Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah Siman 380

Siman 380

Presented here for study, not as a practical ruling. The Shulchan Aruch rules by Sephardi custom, the Rema's glosses by Ashkenazi custom, and the Kitzur follows Ashkenazi custom. For a practical question, ask your rabbi.

א אֵלוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁהָאָבֵל אָסוּר בָּהֶם: בִּמְלָאכָה, בִּרְחִיצָה וְסִיכָה וּנְעִילַת הַסַנְדָּל וְתַשְׁמִישׁ הַמִּטָּה, וְאָסוּר לִקְרוֹת בַּתּוֹרָה, וְאָסוּר בִּשְׁאֵלַת שָׁלוֹם וּבִכְבִיסָה, וְחַיָּב בַּעֲטִיפַת הָרֹאשׁ וּבִכְפִיַּת הַמִּטָּה, כָּל שִׁבְעָה, וְאָסוּר לְהַנִּיחַ תְּפִלִין בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְאָסוּר בְּגִהוּץ וּבְתִסְפֹּרֶת וְשִׂמְחָה וְאִחוּי קֶרַע כָּל ל' יוֹם וְכָל דִּבְרֵי אֲבֵלוּת נוֹהֲגִין בֵּין בַּיּוֹם בֵּין בַּלַּיְלָה (בִּתְשׁוּבַת הָרַשְׁבָּ"א סִימָן תמ"ו).
1 The following are the things forbidden to the mourner: [He is forbidden] to engage in work, to bathe, to annoint himself, to put on sandals [or shoes], to have marital intercourse; he is forbidden to read the Pentateuch; he is forbidden to greet one 'with peace,' to wash [his garments], and he is dutibound to muffle his head and to invert his couch throughout the seven [days of mourning]; and he is forbidden to put on Tefillin on the first day [of mourning]; and he is forbidden to don laundried garments, to cut his hair, to rejoice and to resew a rent during the whole of the thirty days [of mourning]. And all matters pertaining to mourning rites apply both during the day and during the night.
ב מְלָאכָה כֵּיצַד, כָּל ג' יָמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים אָסוּר בִּמְלָאכָה, אֲפִלוּ עָנִי הַמִּתְפַּרְנֵס מִן הַצְּדָקָה; מִכָּאן וָאֵילָךְ, אִם הוּא עָנִי וְאֵין לוֹ מַה יֹאכַל, עוֹשֶׂה בְּצִנְעָא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, וְאִשָּׁה טוֹוָה בַּפֶּלֶךְ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתָהּ, אֲבָל אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: תָּבֹא מְאֵרָה לִשְׁכֵנָיו שֶׁהִצְרִיכוּהוּ לְכָךְ. כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמֻּתָּר לִכְתֹּב בְּחֹל הַמּוֹעֵד, כָּךְ מֻתָּר לִכְתֹּב בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ; אֲבָל לֹא בְּעִנְיָן אַחֵר (כָּל בּוֹ בְּשֵׁם הר"מ וב"י סוֹף סִימָן זֶה).
2 In what respect [is a mourner forbidden to engage] in work? — During the whole of the first three days he is forbidden [to engage] in work, even [if he is] a poor man who is supported from charity; thereafter, if he is a poor man and he has naught to eat, he does [his work] in privacy in his house; and a woman plies the spindle in her house; but the Sages said, 'May a curse come upon his neighbours, who, [by not providing his maintenance] were the cause of his need to thus [engage in work].' In the manner that one is permitted to write on Hol ha-Moed, so is [ the mourner ] permitted to write during his mourning, but not in any other way.
ג ג כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר בַּעֲשִׂיַּת מְלָאכָה, כָּךְ הוּא אָסוּר לִשָּׂא וְלִתֵּן בִּסְחוֹרָה, וְלֵילֵךְ מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה בִּסְחוֹרָה.
3 Just as he is forbidden to do work [during mourning] even so is he forbidden to engage in business or to go from one town to another with [his] wares.
ד אֲפִלוּ דָּבָר הָאָבֵד אָסוּר הָאָבֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת בֵּין עֲבָדָיו וְשִׁפְחוֹתָיו וּבָנָיו וּבְנוֹתָיו שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם שֶׁלוֹ.
4 Even business that might be lost [if postponed] the mourner is forbidden to engage in, both he as well as his male and female slaves, his sons and daughters whose labour belongs to him.
ה אָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתּוֹ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים אֲפִלּוּ עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים (מָרְדְּכַי רֵישׁ פֶּרֶק מִי שֶׁהָפַךְ), אֶלָא אִם כֵּן הוּא דָּבָר הָאָבֵד, שֶׁדָּבָר הָאָבֵד מֻתָּר לְאָבֵל לַעֲשׂוֹת עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים; אֲפִלוּ דָּבָר הָאָסוּר בַּמּוֹעֵד מִשּׁוּם טִרְחָא, מֻתָּר, וַאֲפִלוּ הוּא מַעֲשֵׂה אֻמָּן. הַגָּה: וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים דְּאִם לֹא יוּכַל לַעֲשׂוֹת עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, וְהוּא דָּבָר הָאָבֵד, מֻתָּר לַעֲשׂוֹת הָאָבֵל בְּעַצְמוֹ (טוּר בְּשֵׁם הָרַמְבַּ"ן וְהָרֹא"שׁ וְכֵן כָּתַב רַבֵּנוּ יְרוּחָם); וּלְאַחַר שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים יֵשׁ לְהָקֵל, וַאֲפִלּוּ תּוֹךְ ג' וְהוּא הֶפְסֵד מְרֻבֶּה.
5 [The mourner] is forbidden to do his work through [the agency of] others, even [ through the agency of ] a Gentile, unless it is business that might be lost [if postponed], for any business that might be lost [if postponed], the mourner is permitted to engage in through [the agency of] others; even aught that is forbidden during [ Hol ] ha-Moed on account of labour involved, is permissible [during mourning], even if it is skilled work. Rema: And some say that if he is unable to do the work through [ the agency of ] others, and it is business that might be lost [ if postponed, the mourner ] is permitted to do [ it ] himself; and after the first three days one may adopt the lenient practice, and even within the three days, if it involves a great loss.
ו פְּרַקְמַטְיָא שֶׁלוֹ, בְּדָבָר הָאָבֵד, שֶׁאִם לֹא יִמְכֹּר יַפְסִיד מֵהַקֶרֶן, נִמְכֶּרֶת עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים; אֲבָל אִם לֹא יַפְסִיד מֵהַקֶרֶן, אֶלָא שֶׁאִם יִמְכְּרֶנָּה עַתָּה יַרְוִיחַ בָּהּ יוֹתֵר מִשֶּׁאִם יִמְכְּרֶנָּה אַחַר כָּךְ, אָסוּר. וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם אִם שַׁיָּרוֹת אוֹ סְפִינוֹת בָּאוּ, אוֹ שֶׁהֵם מְבַקְשִׁים לָצֵאת, וּמוֹכְרִים בְּזוֹל אוֹ לוֹקְחִים בְּיֹקֶר, מֻתָּר לִמְכֹּר וְלִקְנוֹת עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, אֲפִלוּ שֶׁלֹּא לְצֹרֶךְ תַּשְׁמִישׁוֹ, אֶלָא לַעֲשׂוֹת סְחוֹרָה לְהִשְׂתַּכֵּר.
6 [With respect to selling] his wares in [the case of] business [which if postponed] might entail a loss, [namely], if he should not sell [now] he would suffer the loss of the principal, — [the law is that] the sale may be made through [the agency of] others. However, if he should not suffer the loss of the principal, only that if he sells it now, he will make more profit than if he sells it later, it is forbidden. Yet, if caravans or ships arrived, or desire to leave, and are selling [goods] at a low price, or are buying [goods] at a high price, it is permissible [for the mourner] to sell or to buy through [the agency of] others, even if it is not required for his [personel] use, but rather to transact business [in order] to make a profit.
ז לְהַלְווֹת לְעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים בְּרִבִּית, לְאוֹתָם שֶׁרְגִילִים לִלְווֹת מִמֶּנּוּ, מֻתָּר לְהַלְווֹת לָהֶם עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, מִשּׁוּם דְּהָוֵי דָּבָר הָאָבֵד.
7 [With respect] to lending money to a heathen on interest, [namely], to those who are accustomed to borrow from him, — [the law is that] he is permitted to lend money through [the agency of] others, for this is considered business which [if postponed] entails a loss.
ח אִי מַסִיק זוּזֵי בְּאִינְשֵׁי, וְהָאִדָּנָא מַשְׁכַּח לְהוּ, וּבָתַר הָכִי לָא מַשְׁכַּח לְהוּ, שָׁרֵי לְשַׁדּוֹרֵי עֲלַיְהוּ.
8 One who has a monetary claim against others, and now [during the seven days of mourning] he is able to find them, but afterwards he is not able to find them, is permitted to send [other people] to them [in order to recover his debt].
ט אִם יֵשׁ לוֹ דִּין עַל אָדָם, אֵינוֹ תּוֹבֵעַ כָּל ז'. וְאִם הוּא דָּבָר הָאָבֵד, כְּגוֹן שֶׁבִּקֵשׁ לֵילֵךְ לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם, אוֹ שֶׁעֵדָיו חוֹלִים, עוֹשֶׂה מֻרְשֶׁה וְדָן עִמּוֹ.
9 If he has a legal claim against another person, he should not summon [the latter to judgment] during the whole of the seven [days of mourning]. But if it is a matter which, [if postponed], entails a loss, e.g., if [the defendant] wishes to go to a foreign country, or his witnesses are ill, he may appoint a mandatory who litigates with him.
י כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהִתִּירוּ בַּמּוֹעֵד מִשּׁוּם צֹרֶךְ הַמּוֹעֵד, כֻּלָם אֲסוּרִים בְּאָבֵל, אֲפִלוּ עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים.
10 All matters which they permitted on [ Hol ] ha-Moed on account of the Festival needs, are forbidden in [the case of] a mourner, even [if done] through [the agency of] others.
יא אָבֵל שֶׁשָּׂדֵהוּ בְּיַד אֲחֵרִים בַּאֲרִיסוּת אוֹ בַּחֲכִירוּת אוֹ בְּקַבְּלָנוּת, הֲרֵי אֵלוּ עוֹבְדִין כְּדַרְכָּן בִּימֵי הָאֵבֶל שֶׁל בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה, וַאֲפִלוּ נִשְׁלַם זְמַן חֲכִירוּתָם קֹדֶם וְנִשְׁאֲרוּ בַּשָּׂדֶה כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ.
11 A mourner whose field was in the possession of others on terms of metayage, or on a fixed rental lease, or on a labour contract, — [the law is that] such persons may work in their usual way during the [seven] days of mourning of the owner of the field. And even if the time of their tenure expired before [the owner commenced mourning rites], and they remained in the field as they were [prior to the expiry date].
יב אִם הָאָבֵל הוּא אָרִיס בְּשָׂדֶה שֶׁל אֲחֵרִים, לֹא יַעֲבֹד הוּא בְּעַצְמוֹ, אֲבָל עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים מֻתָּר.
12 If the mourner is a metayer [or a tenant farmer or a contractor of labour] in a field that belongs to others, he himself must not do the work, but through [the agency of] others it is permissible.
יג אִם יֵשׁ שְׂכִיר יוֹם שֶׁעוֹבֵד שְׂדֵה הָאָבֵל, אֲפִלוּ בְּעִיר אַחֶרֶת, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה.
13 If there is a daily worker who cultivates the mourner's field, even [if he is] in another town, — [the law is that] he may not work.
יד אִם יֵשׁ לָאָבֵל חֲמוֹר אוֹ סְפִינָה מֻחְכָּר אוֹ מֻשְׂכָּר בְּיַד אַחֵר, הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ שֶׁל בַּעַל הַחֲמוֹר וְהַסְפִינָה, אִם לֹא שֶׁשְּׂכָרוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁהִתְחִיל הָאֲבֵלוּת וַעֲדַיִן לֹא כָּלָה הַזְּמַן; אֲבָל אִם כָּלָה הַזְּמַן, אָסוּר.
14 If the mourner has an ass or a ship rented or hired out to another person, the latter should not engage in work during the [seven] days of mourning of the owner of the ass or the ship, unless he hired it before he [the mourner] began the observance of mourning and the period [of rental] had not yet expired; but if the period of [rental] had expired, it is forbidden [to do work].
טו אִם הָיָה הַחֲמוֹר וְהַסְפִינָה בְּיַד אֲחֵרִים, לְמֶחֱצָה, לִשְׁלִישׁ וְלִרְבִיעַ, יֵשׁ מַתִּירִים וְיֵשׁ אוֹסְרִים.
15 If the ass or the ship were [rented out] to others on shares of one-half, one-third or one-fourth [of the earnings], some permit [them to work during the seven days of the owner's mourning], and others prohibit [this].
טז אִם הָאָבֵל מֻשְׂכָּר לְאַחֵר, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ. אֲבָל עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, שָׁרֵי (זֶהוּ מֵהָרֹא"שׁ).
16 If the mourner is in the hire of another person [and the period of his employment had not expired], he must not engage in work during his mourning, but through [ the agency of ] others, he is permitted.
יז הָיְתָה מְלֶאכֶת אֲחֵרִים בְּיָדוֹ, אֲפִלוּ בְּדָבָר תָּלוּשׁ, כְּגוֹן לֶאֱרֹג, בֵּין בְּקַבְּלָנוּת בֵּין שֶׁלֹּא בְּקַבְּלָנוּת, לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה. הַגָּה: וְאִם הוּא דָּבָר הָאָבֵד, יַעֲשֶׂה עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים (ד"ע). מֻתָּר לְקַבֵּל מְלָאכָה בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת אַחַר כָּךְ, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁקֹל וְלֹא יִמְדֹּד כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה בִּשְׁאָר פְּעָמִים (מָרְדְּכַי הִלְכוֹת אֵבֶל).
17 [If] others' work was in his hand, even in the case of loose matter, e.g., [material] for weaving, whether it is a contract job or not a contract job, — [the law is that] he may not do [work on] it. Rema: And if it is a matter which entails an irretrievable loss [ if postponed ], he may do [ work on ] it through [ the agency of ] others. One is permitted to receive work during the [ seven ] days of his mourning to be executed later, only that he should not weigh or measure [ the material ] after the manner in which he [ usually ] does this on other occasions.
יח הָיְתָה מְלַאכְתּוֹ בְּיַד אֲחֵרִים, בְּקַבְּלָנוּת בְּדָבָר תָּלוּשׁ, בְּבֵיתוֹ, לֹא יַעֲשׂוּ; בְּבֵית אֲחֵרִים, יַעֲשׂוּ. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁקִּבְּלוּ הַמְּלָאכָה קֹדֶם שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה אָבֵל (מָרְדְּכַי סוֹף מ"ק וְר"י).
18 [If] his work was in the hand of others on a labour contract, [viz.,] in [the case of] loose material, — they may not do [work on it] in his own house, but in the others' house they may do [work on it], provided they received the work before he became a mourner.
יט הָיָה לוֹ בִּנְיָן בְּיַד אֲחֵרִים, בְּקַבְּלָנוּת, בְּחֹל אוֹ בְּחֹל הַמּוֹעֵד לֹא יַעֲשׂוּ, אֲפִלוּ הוּא חוּץ לִתְחוּם הָעִיר; וְאִם אֵלוּ הַקַבְּלָנִים עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, מֻתָּרִים לִבְנוֹתוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת וְיוֹם טוֹב שֶׁחָלוּ בִּימֵי הָאֵבֶל, אִם הוּא חוּץ לִתְחוּם הָעִיר וְאֵין עִיר אַחֶרֶת שֶׁבָּהּ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּתוֹךְ תְּחוּם שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ בַּיִת.
19 [If] one had a building [under construction] by others on contract, — [the law is that] on a weekday, or on Hol ha-Moed, they must not work, even if it is outside the city limits; and if these contractors are non-Jews, they are permitted to built it on a Sabbath or Festival, which fell during the days of [his] mourning, if it is outside the city limits, and [provided] there is no other city in which there are Jews within the limits of that house.
כ אִם קִבְּלוּ אֲחֵרִים לַחֲרֹשׁ וְלִזְרֹעַ שָׂדֵהוּ, יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים שֶׁמֻּתָּרִין לַחֲרֹשׁ וְלִזְרֹעַ בִּימֵי אֶבְלוֹ שֶׁל בַּעַל הַשָּׂדֶה, וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁאוֹסֵר.
20 If others undertook [on contract] to plough and sow his field, some say that they are permitted to plough and sow during the [seven] days of mourning of the owner of the field. However, there is [an authority] who prohibits [such work].
כא שְׁנֵי שֻׁתָּפִים חֶנְוָנִים שֶׁאֵרַע אֵבֶל לְאֶחָד מֵהֶם, נוֹעֲלִים חֲנוּתָם, שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂה הַשֻּׁתָּף בְּפַרְהֶסְיָא, אֲבָל יָכוֹל לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּצִנְעָא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ, אֲפִלוּ בְּעֵסֶק הַשֻּׁתָּפוּת. וְאִם הָאָבֵל אָדָם חָשׁוּב, וְהַשֻּׁתָּפוּת נִקְרָא עַל שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁאֲפִלוּ אִם יַעֲשֵׂהוּ בְּצִנְעָא בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ יָדוּעַ שֶּׁיֵּשׁ לָאָבֵל חֵלֶק בּוֹ, אָסוּר לַשֵּׁנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֲפִלוּ בְּתוֹךְ בֵּיתוֹ.
21 Two [individuals who were] partners in a shop, and mourning befell one of them, close their shop so that the [other] partner should not do work publicly, but he may do work privately in his house, even work pertinent to the partnership. But if the mourner is a prominent person and the partnership is called by his name, so that even if [the other partner] will do work in his own house it is known that the mourner has a share in it, — [the law is that] the other partner is forbidden to do work even in his house.
כב כְּבוֹד הַבַּיִת, הֲדָחַת כּוֹסוֹת וְהַצָּעַת הַמִּטּוֹת, אֵין בָּהֶם מִשּׁוּם מְלָאכָה לְאָבֵל; וְכֵן מֻתָּר לְאִשָּׁה לֶאֱפוֹת וּלְבַשֵּׁל בִּימֵי אֶבְלָהּ כָּל הַצָּרִיךְ לָהּ, אֲבָל מַה שֶּׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לָהּ אָסוּר; וְכֵן אִשָּׁה הַמְשָׁרֶתֶת בְּבֵית בַּעַל הַבַּיִת אֶחָד, וְאֵרְעָהּ אֵבֶל, מֻתֶּרֶת לֶאֱפוֹת וּלְבַשֵּׁל וְלַעֲשׂוֹת שְׁאָר צָרְכֵי הַבַּיִת, בֵּין שֶׁהִיא מְשָׁרֶתֶת בְּחִנָּם בֵּין בְּשָׂכָר.
22 Sweeping the house, washing cups and making the beds, are not considered as work [forbidden] to the mourner. Likewise, is it permissible for a woman to bake and cook during the days of her mourning all that she requires, but whatever she does not require is forbidden. So too, a woman who is a servant in another person's home and mourning befell her, is permitted to bake, cook and do other household needs, whether she serves gratuitously or for remuneration.
כג הַהוֹלֵךְ מִמָּקוֹם לְמָקוֹם לִסְחוֹרָה, וְשָׁמַע שְׁמוּעָה קְרוֹבָה, אִם יָכוֹל לְמַעֵט שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת שׁוּם עֵסֶק בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר, מוּטָב; וְאִם לָאו, שֶׁאִם לֹא יִקְנֶה בְּאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר לֹא יִמָּצֵא, יִקְנֶה לְצֹרֶךְ הַדֶּרֶךְ דְּבָרִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם חַיֵּי נֶפֶשׁ.
23 One who goes from place to place for business and received near tidings [while on the way], — [the law is that] if he can reduce [his work] not to conduct any business affairs in that city, it is well; if not, [i.e.,] if he will not buy in that city, he will not find [the same opportunity] elsewhere], he may [only] buy [what he requires] for the needs on the way [those] things which are considered the necessaries of life.
כד עַל כָּל הַמֵּתִים, רָצָה לְמַעֵט בְּעֵסֶק סְחוֹרָה הַמֻּתֶּרֶת לוֹ, כְּגוֹן דָּבָר הָאָבֵד, יְמַעֵט; רָצָה, אֵינוֹ מְמַעֵט. עַל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, יְמַעֵט.
24 For all [other] dead, if he desires to reduce his business affairs which are permissible for him [to engage in], e.g., any business which entails an irretrievable loss [if postponed], he may reduce; if he desires, he may not reduce; [but] for his father or mother he should reduce [his business].
כה עַל כָּל הַמֵּתִים אָסוּר עַד ל' יוֹם לֵילֵךְ בִּסְחוֹרָה לְמֵרָחוֹק, דְּאִכָּא פִּרְסוּם גָדוֹל וְדוֹמֶה לְשִׂמְחָה שֶׁהוֹלֵךְ בְּשַׁיָּרָא גְדוֹלָה וּשְׂמֵחִים הַרְבֵּה בַּדֶּרֶךְ; בְּאָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, עַד שֶׁיִּגְעֲרוּ בּוֹ חֲבֵרָיו וְיֹאמְרוּ: לֵךְ עִמָּנוּ.
25 For all [other] dead, he is forbidden up to thirty days to go [out] for business on a distant [journey], for this involves great publicity and is similar to rejoicing, since one [ordinarily] travels in a caravan group and they rejoice much [while] on the road; in [the case of] his father or mother [he is forbidden] until his friends rebuke him and say, 'Go with us'.
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