Mourning and Fasting on Chanukah and Purim

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Mourning and Fasting on Chanuka

  1. If a relative passes away on Chanukah one must keep all the practices of Aveilut, including ripping one’s clothing for the dead and comforting the mourner. [1]
  2. One should not conduct a eulogy during Chanukah because Chanukah is a time of Simcha and Hallel and it is only permitted to conduct a eulogy for a Chacham on the day of death. [2] A teacher of Torah who set times to learn is considered a Chacham to eulogize on Chanukah during the Levayah. [3]
  3. One is not allowed to fast on Chanukah. If one’s parent’s Yehrzheit falls out on Chanukah (according to those who fast for one’s parent’s yehrzeit) one should fast one of the days prior to Chanukah. [4]
  4. One is allowed to fast or do a eulogy the day before or after Chanukah. Some say that one should be strict not to fast the day before Chanukah Lechatchila. [5]
  5. If one did fast on Chanukah one should make it up by fasting again after Chanukah. [6]
  6. One shouldn’t go to visit cemeteries during Chanukah (and especially Chol HaMoed) because it generates sadness and a eulogy of the deceased. One has what to rely on to visit the graves of Tzadikkim during Chanukah and Chol HaMoed. [7]
  7. Some have the Minhag not to say Kaddish for their parents on Chanukah, however it’s a wrong Minhag and one should continue saying Kaddish even on Chanukah. [8]

Mourning and Fasting on Purim

  1. Even though Purim is a joyous occasion it doesn't cancel aveilut.[9]
  2. Someone in shiva on Purim doesn't observe aveilut publically but does so private like he would on Shabbat (Aveilut on Shabbat).[10]

Related pages

  1. See also Mourning.

Sources

  1. Mishna Brurah 670:12 writes that all agree that there is Aveilut on Chanukah. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim 192) agrees.
  2. Shabbat 21b says that it’s forbidden to eulogize on Chanukah. However Megilah 3b and moed Katan 26b says for a Chacham it’s permitted on Moed and all the more so for Chanukah. S”A 670:3 rules this that it’s forbidden except for a Chacham. Mahariv, Magen Avraham (C”M 547) and Chaye Aam says nowadays we don’t have a Chacham. However the Maharamit, Birkei Yosef (C”M 15:2), Orach Mishpat 4:17 in name of Maharshal (Bava Kama 2), Nezirut Shimshon, Aruch HaShulchan, Shaar Shlomo Zorafa 135, and Sh”t Yabia Omer Y”D 9:46 allow it even nowadays.
  3. Sh”t Shaar Shlomo Zorafa 135 and Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S”A 670:6).
  4. S”A 670:1 based on Shabbat 21b says it’s forbidden to fast on Chanukah.
  5. S”A 686:1 based on Tosfot (Tanit 18) and Rosh (Megilah Perek Kama). However, Mishna Brurah 686:1 brings Bach and Pri Chadash that say one isn’t allowed to fast the day before Chanukah. Mishna Brurah 686:1 says that since it’s permitted to fast the day before and after Chanukah (S”A 686:1) one is allowed to do a eulogy because a eulogy is more lenient than a fast (Shaar Tzion 686:1). See further, Sh”t Har HaKarmel O”C 10, and Sh”t Divrei Moshe 1:37
  6. S”A 568:5
  7. Gesher HaChaim and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 192) based on Bet Yosef (Y”D 344) who forbids going to cemeteries on Rosh Chodesh. Ben Ish Chai allows going to graves on Tzaddikim even on Chol HaMoed and Moed LeChol Chai argues that one shouldn’t go to the cemetery at all.
  8. Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg 193.
  9. Shulchan Aruch YD 401:7
  10. Shulchan Aruch YD 401:7. Shach 401:4 writes that there is a contradiction in Shulchan Aruch between YD and OC and he concludes that we follow what it says in YD that there is no aveilut on Purim except in private.