3

It is my understanding that when one is in the year of mourning following the death of certain relatives, he is not allowed to lead ["daven from the amud"] certain prayers (such as those on Shabbos, Yom Tov, Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed).

If so, what would happen if all 10 people gathered to daven are in fact mourners? Would any of them be able to lead the prayers? What would they do?

(of course, correct me if my initial assumption is incorrect)

Improve this question
7
  • 1
    Can't a similar question be asked about a minyan of Kohanim on Sabbat? Who gets aliyah number 3?
    – soandos
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:09
  • 1
    @soandos, there's a s'if in SA about just that case, and my father tells me there used to be a community in upstate New York that was in fact all kohanim.
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:11
  • also, who says "amen" to their kaddish?
    – Charles Koppelman
    Commented Jun 4, 2012 at 14:06
  • 1
    @CharlesKoppelman Sounds like a nice question. Care to ask it?
    – yydl
    Commented Jun 4, 2012 at 19:04
  • @yydl Actually I try to avoid halacha l'maisa questions here. You're free to ask if you're interested.
    – Charles Koppelman
    Commented Jun 4, 2012 at 20:07

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

The Shach (YD 376 sk 14) rules that if there is no one who is as qualified to lead, the mourner may lead even on Shabbat. If no one else is even there, I presume the mourner is the most qualified.

Improve this answer
5

Clearly, one of them would have to lead. The choice minhag not to have a mourner lead the tefillah on Shabbat or Yom tov is a matter of who is preferred to take the post (because of the honor of the tzibbur), not an absolute disqualification.

Improve this answer
5
  • 2
    Sounds okay. Do you have a source for that?
    – yydl
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 21:56
  • No, but it seems like an obvious inference.
    – Chanoch
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:01
  • Do you at least have a source for your claim it's "becuase of the honor of the tzibbur"?
    – msh210 ♦
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:12
  • 2
    Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 26:14 says that it's a custom. It also says that if a person (regularly?) led services on Shabbat before becomign a mourner, he can continue to do so even while he's a mourner.
    – Chanoch
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:18
  • 1
    ohr.edu/2258
    – Chanoch
    Commented Jun 3, 2012 at 22:18

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .