Distant News about Parents

A patient who was unconscious and upon awakening was informed that his father passed away two months ago. What is his status regarding the seven days of mourning, the thirty days, and the year of mourning?

Since more than thirty days have passed since the death and burial, it is considered distant news, and he is not required to sit shiva but should perform one act that visibly expresses mourning for a short time, thereby fulfilling the obligation of shiva. Regarding greetings, entering a banquet house, and buying new clothes, these are forbidden for the entire year, and Kaddish is recited for the entire year, counting from the day of death. Haircuts are prohibited until his friends rebuke him. Practices forbidden to Ashkenazim by custom during the thirty days, such as bathing in hot water and wearing laundered clothes, are permitted immediately.

Shulchan Aruch, Siman 402, Paragraph 1: "Even if he heard about his father or mother. This applies to the decree of the seven days, but regarding the decree of the thirty days, he observes for his father and mother the prohibition of haircuts until his friends rebuke him, and ironing until the festival arrives and they rebuke him, as well as greetings and entering a banquet house; and the count is from the day of death, not from the day of the news. Therefore, if the news of his father or mother's death comes to him after twelve months, he observes only one day even regarding the decree of thirty days." This is from the words of the Ramban and the Rosh. What I wrote regarding the customs of the Ashkenazim, that it is not necessary to observe in the case of distant news, is stated in Shu"t Bach Chadashot, Siman 54: "However, regarding other stringencies practiced by the Ashkenazim within thirty days for other relatives, such as not entering a bathhouse and not wearing a white shirt unless wearing another, and similar, there is no custom at all to be stringent about this for his father and mother in the case of distant news, and there is no difference between within thirty days from the news and after thirty days, as it is considered distant news and is observed only one day, except for haircuts, ironing, joy, and greetings, which are observed all twelve months, as we said."