Law of Priority in Obligations
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Question
Question: Next week, my father, may he live, has a yahrzeit for his mother on Thursday, and another congregant has a yahrzeit for his father on Friday. A. Does a yahrzeit for a father take precedence over a yahrzeit for a mother? B. Is there precedence for the one whose yahrzeit is earlier in the week? C. Should the one who is more obligated receive the maftir and the other an aliyah, or vice versa? I would appreciate a detailed answer from the rabbi with sources.
Answer
Hello,
1. There is no difference. 2. No. 3. Some are particular to receive specifically an aliyah from the seven called up because the aliyah on a yahrzeit is an obligation, and some are particular to receive specifically the maftir because it contains several blessings and provides a greater elevation of the soul of the deceased. Therefore, in this case, one will receive an aliyah and the other the maftir, it does not matter who.
Source
According to the instructions of the Gaon, Rabbi Fried, shlita