The Blessing of the True Judge on Shabbat

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Question

If one of his relatives dies on Shabbat, do we bless the True Judge on Shabbat, or do we wait until the time of rending the garments?

Answer

The main ruling is that one should bless the True Judge at the time of the soul's departure or upon hearing the news of the death, even on Shabbat. Since this blessing is not for the rending of garments but for the bad news of a relative's death, the rending is done after Shabbat without a blessing. The custom is to bless and rend the garments close to the burial.


Source

Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 339, סעיף ג: "They say Tziduk HaDin at the time of the soul's departure, and when reaching the blessing 'True Judge', the mourner rends his garments."

Rokeach, Laws of Mourning, Siman 316: "They bless 'True Judge' on Shabbat and Yom Tov. A blessing related to a mitzvah is always performed in its time."

Aruch HaShulchan notes that the custom is to delay the blessing and the rending of garments until the time of burial, and according to this, even on Shabbat, it can be delayed until burial. See Knesset HaGedolah, סעיף קטן א, where it is noted that he saw the practice of blessing 'True Judge' at the time of rending garments and was puzzled by this custom.

In practice, the poskim write that 'True Judge' is blessed at the time of hearing the news, even if the rending of garments cannot be done due to Shabbat.

The custom is to bless and rend garments before burial, and the poskim discuss the reason for this custom, possibly to avoid forgetting the blessing.

 


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