Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email - 15 Adar 1/Feb 16

 

Is an avel obligated to send mishloach manos? An avel--even during the days of shivah--is obligated to send mishloach manos. Although it is customary not to take food from the house of an avel, it is permitted for the sake of a mitzvah. An avel should not send any food which elicits happiness. He should only send to one person. Sending mishloach manos to an avel is forbidden throughout his entire period of mourning (twelve months for a parent and thirty days for other relatives). Although this is the basic halacha, some people are lenient and send mishloach manos to a mourner (for a parent) after thirty days. Foods which elicit happiness should not be sent. An avel is also obligated in matonos l’evyonim. If he is poor, he may be the recipient of another person’s gifts.   [שו"ע תרצו, ומשנ"ב יז-כא; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 34 ,40 ו־41] Can mishloach manos be given to the family of a mourner? Throughout the period of mourning, it is forbidden to shoal b’shalom (offer greetings to) a mourner. Gift-giving, which is a form of sheilas shalom, is thus forbidden. Sending mishloach manos to an avel is forbidden for this reason. If a person mistakenly sent mishloach manos to an avel, the avel is permitted to accept it. This is because the sending--which is the prohibited form of greeting--was already done; accepting the gift does not add to the greeting. Sending a gift to the spouse/family of an avel is permitted, even though it is mainly being sent because of the avel. If the only way a person can be yotzei the mitzvah is by sending to an avel, he should do so. [שו"ע תרצו, ו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 37 ו־39] Does an onen read the Megilah? An onen (a mourner for a close relative who was not yet buried) may not eat meat or drink wine. This restriction applies on Purim night. On Purim day, however, he is permitted to eat meat and drink wine. Unlike a typical onen, who is exempt from making brochos on food, he should even recite a brocha on the meat and wine. This is because the celebration of Purim, which is sourced in the Megilah, is a greater mitzvah than an onen’s restrictions. At night, an onen should listen to the Megilah read by another person. During the day, he should wait to read the Megilah until after the burial. If he mistakenly reads before the burial, he should read again without a brocha after the burial.  [שו"ע תרצו, ז, משנ"ב כג-כז, ושעה"צ כט-ל; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 45-44] All credit goes to Dirshu | 911 County Line Rd. , Suite 205, Lakewood, NJ 08701