Kumzitz in the Year of Mourning
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Question
Is it permissible for a mourner within the year of mourning for his father to gather with friends to sing songs without musical instruments?
Answer
A mourner should not gather for singing even when there are no musical instruments, because a mourner is prohibited from engaging in joy.
Source
The source for prohibiting a mourner from listening to music is because he is forbidden to engage in joy (as explained in Maharam Shik, Yoreh De'ah 366), and therefore there is no distinction between singing with the mouth for joy and singing with instruments, it is always prohibited. Even in the prohibition of singing due to the destruction, the opinion of the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 560, Se'if Katan 13, is to consider the opinion of the Bach, who is stringent about singing with the mouth even without wine, because it brings joy.