Changing Place in Synagogue During Mourning for Other Relatives

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Question

Is it necessary to change one's place in the synagogue during the thirty days of mourning for other relatives?

Answer

The law regarding changing one's place in the synagogue is derived from the Gemara, Moed Katan, page 23a: "The Rabbis taught: A mourner, during the first week, does not leave the entrance of his house; during the second week, he goes out but does not sit in his place; during the third week, he sits in his place but does not speak; during the fourth week, he is like any other person." Apparently, this law applies only to mourning for other relatives, as the first week, when he does not leave the entrance of his house, is ruled by the Shulchan Aruch even for mourning other relatives.

This is also explicitly stated in Aruch HaShulchan, section 293:12: "Therefore, we have adopted the law regarding the Beit Midrash as the law for other mourning of thirty days, and for one's father and mother, twelve months, and this is correct," etc.

Source

The law regarding changing one's place is derived from the Gemara, Moed Katan, page 23a: "The Rabbis taught: A mourner, during the first week, does not leave the entrance of his house; during the second week, he goes out but does not sit in his place; during the third week, he sits in his place but does not speak; during the fourth week, he is like any other person." Apparently, this law applies only to mourning for other relatives, as the first week, when he does not leave the entrance of his house, is ruled by the Shulchan Aruch even for mourning other relatives. This is also explicitly stated in Aruch HaShulchan, section 293:12: "Therefore, we have adopted the law regarding the Beit Midrash as the law for other mourning of thirty days, and for one's father and mother, twelve months, and this is correct," etc.

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