Consolation Meal for Close News of Death.

A soldier who was at war and upon returning was informed that his brother passed away two weeks ago, is he required to have a consolation meal?

It is necessary to have a consolation meal. However, he may fast and not eat on that day or transfer his first meal to another, thereby fulfilling the obligation of the consolation meal.

It is stated in the Gemara Moed Katan 20: "The Rabbis taught: Close news of death requires seven and thirty days of mourning." The Rosh (siman 29) wrote that one must have a consolation meal and observe all mourning laws as on the day of burial. This is also ruled by the Shulchan Aruch, siman 402, paragraph 1: "One who receives news of the death of a relative, if the news arrives within 30 days, even on the 30th day itself, it is considered close news, and he must observe seven days of mourning from the day the news arrives; and he tears his garment and counts 30 days." The Rema wrote: "From the day of the news" for haircutting and other matters. In general, the day of close news is considered the day of burial." From his words, it implies that the day of the news is considered the day of burial for all matters, including the consolation meal. This is also implied by the words of the Shulchan Aruch, who wrote in paragraph 3: "No consolation meal is held for distant news," implying that for close news, a consolation meal is held. This is also written in "Kavod Yom Tov," laws of mourning, chapter 7. What I wrote about the possibility of fasting or transferring the meal is explained in the words of the Shulchan Aruch, siman 378, paragraph 3, and the commentators there.