Ask The Rabbi

Ask The Rabbi

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The Rav Name: Rabbi Meir Arad

Q. A woman lost her son unfortunately, and is now sitting shiva for her sister. Her son’s yahrtzeit will occur during the shiva. She strongly desires to go to her son’s kever (resting place.) and participate in the remembrance meal in his honour, may she do this during the shiva?

Answer:In a situation of great distress there is a basis for permitting it, but she should go to the remembrance meal wearing rubber shoes, sit on a low chair, and wear her mourning clothes. Rabbi Eichler agreed to this. (See Yalkut Yosef, mourning, Ch. 40:27, and Nitai Gavriel, section 1, 112:23)

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