Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 6: Laws of Offering Peace, Conducting War, and Maintaining Holiness in the Camp Halacha 1 – Requirement to Offer Peace Before War A king may not wage war—neither optional nor obligatory—until he first offers peace. If the enemy accepts peace and agrees to keep the Seven […]

Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 5: Laws of War and Dwelling in the Land Halacha 1 – Priority of Wars A king must first wage a milchemet mitzvah (obligatory war) before any other war. These include: War against the seven nations of Canaan. War against Amalek. War to defend Israel from […]

Join Our Virtual Community – Receive Daily Learning PDF Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 4: The King’s Rights and Authority Halacha 1 – Power to Levy Taxes The king may levy taxes on the nation for his needs or for war. He may impose duties on merchandise, and it is forbidden […]

Join Our Virtual Community – Receive Daily Learning PDF Chapter 3: The King’s Conduct and Authority Halacha 1 – Writing a Torah Scroll The king must write a Torah scroll for himself in addition to the one inherited from his ancestors. If no scroll was left, he writes two: one […]

Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 2: The Honor and Conduct of Kings Halacha 1 – Obligation to Honor the King The king must be treated with great honor, and awe of him must be instilled in everyone’s heart. We may not ride his horse, sit on his throne, use his scepter, […]

Join Our Virtual Torah Study Community & Receive Daily Learning Content Melachim uMilchamot – Chapter 1: The Laws of Kings and Their Appointment Halacha 1 – Three Mitzvot Upon Entering the Land Israel was commanded to fulfill three mitzvot upon entering the Land: Appoint a king (Deuteronomy 17:15). Erase Amalek’s […]

Chapter 14: Acts of Kindness, Visiting the Sick, and Burial Laws Rabbinic Commandments of Kindness It is a positive Rabbinic commandment to visit the sick, comfort mourners, prepare for funerals, assist a bride, accompany guests, attend to all burial needs, carry a corpse on one’s shoulders, walk before the bier, […]

Chapter 13: Comforting Mourners and Limits of Grief 1. How Mourners Are Comforted After the burial, the mourners gather at the side of the cemetery. Those who attended the funeral form lines around them, with each line consisting of at least ten people, not counting the mourners themselves. 2. Words […]

Obligation of Eulogy and Burial A eulogy is considered an honor for the deceased. Therefore, heirs are compelled to pay the wages of men and women who recite laments and eulogize the deceased. If the deceased instructed that no eulogy be given, we respect that wish. However, if the deceased […]

Chapter 11: Mourning During Festivals and Wedding Celebrations Rending Garments and Bread of Comfort on Festivals Although mourning rites are not observed during a festival, one should tear his garments for the deceased and uncover his shoulder during Chol HaMoed. Similarly, mourners should receive the bread of comfort during Chol […]

Chapter 10: Mourning on Shabbat and Festivals Mourning on the Sabbath The Sabbath is counted as one of the seven days of mourning. However, mourning laws are not observed publicly on the Sabbath. Private practices such as veiling one’s head, refraining from marital relations, and avoiding washing with hot water […]

Chapter 9: Rending Garments and Mourning Honors   1. Sewing and Mending Garments After Mourning When a person tears his garments for the death of a relative other than a parent, he may sew the tear after seven days and mend it after thirty days. For the death of a […]

Chapter 8: The laws of Keriah Halacha 1: The obligation It is an obligation for an Avel to tear his clothing at the event of the passing of a relative [for which he needs to keep Aveilus]. Standing: One is obligated to perform the Keriah in a standing position. Halacha […]

Chapter 7: Shemua Kerova, Rechoka, Kohen Gadol, King Shemua Kerova vs. Shemua Rechoka Shemua Kerova: If a person hears that a close relative has died within thirty days of the death—even on the thirtieth day—the report is considered proximate. The mourner must observe seven days of mourning starting from the […]

Chapter 6: Restrictions during Shloshim and 12 months Duration of Extended Mourning Rabbinic law requires some mourning practices for 30 days. Source: Deuteronomy 21:13 – “She shall cry for her father and mother for a month.” Five Prohibitions for 30 Days Cutting hair Wearing freshly ironed white clothes Marrying Entering […]

Chapter 5: The Matters forbidden for an Avel During Shiva Overview A mourner is forbidden 11 activities: Cutting hair Laundering clothes Washing or anointing Sexual relations Wearing shoes Performing work Studying Torah Standing bed upright (must overturn) Leaving head uncovered Greeting others Engaging in frivolity or celebrations On the first […]

Chapter 4: Minhagei Taharah Customs for Preparing the Deceased Close the eyes and tie the jaw if open. Wash the body, seal orifices, anoint with fragrances, trim hair, and dress in simple white linen shrouds. Shrouds should be inexpensive; Sages used a cloak worth a zuz to avoid embarrassing the […]

Chapter 3: The prohibition for a Kohen to defile himself to the dead Halacha 1: The prohibition and liability for lashes Any Kohen which defiles himself to any corpse other than the six relatives mentioned in the Torah, or his wife, is liable for the penalty of lashes. Witnesses and […]

Chapter 2: The relatives that one must mourn for and that a priest must defile himself on behalf of Halacha 1: The relatives that one must mourn for Biblical: A person is biblically obligated to mourn after the death of the following relatives: Mother Father Son Daughter One’s paternal brother […]

Chapter 1: The Mitzvah to mourn Halacha 1: The Mitzvah to mourn It is a positive command for one to mourn the death of a relative. The biblical obligation-The first day: Biblically, one is only required to mourn on the day of the death and burial. The Rabbinical obligation-The remaining […]