From the Rav’s Desk: Is an Avel during Shiva to recite the half Kaddish after the Torah reading?

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  1. Question: [Monday, 23rd eves, 5783]

I know an Avel cannot get an Aliyah or read from the Torah during Shiva. May he then say the half Kaddish after Kerias Hatorah, or is he not to do so?

 

Answer:

This matter is disputed amongst Poskim, and the Chabad custom is for the Avel to recite the half Kaddish even during Shiva. However, other communities are accustomed to not say it.

Explanation: Some Poskim rule an Avel during Shiva is not to recite the Half Kaddish that follows Kerias Hatorah, even if he is generally accustomed to do so during the mourning period, being that he cannot get an Aliyah or read from the Torah. Others rule the Avel may recite it as in truth he is obligated to hear Kerias Hatorah and is prohibited from getting an Aliyah simply due to his state of mourning. The Chabad custom is like this latter opinion. 

Sources: See Nitei Gavriel 98:1; Poskim who permit saying the half Kaddish: Meishiv Halacha 2:220; Poskim who forbid saying the half Kaddish: Mili Deavos 1:2; Agudos Eizov 7

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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