Can a mourner lead prayers during the seven days of mourning?
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Question
Is it true that a mourner can lead prayers during the seven days of mourning?
Answer
During the seven days of mourning for a father or mother, the mourner leads all prayers on weekdays. However, in mourning for other relatives, he should not lead the prayers unless there is no one else who knows how to pray.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 384, Paragraph 3: "If there is no one who can pray to fulfill the obligation of the community, the mourner can pray to fulfill it."
In Aruch HaShulchan, Siman 384, Paragraph 8, it is written that it is always good for the mourner to lead prayers, and this brings great elevation to the soul of the deceased.
Beit Hillel, Yoreh De'ah, there writes: "From here it is understood that during the seven days, the mourner should not pray if there is someone else who can pray. And what is written above in Siman 376, Paragraph 4, in the large hagah, this is his words: although there is no prohibition in this matter, but on weekdays, the one who knows how to pray should pray, and it is more beneficial than the orphan's Kaddish, which was only established for minors. Therefore, it is understood that it is better for the mourner to pray even during the seven days, as it is written that it is more beneficial than the orphan's Kaddish. And it seems that there, in Siman 376, it refers to mourning for a father and mother, and if so, it is better to pray oneself as it is written that it is more beneficial than Kaddish. Therefore, it is understood that it refers to mourning for a father and mother. But here it refers to mourning in general, not for a father and mother but for other relatives for whom Kaddish is not said, and if so, the mourner should not pray if there is someone else who can pray, and this is clear."
In Aruch HaShulchan, Siman 384, Paragraph 8, it is written that it is always good for the mourner to lead prayers, and this brings great elevation to the soul of the deceased.
Beit Hillel, Yoreh De'ah, there writes: "From here it is understood that during the seven days, the mourner should not pray if there is someone else who can pray. And what is written above in Siman 376, Paragraph 4, in the large hagah, this is his words: although there is no prohibition in this matter, but on weekdays, the one who knows how to pray should pray, and it is more beneficial than the orphan's Kaddish, which was only established for minors. Therefore, it is understood that it is better for the mourner to pray even during the seven days, as it is written that it is more beneficial than the orphan's Kaddish. And it seems that there, in Siman 376, it refers to mourning for a father and mother, and if so, it is better to pray oneself as it is written that it is more beneficial than Kaddish. Therefore, it is understood that it refers to mourning for a father and mother. But here it refers to mourning in general, not for a father and mother but for other relatives for whom Kaddish is not said, and if so, the mourner should not pray if there is someone else who can pray, and this is clear."
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