Laws on the Eve of the Holiday When the Holiday Cancels the Shiva
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Question
If someone's brother passed away on the 12th of Tishrei and the holiday cancels the laws of shiva, until what time on the eve of the holiday should one sit on the ground, and when can one wear laundered clothes and leather shoes?
Answer
Sitting on the ground, removing shoes, and wearing laundered clothes should be observed until the holiday begins.
Source
It is stated in the Gemara Moed Katan 19: "Rav Huna, son of Rav Yehoshua, said everyone agrees (Abba Shaul and the Sages who disagreed whether part of the day counts as the whole) that if the third day falls on the eve of the festival, bathing is prohibited until the evening."
This is also ruled by the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 548, Seif 10: "If one of the days of mourning, except for the seventh, falls on the eve of the festival, laundering is permitted, but it should not be worn until the evening; and it is good to avoid laundering until after midday, so it is evident that it is because of the festival; but bathing is prohibited until the evening; and some permit bathing after the Mincha prayer, close to nightfall."
And the Rema wrote: "For us, who observe the prohibition of bathing all 30 days, bathing is prohibited, as the festival only cancels the decree of shiva; and the same applies to laundering where the prohibition is observed all 30 days."
This is because laundering is not allowed during the festival, but other mourning practices should be observed until dark, as written in the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 548, Seif Katan 39: "Only bathing, but other mourning practices such as sitting on the ground and removing shoes are observed until dark." And in Shaar HaTziyon, there, Seif Katan 29, it is brought that the Elyah Rabbah wrote in the name of the Raavan to be lenient also with other mourning practices from Mincha and onwards.
This is also ruled by the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 548, Seif 10: "If one of the days of mourning, except for the seventh, falls on the eve of the festival, laundering is permitted, but it should not be worn until the evening; and it is good to avoid laundering until after midday, so it is evident that it is because of the festival; but bathing is prohibited until the evening; and some permit bathing after the Mincha prayer, close to nightfall."
And the Rema wrote: "For us, who observe the prohibition of bathing all 30 days, bathing is prohibited, as the festival only cancels the decree of shiva; and the same applies to laundering where the prohibition is observed all 30 days."
This is because laundering is not allowed during the festival, but other mourning practices should be observed until dark, as written in the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 548, Seif Katan 39: "Only bathing, but other mourning practices such as sitting on the ground and removing shoes are observed until dark." And in Shaar HaTziyon, there, Seif Katan 29, it is brought that the Elyah Rabbah wrote in the name of the Raavan to be lenient also with other mourning practices from Mincha and onwards.
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