The Year of Mourning in a Leap Year
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Question
Until when is it forbidden for a mourner for his father to listen to music in a leap year: until after 12 months, or until the date of death?
Answer
Until after 12 months, and in the 13th month it is permitted to listen to music and attend festive gatherings as usual.
Source
Gemara Moed Katan, page 22b: "For all the deceased, one enters the house of joy after thirty days, for his father and mother - after twelve months."
Rosh, R' Yerucham, and Mordechai deduced from the language of the Gemara, which states 12 months and not a year, that it is permitted in the 13th month as usual. However, Beit Hillel brought a version in the response of Ma'ari Weil, sign 68, that even in the leap month, one must observe the laws of mourning as within the year.
The Shulchan Aruch, sign 391, paragraph 2, ruled according to the majority of the Rishonim: "For all the deceased, one enters the house of feasting after thirty days; for his father and mother, after 12 months. And even if the year is a leap year, it is permitted after 12 months," and so wrote the Shach there, and the Taz wondered about those who are stringent in this law.
And the custom is simply to permit the mourner in the 13th month all the laws of joy, and in the Levush it is written that the reason is that even a complete wicked person is not judged more than 12 months.
Rosh, R' Yerucham, and Mordechai deduced from the language of the Gemara, which states 12 months and not a year, that it is permitted in the 13th month as usual. However, Beit Hillel brought a version in the response of Ma'ari Weil, sign 68, that even in the leap month, one must observe the laws of mourning as within the year.
The Shulchan Aruch, sign 391, paragraph 2, ruled according to the majority of the Rishonim: "For all the deceased, one enters the house of feasting after thirty days; for his father and mother, after 12 months. And even if the year is a leap year, it is permitted after 12 months," and so wrote the Shach there, and the Taz wondered about those who are stringent in this law.
And the custom is simply to permit the mourner in the 13th month all the laws of joy, and in the Levush it is written that the reason is that even a complete wicked person is not judged more than 12 months.
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