoon of Tisha B'Av. This custom is based on a
    mesorah that Moshiach will be born on Tisha B'Av afternoon and
    that it is therefore appropriate to commemorate the redemption and
    strengthen people's hopes and prayers (based on Beis Yosef 554 and
    Kolbo). Although this seems like unnecessary work on Tisha B'Av that
    should be postponed, the poskim rule that one should not discourage
    those who follow this custom (Birkei Yosef 559:7).

On Mon, Jul 27, 2015 at 12:31am +0000, R Joel Rich replied:
: R'YBS explained that once the mikdash started burning (PM of TB)
: we knew [HKB"H] was taking out his wrath on stones and wood, not us.

I bet RYBS cited the Gra (OC 555:1).

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

PS: Actually, Google gets most of the credit for filling in vague memories
with mar'eh meqomos.

-- 
Micha Berger             A pious Jew is not one who worries about his fellow
micha at aishdas.org        man's soul and his own stomach; a pious Jew worries
http://www.aishdas.org   about his own soul and his fellow man's stomach.
Fax: (270) 514-1507                       - Rav Yisrael Salanter