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If the parents of a ger pass away, must the convert sit shiva for them? If so, is it preferable to sit shiva in the mourner's hometown or the parent's hometown?

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2 Answers 2

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See here from Gershon Gold:

The Rambam in Hilchos Avel 2:3 says that a Ger is not obligated to mourn for either of his parents. This is so because someone who is a Ger is considered as if he is reborn, and therefore has no Halachic relationship to his parents (Yevamos 22a; Bava Kamma 88a). The Beis Yosef (Yoreh De'ah 374) quotes the Mordechai in the name of the Ri that a convert must mourn for his mother, but the Rema in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh De'ah 374:5 explicitly disagrees with this view.

My Rosh Yeshiva Rav Gedalia Anemer zt'l from Silver Spring Maryland , held in accordance with the Rema and ruled that a convert should not sit shiva for their parent.

Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechaveh Da'as Vol 6 Responsa 60) however rules that a convert may sit shiva for a parent.

It is common for those sitting shiva to do so where they address comfortable. Many travel to different places to allow for family or friends to visit. However call your local Orthodox Rabbi to clarify if this is the proper thing to do.

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    I cant agree to today minhag to travel round the world while sitting shiva. It is not sheva brochos. One ideally should be sitting shiva in the house where the parent lived.
    – cham
    May 13, 2015 at 15:59
  • Nobody said it's haskafically acceptable. Just that is what people do May 13, 2015 at 16:04
  • It did give that impression @mefaresh
    – cham
    May 13, 2015 at 18:05
  • How best can I phrase it to mitigate your concern? May 13, 2015 at 18:06
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    @cham ??? How can you travel during Sheva Brachot? You stay in Beis Chasanim.
    – Double AA
    May 13, 2015 at 20:53
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Even though a convert has to honour his biological parents, he doesn't mourn for them.

More than that: If an entire family converts together, they do not mourn for each other.

Sources from the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

סימן קמג - הלכות כבוד אב ואם

סעיף כב' גֵר אָסור לְקַלֵּל אָבִיו הַגוֹי וְלֹא יְבַזֵּהוּ, שֶׁלֹּא יֹאמְרוּ, בָּאַנוּ מִקְּדֻשָּׁה חֲמוּרָה לִקְדֻשָּׁה קַלָּה, אֶלָּא נוֹהֵג בָּהֶם מִקְצָת כָּבוֹד.‏

סימן רג - על איזה קרוב ותינוק מתאבלים

סעיף ה' גֵּר אוֹ גִּיֹּרֶת שֶׁנִּתְגַּיְרוּ עִם בְּנֵיהֶם, אֵין מִתְאַבְּלִין זֶה עַל זֶה, דְּגֵר שֶׁנִּתְגַיֵר, כְּקָטָן שֶׁנּוֹלַד דָּמֵּי, וְקֻרְבָה שֶׁהָיְתָה בְגוֹיּוּתָם אֵינָהּ קֻרְבָה.‏

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