Changing Seat in Synagogue for a Mourning Woman
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Question
Is a mourning woman required to change her seat in the women's section of the synagogue?
Answer
Even a mourning woman who has a fixed seat in the women's section must change her seat four cubits from her original place to a location further from the Ark.
Source
This is proven from the 'Panim Meirot' Part 2, Siman 124, which writes regarding a woman for whom a festival is made after childbirth: "And it is clear that this woman, who only enters the synagogue in the morning, does not need to change her place, as it would be public mourning." This is written according to the opinion of the Taz, who holds that the place is only changed on weekdays or if entered before 'Barchu'. However, according to our custom, which does not follow the Taz in this matter but follows the opinion of the Shach in Siman 493, from whose words it is implied that even after 'Barchu' one must change their place in the synagogue, this applies to a woman as well.
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