Taanit 29B

אמר רב פפא: הלכך בר ישראל דאית ליה דינא בהדי נכרי, לישתמיט מיניה באב ⁠— דריע מזליה, ולימצי נפשיה באדר ⁠— דבריא מזליה.

Rav Pappa said: Therefore, in the case of a Jew who has litigation with a non-Jew, let him avoid him in the month of Av, when the Jews’ fortune is bad, and he should make himself available in Adar, when his fortune is good.

״לתת לכם אחרית ותקוה״, אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב: אלו דקלים וכלי פשתן. ״ויאמר ראה ריח בני כריח שדה אשר ברכו ה׳״, אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב: כריח שדה של תפוחים.

The Talmud mentions a couple of other statements in the name of the same rabbis mentioned above. First, it cites a verse that is referring to the Babylonian exile. “To give to you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: These are palm trees and garments of linen, which are long-lasting and bring benefit as long as they exist. With regard to Isaac’s comment about Jacob: “And he said: See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which YHWH has blessed” (Genesis 27:27), Rav Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel bar Sheilat, said in the name of Rav: This smell was like that of a field of apple trees.

שבת שחל תשעה באב להיות בתוכה, אסורין לספר ולכבס. אמר רב נחמן: לא שנו אלא לכבס וללבוש, אבל לכבס ולהניח ⁠— מותר. ורב ששת אמר: אפילו לכבס ולהניח אסור. אמר רב ששת: תדע, דבטלי קצרי דבי רב.

§ The Mishnah taught: During the week in which the 9th of Av occurs, it is prohibited to cut one’s hair and to launder clothes. Rav Naḥman said: They taught that it is prohibited only to launder and to wear clean clothes before the 9th of Av; however, if one wishes to launder garments and to set them aside, this is permitted. And Rav Sheshet said: Even to launder them and to set them aside is prohibited. Rav Sheshet said: Know that I am correct, as the launderers of Rav’s household were idle during this week, which shows that laundering in and of itself is prohibited.