Siman 561

One who sees the cities of Judah in their destruction says: "Your holy cities have become a wilderness," and rends. And he is only obligated to rend when he arrives near them, such as from the Scopus to Jerusalem. And one who sees Jerusalem in its destruction says: "Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation," and rends. And when he sees the Beit HaMikdash he says: "Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers praised You, has been burned with fire, and all our delights have become a ruin," and rends. And from where is he obligated to rend? From the Scopus. Some say that this is from any place where he can see them, and some say that this is a specific place from which Jerusalem is visible (see Magen Avraham, subsection 3). And afterward, when he sees the Mikdash – he rends another rending. And every rending is a tefach. And if he came by way of the desert, such that he sees the Mikdash first – he rends a tefach for the Mikdash, and afterward when he sees Jerusalem – he adds any amount to the first rending. But in the reverse case – he does not fulfill the obligation with an addition, because the Mikdash is more stringent than Jerusalem.

And if he rent for one of the cities of Judah—he does not return and rent when he sees the rest of the cities of Judah, except for Jerusalem, for which he returns and rents another rent for itself. And if he rent for Jerusalem first—he does not need to rent for the rest of the cities of Judah. And all these rents—he must rent with his hand, and while standing. And he rents all the garments he is wearing, until he reveals his heart, like the renting for his father and mother, as I have written in Yoreh Deah siman 340. And he shall rent on the left side (Magen Avraham). And he never mends these rents. This means a good sewing, but he is permitted to baste them, to hem them, to gather them, and to sew them like a ladder-stitch; that is, a layman's sewing, not a craftsman's sewing. And if he was going and coming to Jerusalem—going and coming within thirty days—he does not rent another rent. After thirty days—he rents another rent, according to the law of all blessings of seeing, and such is the law regarding the cities of Judah and the Temple. And one who sees Jerusalem within thirty [days]—to rent for the rest of the cities of Judah, even though he saw them after thirty. And one who was born in Jerusalem, even if he grew up—he does not need to rent, for in his childhood he is exempt, and when he grew up—it is within thirty (Magen Avraham). However, if he left Jerusalem, and stayed away thirty days—he is obligated to rent upon his return. But for the rest of the cities of Judah—he does not need to rent upon his leaving Jerusalem. But upon his return after thirty—he is like any other person, and is obligated to rent in order as if he were outside the Land. With the help of Heaven, the Laws of Tisha B'Av are concluded.