Mourning and minors

Hi,

One should not obligate minors to fulfill the practices of mourning, even if they are over the age of education. There is more reason to obligate a minor [older than the age of education] in tearing keriah, but even this is subject to debate, so that there is justification for refraining.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Yoreh Deah 1:224)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Kriah after seeing the Temple Mount and leaving

Hi,

One who saw the Temple Mount and did not tear kriah should not tear kriah later on.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:4)

[It is not clear to me whether Rav Moshe modifies his position in the last several words, to say that one who feels great pain over the loss of the Beit haMikdash does tear kriah later.]

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Tearing kriah on Friday after midday

Hi,

Some mention a custom of refraining from tearing "kriah" upon seeing the Temple Mount on Friday after midday. There does not seem to be any legal basis for this custom, but perhaps it could be justified if tearing "kriah" would increase one's pain into Shabbat.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tearing kriah on seeing the Temple Mount

Hi,

One does not tear kriah in our day upon seeing the site of the "cities of Judea", despite the fact that fear of invasion and control by our foes still exists. However, one does tear kriah upon seeing the Temple Mount, until the arrival of Mashiach.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:37:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Tearing K'riah when seeing Jerusalem?

Hi,

One tears "k'riah" when seeing the Temple Mount, or any city of Judea, which is now under non-Jewish control, even if it is built up nicely. One would not tear upon seeing sections of Jerusalem which are under Jewish control and built up nicely.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:70:11)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Keriah on Chol haMoed

Hi,

If a burial takes place on the second day of Yom Tov, then mourners do not tear keriah until after the entire Yom Tov (including intervening chol hamoed days) concludes.

If a burial takes place on chol hamoed, though, then one tears keriah during the funeral on chol hamoed.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:164)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Kriah for sad events in general

Hi,

One tears in mourning for other events, besides loss of a relative. For example, one who is present at the moment of a death tears, too.

Note that there is some debate about the obligation for hospital staff, who may be present for many such events.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:5)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Another difference when tearing kriah for the loss of a parent

Hi,

The general practice is that when tearing clothing in mourning, one tears the right side of the garment, and one tears from the upper hem downward. However, one who is mourning for a parent tears the left side, toward the heart.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:12; Taz Yoreh Deah 340:6)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Women and men, when tearing kriah

Hi,

We have mentioned that one who is mourning a parent tears all but the lowermost garment he is wearing. This applies to both men and women, but women tear the upper and lower layers in different spots, for the sake of privacy.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:11)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

On which garments to tear kriah

Hi,

One who loses a relative tears his uppermost garment. One who loses a parent, though, also tears all layers except the garment closest to his skin.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:9-10)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

How much to tear for Kriah

Hi,

When one tears clothing in mourning, the tear should be at least one hand-breadth long. One standard measure of a hand-breadth is 3.6 inches.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:3)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Tearing kriah at the neck of the garment

Hi,

The tearing of clothing for loss of a relative is performed at the neck of the garment, rather than any other part, maximizing the visibility of the tear.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:2)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

When to tear kriah

Hi,

One who hears of a close relative's death recites a blessing, 'Blessed are you Gd, King of the universe, who is the judge of truth,' in an initial attempt to religiously handle his grief. It is at this point that the mourner tears his clothing.

This generally occurs before burial, although one who hears of a death after burial should still recite the blessing and tear his clothing.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 339:3, 340:1; Shach Yoreh Deah 340:3)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Tearing kriah while standing

Hi,

Talmudically, based on biblical examples, we are taught that a mourner tears his clothing while standing - so much so that that the Code of Jewish Law says that one who tears while sitting has not fulfilled his obligation.

(Talmud Moed Katan 20b; Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:1)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Tearing k'riah

Hi,

Today we begin a new topic: Mourning. It is a sad topic, but it is an inescapable part of life, and Jewish law has quite a bit to say about it.

The Torah presents us with numerous models, such as the actions of Avraham in mourning for Sarah, and the actions of Yaakov in mourning for his son Yosef, and these cases are the model for much of what Jews do after suffering a loss.

One who loses a close relative - parent, sibling, spouse or child - must tear his clothing.

(Code of Jewish Law Yoreh Deah 340:1)

Have a good day,
Mordechai