Question
I heard that in the Tzefas community women were accustomed not to attend funerals, or at least that used to be the custom. Practically, what should be done today?
Answer
You are correct that it is documented that the original custom in the Tzefas community, going back over 150 years, was for women not to attend funerals. In fact, they would remain at home until the funeral was over and avoid appearing outside. This practice was based on both Talmudic and halachic sources concerning certain spiritual dangers.
However, practically today, the custom in Tzefas is similar to that of other communities: women are permitted to attend funerals. Of course, care should be taken to maintain proper separation between men and women, and to ensure that men are not placed in a position where they must look at the women.
Sources: See Michaber 359:1; Admur Shemiras Haguf 10; Mavor Yabok Sifsei Rinanos 10; Nitei Gavriel 65:1; Eretz Chaim ibid in name of Vayikra Avraham p. 126 that “In Tzefas the custom is that the women do not attend the funeral at all, not in front of the body or behind it, and even the women who are standing outside enter their homes while the body is being carried.”; Igros Kodesh 31 printed in Shulchan Menachem 5:265 in reply to Rav Ushpal’s suggestion of banning women from attending funerals that “This is not the custom in Chabad and that he should not enter such Chumros into Chabad”
