2. Going to Shul if no Minyan is available in the Shiva home:[1]

*See chapter 19 Halacha 17B for the full details of this subject!

An Avel during Shiva may not leave his house to go to Shul or to the Beis Midrash, with exception to Shabbos. The Sephardim, however, are accustomed to allow an Avel during Shiva to go to Shul on any day in which the Torah is read [for the sake of the Torah reading].[2] However, in the Ashkenazi communities, the custom is for the Avel to not leave his home [even for Torah reading].[3] [Some Poskim[4] rule an Avel may not leave his home to go to Shul during Shiva even if he does not have a Minyan available at home and will be forced to Daven in private, and miss the saying of Kaddish. Other Poskim[5] however rule it is permitted for an Avel to go to Shul during Shiva if a Minyan is not available in his home. Practically, one may be lenient to go to shul to say Kaddish, and hear Kedusha and Barchu if he is pained over the fact that he will not be with a Minyan.[6] According to all opinions, an Avel may participate in a Minyan that is taking place in his courtyard [i.e. apartment building] if he is unable to arrange a Minyan in his home.[7] According to all opinions, the Avel is not to travel to a further distanced shul if a closer Shul is available.]

Summary: An Avel may be lenient to go to shul to say Kaddish, and hear Kedusha and Barchu if he is pained over the fact that he will not be with a Minyan. Q&A Is the Avel to be Chazan when he Davens in a Shul during Shiva? Some Poskim[8] rule that the Avel is not to lead the prayers as Chazan when Davening in a Shul during Shiva.[9] If, however, he has a Yahrzeit, or it is his Beis Midrash, then he may Daven for the Amud.[10] Practically, unlike the above opinion, it is permitted for the Avel to lead the prayers as Chazan during Shiva even when Davening in a Shul. In such a case, the Avel is to recite Elokeinu or Birchas Kohanim in his repetition.[11]   May a son below Bar Mitzvah go to Shul to say Kaddish for his father? A son below Bar Mitzvah who is an Avel for a parent may go to Shul to say Kaddish.[12]

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[1] 393:3; See Nitei Gavriel 112:7

Other opinions: Some communities were accustomed to allowing an Avel to go to Shul to Daven during Shiva. [Minhag Sarkusta, brought in Rivash 158]

[2] Michaber ibid

[3] Rama ibid; Shach 376:8 in name of Minhagim

[4] Implication of Rama 393:3, brought in Chochmas Adam 167:3; Implication of Taz 696:2 and M”A 696:8 who rule an Avel is not to go to Maariv on Purim night even if he will not have Minyan at home, brought in Matzeivas Moshe 8 and Pischeiy Teshuvah 393:2; Elya Raba 132:4 leaves this matter as a Tzaruch Iyun, brought in glosses of Rav Akiva Eiger 393; Mateh Ephraim Kaddish 1:8 and Alef Lamateh ibid; Aruch Hashulchan 393:13; Darkei Chaim 18:4; Chochmas Adam 167:3 leaves this matter with a Tzaruch Iyun and in Matzeivas Moshe ibid he explains the doubt

[5] Initial ruling in Matzeivas Moshe 8, brought in Pischeiy Teshuvah 393:2; Ritva Moed Katan 23a; Karban Nesanel on Rosh 3:37; Nimukei Yosef on Moed Katan Perek 3; Mishmeres Shalom Yud 37; Kitzur SHU”A 214:2 regarding neighborhood; Daas Kedoshim 376:4; Minhag brought in Gesher Hachaim 21:6; Poskim brought in Pnei Baruch 21 footnote 17; Poskim brought in Nitei Gavriel ibid footnote 9

[6] Conclusion of Nitei Gavriel ibid; Tzitz Eliezer in Even Yaakov 57; Gesher Hachaim ibid concludes that if the Minyan is close by, he may go even within three days of Shiva, and if it is not so close by, he may go only after three days of Shiva and if it is very far, he is not to go at all.

[7] Leket Yosher p. 98; Chochmas Adam in Matzeivas Moshe 8; Pischeiy Teshuvah 393:2; Kitzur SHU”A 214:2 regarding neighborhood; Shevet Halevi 2:210 regarding Yeshiva building

[8] Kneses Yechezkal 44:34; Peulas Tzaddik 3:188; Shearim Metzuyanim Behalacha; See Yosef Daas 376, brought in Nitei Gavriel 95 footnote 2 that so is the custom; See Nitei Gavriel 93:1 footnote 2

[9] The reason: As Lechatchila it is not proper for the Avel to recite the blessing of Elokeinu/Birchas Kohanim. [ibid]

[10] Nitei Gavriel ibid

[11] Nitei Gavriel 95:2 in name of Yosef Daas ibid

[12] Shach ibid