אבל אסור לאכול משלו בסעודה ראשונה אבל בשניה מותר אפילו ביום ראשון ומצוה על שכניו שיאכילוהו משלהם כדי שלא יאכל משלו ויכול אחד להאכיל את חברו בימי אבלו והוא יחזור גם כן ויאכילנו בימי אבלו ובלבד שלא יתנו בתחילה:

A mourner is forbidden to eat of his own at the first meal [after burial],¹ (Ezek. XXIV, 17) whence it follows that for others it is done. Should others, however, not provide him with the first meal, or in the case where he is the only Jewish resident in town, he may eat of his own — TaZ. Some explain that the reason the first meal is provided by others is that usually the mourner immediately after burial refuses to eat and in some cases prefers death — Perisha. The main part of the mourner’s meal is the bread as may be seen from the verse in Ezek. ibid., but he may eat other dishes of his own even at the first meal — A.H. It is customary to bring him bread with eggs or lentils. Cf. B.B. 16b where it is stated that on the day that Abraham our father died, Jacob made a broth of lentils to comfort his father Isaac (v. Gen. XXV, 29-30 and Rashi a.l.), and the reason it was of lentils is that ‘just as the lentil has no mouth (i.e., no cleft), so too, the mourner has no mouth (i.e., for speech)’. Others say, ‘Just as the lentil is round, so too, mourning rolls and goes around to all the denizens of this world.’ The practical difference between these two explanations is whether we should comfort with eggs, which have no cleft, but are not perfectly round. Hence, according to the first reason offered in the Talmud (B.B. ibid.) one may provide the mourner’s meal with eggs. Some of the Later Authorities hold that also beverages should be provided by others at the first mourner’s meal — Leḥem ha-Panim. but at the second [meal] he is permitted [to eat of his own] even on the first day [of mourning].² and Asheri who explain that the words, ‘on the first day’ mentioned in M.K. ibid. apply only to the first meal. Cf. Pes. 36a where the expression ‘first day’ (יומא קמא) refers to one meal. So also Hag. Maim. Ebel IV, 9 citing SeMaG, for the underlying principle is that we follow the lenient authority in laws of mourning (M.K. 18a; ‘Er. 46a a.e.). Tosaf. (M.K. 20b s.v. שכבר and 27b s.v. יום) maintain that the mourner must be provided with all the meals he requires on the first day, for they take ‘first day’ to mean the meals of the entire day. A religious duty rests upon his neighbours to provide food for him of their own in order that he should not eat of his own.³ One may provide food for another person during the latter's mourning and the latter may in turn provide food for the former during his mourning,⁴ provided they do not make such a stipulation at the outset.⁵ For if such a stipulation is made it would be considered as though each one ate of his own.

footnotes: ¹ M.K. 27b in accord with R. Judah on the authority of Rab. Derived from the words of God to Ezekiel, ‘And eat thou not the bread of men’ ² Thus also Tur ³ Y.M.K III, 5(82b). This refers only to the first meal. ⁴ Even though both are in mourning. M.K. 27b in the case of Rabbah and R. Joseph. ⁵ Thus Asheri.

If mourning befell a woman, men should not provide the mourner's meal for her,⁶ but women should provide her with the mourner's meal.⁷ on the authority of R. Meir of Rothenberg. Cf. Lev. R. VI, 3 and Lam. R. IV, 10 (Buber), according to which a woman should provide the mourner’s meal for another woman in mourning. If mourning befell a married woman, she may not eat the first meal [after burial] of her husband.⁸ For since the husband is required to feed her, the food is regarded as her own. When she provides other women with the mourner’s meal, she does not have to obtain her husband’s consent, for this is considered a small matter for which the husband’s approval is unnecessary. Ḥ.M. § 358 and supra § 248. However, if the husband refuses, she may not bring the mourner’s meal to other women. If both the husband and the wife are mourners, men are permitted to provide the mourner’s meal for both, since the meal in this case is provided mainly for the husband, and indirectly she eats too — A.H. For the same reason, one who obligated himself to feed his son and daughter-in-law or his daughter and son-in-law, and mourning befell them, the latter may not eat of his food — A.H. So too, one who has [in his employment] a scribe or a hired man, if [each of them] receives meals as his payment, and mourning befell him, he should not eat the first meal of his employer. But one who feeds a poor person or an orphan [because it is a meritorious act] or his son and daughter without any stipulation,⁹ par. 1, n. 5. Cf. B.B. 43b, RaShBaM s.v. זה שייך. and mourning befell them, — [the law is that] they may eat the first meal of the master of the house.

footnotes: ⁶ Sem(H). XI, 2 because it offers an occasion for sin. ⁷ Asheri ⁸ Asheri ibid. ⁹ supra

If the mourner desires not to eat on the first day,¹⁰ and N in T.H. Cur. edd. of Y. have a different reading. This means that if the mourner desires to fast on the first day, he is permitted (BaḤ) — ShaK. Or Zaru’a, however, rules that the mourner is not permitted to fast unless it is a public fast day, and during the days of Penitence (עשרת ימי תשובה) even if it is his custom to fast, he is not permitted to do so, for it is a religious duty to eat the mourner’s meal — A.H. Cf. M.Abr. to O.Ḥ. § 581, n. 12 and Ba’er Heteb. he may eat of his own¹¹ even the first meal. Gloss: So too, if he was not provided with the mourner's meal on the first day until¹² the night, he is permitted to eat at night of his own¹³ n. 10. and he is not required to be provided with the mourner's meal.¹⁴ on the authority of the majority of the Codifiers — G. If the burial took place at night, the mourner’s meal is provided at night, and if he did not eat at night he is provided with same on the following day, for the day follows the night. Isserles’ ruling applies only if the mourner’s meal was not provided during the day after burial for the reasons mentioned above — P.Tesh. If the burial took place late Friday afternoon, and there was not sufficient time to provide the mourner’s meal, it must be provided Saturday night — Birke Yos.

footnotes: ¹⁰ Derived from Y.Ber. III, 1(6a) according to the reading of Tur ¹¹ e., on the second day or on the night following the first day, even if it is his first meal — ShaK. ¹² Lit. ‘which extended to.’ ¹³ On the same principle as supra ¹⁴ Tur

It was customary to fast on the day of the death of scholars.¹⁵, Ta‘an. Cf. Y.Ned. VIII, 1(40d) and supra § 376 Gloss n. 39. From this ruling it follows that the relatives also fasted and did not partake of the mourner’s meal — A.H.

footnotes: ¹⁵ Y.M.K. III, 7(83b) in the case of R. Abbahu, cited by Asheri

[In the case of] one who was buried on the eve of the Sabbath close to nightfall prior to twilight,¹⁶ there is an authority who says that he should be provided then with the mourner's meal.¹⁷ M.K. III end in accord with R. Jose in Pes. 99b. But it seems to me that since this is not obligatory,¹⁸ par. 3. it is better not to provide him then with the mourner's meal on account of the honour due to the Sabbath.¹⁹ And thus is the accepted custom.

footnotes: ¹⁶ On the time of the day designated ‘twilight’ (בין השמשות) v. Shab. 34b. ¹⁷ Mord. ¹⁸ supra ¹⁹ In order to partake of the Sabbath meal with appetite. Cf. O.Ḥ. § 249, 2. If the mourner desires to eat prior to the advent of the Sabbath, he must not eat of his own — Ḥok. Adam.

The mourner's meal is not provided for [one whose] infant child died, unless it was thirty complete days old,²⁰ or one knows for certain that its months [of pregnancy] were complete.²¹

footnotes: ²⁰ e., it died on the thirty-first day after birth. ²¹ Shab. 136a in the case of the death of the grandson of R. Dimi b. Joseph. One who suffers another bereavement during his mourning period should be provided with the mourner’s meal, although he is in the midst of observing mourning rites for the first bereavement for which he was already provided with the mourner’s meal — A.H.

One may sprinkle or sweep [the floors] in the house of mourning and wash dishes, cups, flasks and drinking vessels.²² However, one does not bring therein perfumes or spices,²³ but he may bring them into a house wherein the corpse lies,²⁴ and one does not recite a benediction over them.²⁵ One does not expound legal matters or homiletical interpretations in the house of mourning,²⁶ 23a. This refers to a Ḥakam who died, whose Academy is in recess (v. supra § 344, 18), and according to Sem(H). X, 14 where the same ruling is found, it appears that this applies to those who assemble at the Academy where the mourning rites are observed at which place it was customary under normal conditions to raise legal and Aggadic questions. In the case of other mourners, studies may be conducted at the place of mourning — A.H. but one sits and is silent.

footnotes: ²² M.K. 27a. This is not considered pleasure. ²³ Ibid. ²⁴ For fumigation purposes on account of the bad odour emitted by the corpse. ²⁵ Ibid., in accord with Bar Kappara. The benediction is not recited since the purpose of the perfumes and spices is merely to deodorize the house. ²⁶ Ibid.

As soon as the corpse is buried, he²⁷ may eat meat and drink some wine²⁸ during the meal in order to dissolve the food in his bowels, but [he must] not drink to the full.²⁹ ‘original practice’ refers to the ten cups; according to N in T.H. it refers to the three cups during the meal only. Cf. Y.Pes. X, 7(37d); ‘Wine during the meal does not lead to intoxication.’ On this ruling cf. also Yad, Ebel IV, 6.

footnotes: ²⁷ The mourner. ²⁸ Ta‘an. 13b; Ned. 56a. ²⁹ Ket. 8b where it is reported that ten cups were instituted to be drunk in a mourner’s home, — three before, three during and four after the meal (cf. Sem(H). XIV, 14 for a different version). Later four more cups were added. However, when this led to intoxication, they reverted to the ‘original practice.’ According to Rashi

[In] a locality where it is the adopted custom to provide the mourner's meal with meat, wine and savoury dishes, they do so.³⁰ and Tur. Cf. also Ned. 56a; Y.Ber. III, 1(6a). [However], at first they provide the mourner's meal with eggs or a dish of lentils as a symbol of mourning,³¹ par. 1, n. 1. and then they eat their sufficient requirement.

footnotes: ³⁰ Sem(H). XIV, 13 cited by T.H. ³¹ supra

A great number of people should not [assemble] to eat with the mourner, for this would necessitate that they separate themselves to two different places.³². derived from Y.M.K. III, 2(82a). If they are obliged to divide themselves into two groups, it would appear more like a social gathering. Hence, the prohibition — ShaK. Those who are relatives may eat with the mourner. So too, those who make the lamentation. Mishna M.K. 24b; ibid. 25a; Shab. 105b; T.H.

footnotes: ³² Hag. Maim

Where one is required to count seven [days of mourning] after the Festival,³³ O.Ḥ. § 548, 2 and infra § 399, 13. and so too, if one heard [near] tidings on the Sabbath,³⁴ a.l. who rules in accord with B.Yos. that the mourner’s meal may be provided on the Sabbath. Cf. however, Ba’er Heteb a.l. the first mourner's meal which is partaken of during the days of mourning must be provided [by others].³⁵ s.v. שכבר. However, some say that since the first day [of mourning] was postponed, the mourner's meal is not provided [by others]. And thus is the common practice,³⁶ M.K. III on the authority of ‘some say;’ N.Yos. — G. even where the [first day] enters into the counting of the seven [days of mourning], e.g., in localities where two [Festival] days are observed,³⁷ § 401, 4; O.Ḥ. § 547, 8-9. [in which case] the second [Festival] day is counted [in the seven days of mourning].

footnotes: ³³ In the case of one who suffered a bereavement on the Festival or on Ḥol ha-Moed. ³⁴ D.M. ³⁵ M.K. 20a, Tosaf. ³⁶ Mord. ³⁷ In the Diaspora. further on this ruling infra

The mourner's meal is not provided in the case of distant tidings.³⁸ and N.Yos. to M.K. end. Cf. M.K. 24b, Tosaf. s.v אלא In the case of ‘near tidings’ the mourner’s meal is provided even if the death occurred in another place — A.H. On near and distant tidings, v. infra § 402.

footnotes: ³⁸ Mord.

The distinguished comforter among them breaks bread, i.e., breaks bread to recite the blessing before the meal,³⁹ and on the Sabbath he⁴⁰ breaks bread in his usual manner.⁴¹ (Prov. I, 22) which refers to the blessing of the Sabbath, ‘and toil addeth nothing thereto’ (ibid.) which refers to mourning. Hence, on the Sabbath which bestows its blessings upon us, the comforter need not hand the bread to the mourner, but during the weekdays when the mourner is engrossed in his mourning (-toil), the comforter hands the bread to the mourner, which is not done under normal conditions. Cf. also Y.Ber. II, 7(5b); Y.M.K. III, 5(82d) ; Gen. R. XI, 1; ibid. C, 7; Shab. 119a (ref. Deut. XIV, 22); Pesik. R. § 46; Hag. Maim. Yad, Ebel IV, 9; Yad, Berakoth VII, 5; O.Ḥ. § 167, 18; Ginzberg L. Commentary on the Palestinian Talmud Vol. I, pp. 385-6.

footnotes: ³⁹ During weekdays. ⁴⁰ The mourner. ⁴¹ Yalk. Prov. s. 947, on the verse, ‘The blessing of the Lord it maketh rich’