1
v
Mourning the death of a close
relative begins as soon as the relative
has passed away. From that time until
after the burial, the mourner is an
"‫אוֹנֵן‬."
The ‫ גְּ מָ ָרא‬teaches that if someone is
in the same house as a dead relative,
he should eat in a different room. It is
disrespectful for the ‫ אוֹנֵן‬to take care
of his own needs in front of his dead
relative rather than taking care of the
dead's burial needs.
If there is no other room for the ‫אוֹנֵן‬
to eat in, he should eat at a friend's
house. If he cannot, he should make a
wall at least ten ‫( ְטפָ ִחים‬about 3 feet
or 1 meter) high between himself and
the dead body before eating. If he
cannot do this he should at least turn
his face away from the body while
or 1 meter) high between himself
and the dead body before eating.
If he cannot do this he should at
least turn his face away from the
body while eating. Also, he should
not recline while he eats.
An ‫ אוֹנֵן‬is not allowed to drink
wine or eat meat. He also does not
perform
any
‫ִמ ְצוֹת‬
(commandments) during this time,
including
wearing
‫ְתּפִ לִּ ין‬
(phylacteries), reciting blessings
or praying .He does not perform
‫ ִמ ְצוֹת‬to make sure that he is
completely free to take care of his
relative's burial needs.
For the first
week of
mourning,
a mourner
does not
leave his
house. The
second
week, he
goes out of
his house
but does
not sit in
his regular
spot in
synagogue
. On the
third week,
he sits in
his regular
spot but
does not
talk as
much as
he usually
does, and
on the
fourth
week, he
returns to
normal.
Page 6
‫מועד קטן דף כג‬
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
‫ח' אלול תשע"ד‬
The first thirty days
says only new white
after a close relative
clothing may not be
dies is called ‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫ְשׁ‬
worn during ‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫שׁ‬.
ְ
(lit.
"thirty").
While observing the
During this time
‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫ ְשׁ‬period, ‫אַ בַּ יֵי‬
there are certain
wore an old piece of
things a mourner
clothing that had been
cannot do although
freshly pressed. This
he is allowed to do
follows the view of
more activities than
‫ ַר ִבּי‬who said only new
during the first
clothing may not be clothing
worn. may not be
seven daysdays
of mourning.
of
worn.
mourning.
‫ ָרבָ א‬wore a new, red Roman tunic during
For example, a mourner may not wear freshly
‫ ָרבָ א‬wore
new, red
his ‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫ ְשׁ‬period. This
went aagainst
the
For example,
a
pressed
clothing during
‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫שׁ‬.
ְ ‫ ַתּנָּא ַקמָּ א‬says
during
view of ‫ ַר ִבּי‬who saysRoman
no new tunic
clothing
may
mourner
may not
that
this applies
to both new and old clothing
his ‫ים‬the
‫ֹלשׁ‬
ִ ‫ְשׁ‬view
period.
be worn, but followed
of This
‫ַר ִבּי‬
wearwas
freshly
pressed
that
freshly
pressed, but ‫ ַר ִבּי‬says only new
wentrules
against
view
‫ אֶ לְ עָ זָר ְבּ ַר ִבּי ִשׁ ְמעוֹן‬who
newthe
colored
clothing is not
during
allowed. ‫ַר ִבּי אֶ לְ עָ זָר ְבּ ַר ִבּי ִשׁ ְמעוֹן‬
clothing is allowed. of ‫ ַר ִבּי‬who says no
‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫שׁ‬.
ְ
‫א‬new
ָ‫ ַקמּ‬white
‫ ַתּנָּא‬clothing may not be worn
says
only
new clothing may be
says that
during
‫ים‬this
‫ֹלשׁ‬
ִ ‫שׁ‬.
ְ applies
worn, but followed the
to both new and old
view of ‫ַר ִבּי אֶ לְ עָ זָ ר ְבּ ַר ִבּי‬
While
observing
the ‫ים‬said
‫ֹלשׁ‬
ִ Mrs.
‫ ְשׁ‬period,
‫ אַ בַּ יֵי‬wore an
"Hello, Mrs. Shainderbaum,"
Epstein, "where are your little children, today?"
clothing
that was
‫ ִשׁ ְמעוֹן‬who rules new
old
piece of clothing
that had been freshly
freshly
but
"Oh I left pressed,
them at home
with my five-year-old," Mrs. Shainderbaum said. "He's very responsible, you know."
colored clothing is
pressed.
‫ ַר ִבּי‬says This
onlyfollows
new the view of ‫ ַר ִבּי‬who said
"Making
children are
taken
care
properly is of utmost importance," chided Mrs. Epstein. "In fact,
even though one is
allowed.
only
newsure
clothing
may
not
beofworn.
clothing
not
not allowed tois
get remarried
within 30 days of his wife's death, if he has small children, he may get remarried immediately
so that the children
taken care of. Childrens' well-being and proper care should not be taken lightly!"
allowed.
ְ‫אֶ ל‬will‫בּי‬be
ִ red
‫ ַר‬properly
‫ ָרבָ א‬wore ‫זָר‬
a ָ‫ע‬new,
Roman tunic during his
‫ֹלשׁעוֹן‬
‫בּי ְשׁ ִשׁ ְ ִמ‬period.
ִ ‫ ְבּ ַר‬saysThis
onlywent against the view of ‫ַר ִבּי‬
‫ים‬
new
whitenoclothing
who says
new clothing may be worn, but
may
not the
beview
worn
followed
of ‫ ַר ִבּי אֶ לְ עָ זָר ְבּ ַר ִבּי ִשׁ ְמעוֹן‬who
Review Questions – ‫מוֹעֵ ד ָקטָ ן ַּדף כ"ג‬
duringnew
‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ colored
‫שׁ‬.
ְ
rules
clothing is allowed.
1. What is an ‫?אוֹנֵן‬
While observing the
______________________________________________________
‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫ ְשׁ‬period, ‫אַ בַּ יֵי‬
2. According to ‫ ַרבִּ י‬, what may not be worn during ‫ֹלשׁים‬
ִ ‫? ְשׁ‬
wore an old piece of
______________________________________________________
clothing
that had
3.
What
may
a
mourner
not leave during the first week of mourning?
been
freshly
______________________________________________________
pressed.
This
follows the view of
‫ ַר ִבּי‬who said only
new clothing may
How many words can you spell with these letters?
WASHING