Torah Community Connections

Week 48 - Friday - 27 October 2000

MOED KATAN: CHAPTER 3: MISHNAH 7

One may not tear, nor lay bare, nor are they offered refreshment, except by the relatives of the dead; and they offer refreshment only on an upright couch. And they may not bring to the house of the mourner on a tabla, nor in an iskutla nor in the kanon, but in baskets. And they may not recite the mourners' blessing during the Moed, but they stand in the row and they console and they dismiss the public.

Kehati

One may not tear - his clothes for the dead during Hol Hamoed nor lay bare - the shoulder. It was the practice during the funeral to remove one's garment from his shoulder, thereby exposing the shoulder and the arm; nor do they offer refreshment - the meal of condolence (se'udat ha-havra'ah). This is the first meal that the friends of the mourner give him after the burial, and which they eat with him, for the mourner may not eat the first meal from his own food. (According to Rambam, he may not eat from his own food the entire first day). None of these acts may be done during Hol Hamoed except by the relatives of the dead - i.e., his father, mother, brother, sister (whether from the father or from the mother), son, daughter, and wife. Others, however, may not tear, and may not lay bare, and may not eat the meal of condolence together with the mourner during Hol Hamoed; and they offer refreshment - they give the relatives of the dead person the meal of condolence during Hol Hamoed, only on an upright couch - i.e., the normal manner of sitting, and not on a lowered couch, as they would do on a weekday, for the lowering of the couch is not done during Hol Hamoed.

And they may not bring - the meal of condolence - to the house of the mourner - whether during Hol Hamoed or on a weekday, on a tabla - a type of ornate plate, or in an iskutla - a sort of silver or glass bowl, or in a kanon - a special type of basket, but in baskets - of peeled willow, so s not to embarrass the poor who come to bring the meal of condolence. A baraita similarly teaches: "Formerly, the rich would bring to the house of the mourner in silver and gold baskets, and the poor in wicker baskets of peeled willow, and the poor would be embarrassed. They enacted that everyone should bring in wicker baskets of peeled willow, to maintain the honor of the poor."

And they may not recite the mourners' blessing during the Moed - after they had returned from the burial, and stood in a row and consoled the mourners, they sued to gather in the open place of the town and bless the mourners with formulas of consolation, concluding with the phrase, "Blessed be the Comforter of mourners" (see Ket. 8b). This was called the "mourners' blessing". This mishnah teaches that the blessing is not recited during Hol Hamoed, neither in open place of the town nor in the house, but they stand in the row - when they return from the burial, and they console - the mourners, when they pass before the row, and they dismiss the public - they tell the comforters to go to their homes, and the latter need not accompany the mourners to the open place or to their homes (Rashi). Some explain that "and they exempt the public" means that they exempt them from forming a row and consoling after the Festival, since they have already done this during Hol Hamoed (Ravad, Hameiri).

MOED KATAN: CHAPTER 3: MISHNAH 8

They may not set down the bier in the street, so as not to occasion an eulogy; and not of women ever, out of respect. Women on the Moed may bewail, but they may not beat. Rabbi Yishmael says, The women next to the bier may beat.

Kehati

They may not set down the bier in the street - during Hol Hamoed, as they are accustomed to do on a weekday, so as not to occasion an eulogy - For it is prohibited to eulogize during Hol Hamoed; and not - they may not set down the bier - of women - in the street - ever - even on a weekday, out of respect - for this is disrespectful for a woman (Rambam). Some explain the reason is lest they discharge blood, for this is degrading (Rashi, Nimukei Yosef). The Gemara states: "The Sages taught (that they may not set down the bier of a woman in the street) only regarding a lying-in woman (a woman who died in childbirth who discharges blood Rashi), but other women they may set down. Rabbi Eleazar says, Even other women, as it is written, "and Miriam died there, and was buried there" (Num. 20:2) straight after death is the burial.

Women on the Moed may bewail they may all recite dirges together, as will be explained in the following mishnah, but they may not beat one hand on the other, or a hand on the thigh.

Rabbi Yishmael says, The women who stand next to the bier may beat even during Hol Hamoed. The halakhah does not follow Rabbi Yishmael.

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