Cooking by a Mourning Woman During the Seven Days of Mourning
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Question
Is it permissible for a mourning woman to cook food for herself and her family during the days of mourning?
Answer
She is permitted to cook all that is necessary for herself and her family, and even for others it is allowed, but only for the days of mourning and not for afterwards.
Source
The Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 380, Se'if 22, states: "It is also permitted for a woman to bake and cook during her days of mourning, and the Rema writes that all that she needs is allowed, but what she does not need is forbidden." Similarly, a woman serving in the house of a homeowner, if mourning occurs, is permitted to bake and cook and perform other household needs, whether she serves for free or for pay.
Her family and guests are considered as those who need her, as written in the Aruch HaShulchan, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 380, Se'if 32: "Therefore, it is permitted for a woman when she is mourning to bake and cook all that is needed for her household, but what she does not need, only for others, is forbidden. And it seems to me that a hostess can cook and bake for guests, as they are like her household, for she must feed them, and even if she profits from it, nevertheless, it is necessary to cook for them, and she is not obligated to hire another in her place for what is necessary to do."
See also the notes of Beit Hillel on the Shulchan Aruch there, where he writes that even for others who are not obligated to her, it is permitted. Since the law of mourning is like the prohibition of work on Yom Tov, and on Yom Tov it is permitted to prepare food. So write the Chacham Tzvi and Rav Eizer.