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Question
What is the prohibition of greeting during mourning?
Answer
During the first three days of mourning, one does not greet anyone, and if others greet him, he does not respond and informs them that he is in mourning.
From the beginning of the fourth day until the end of the seven days, he does not greet others, and others do not greet him, but if others did not know and greeted him, he responds to them.
After the seven days until the end of thirty days for other relatives, and twelve months for his father and mother, he greets others, but others do not greet him, and if they greet him, he responds to them.
If many come to comfort him, he may say to them even during the seven days, "Go in peace," out of respect for the multitude.
Source
Gemara Moed Katan, page 15a: "A mourner is forbidden to greet, as it is said by the Almighty to Ezekiel: 'sigh silently.'" The division of days and laws and the law of respect for the multitude are explained in Gemara Moed Katan 21, and so ruled the Shulchan Aruch, Siman 385: "A mourner is forbidden to greet. How? In the first three days, he does not greet anyone, and if others did not know he was in mourning and greeted him, he does not respond to them but informs them that he is in mourning. From the third to the seventh day, he does not greet, and if others did not know he was in mourning and greeted him, he responds to them. From the seventh to the thirtieth day, he greets others who are at peace, and others do not greet him, and certainly, he responds to those who greet him. After thirty days, he is like any other person. This applies to other relatives, but regarding his father and mother, he greets others after seven days, and others do not greet him until after twelve months." And in the Rema there: "If he does it out of respect for the multitude, such as when many come to comfort him, it is permitted to say to them: 'Go to your homes in peace,' for out of respect for the multitude it is permitted."
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