Preparation on Friday for immersion on Saturday night after Shiva
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Question
A woman sitting Shiva, who completes her mourning on Shabbat and her immersion night is on Saturday night, can she wash and perform the preparation on Friday while still in mourning?
Answer
For Ashkenazim, she can wash on Friday to perform the preparation. For Sephardim, the preparation is done on Saturday night.
Source
Aruch HaShulchan, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 381, סעיף 8: "And if her immersion is on Saturday night, and on Friday she is still in mourning, and the mourning ends on Shabbat, she is permitted to perform the preparation on Friday [PMA]", but Beit Lechem Yehuda disagrees and prohibits.
The main rule of preparation for immersion on Saturday night is disputed among the poskim. The Rema in Siman 199 סעיף 4 wrote that the preparation is done on Friday to avoid chaos in the home, and then on Saturday night she performs the preparation again and combs her hair a little. The Shach wrote that this is the main rule. Ashkenazim perform all preparations on Friday, and on Saturday night they shower, comb their hair, and brush their teeth. The Shulchan Aruch wrote that the preparation is done only on Saturday night, and this is the custom of the Eastern communities.
Therefore, according to the Shulchan Aruch, a mourner should perform the preparation on Saturday night and should not be lenient on Friday.