Moed Katan 21b

מועד קטן כ״א ע״ב

Learn Moed Katan 21b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The stages of mourning for an אבל: working, greetings, comforting over thirty days and twelve months, and a latecomer's count of שבעה

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier question: an אבל puts on תפילין even in the first three days, because a מצוה is different. Then three ברייתות show that the first three days of mourning are the strictest, with rules about working, visiting another mourner, and greeting people. The story of רבי עקיבא blessing the crowd on the day his sons died seems to contradict the greeting rule, but the גמרא answers that honoring the public is different. Next, a ברייתא forbidding greetings for thirty days seems to clash with the seven-day rule. רב אידי בר אבין explains that the mourner may greet others after seven days, but others may not greet him for thirty. A ברייתא about twelve months, with רבי מאיר's parable of the doctor who breaks a healed leg, is explained as applying to a parent, while the shorter time applies to other relatives. Finally, a ברייתא teaches when a mourner who arrives late counts שבעה with the family, and רבי יוחנן adds that this applies only when the head of the household is home. A new question is introduced at the very end, and it continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (21)

1. ResolutionA מצוה is different
2. StatementA mourner and working
3. StatementA mourner visiting another mourner
4. StatementA mourner and greeting people
5. Challengeרבי עקיבא greeted the crowd on the day his sons died
6. ResolutionHonoring the public is different
7. StatementQuoting the days three-to-seven rule again
8. ChallengeA second source seems to forbid greeting a mourner for thirty days
9. ResolutionThe mourner may greet others, but others may not greet him
10. ChallengeIf no one may greet him, why does he 'answer' greetings?
11. ResolutionThe people greeting him did not know he was mourning
12. ChallengeThen the first three days should be the same
13. ResolutionIn the first three days he must tell them; later he need not
14. ChallengeA ברייתא says not to greet an אבל for twelve months
15. Statementרבי מאיר's parable: the doctor who breaks a healed leg
16. ResolutionTwelve months for a parent, less for other relatives
17. ChallengeWhy not allow indirect comfort for other relatives too?
18. ResolutionYes, indirect comfort is allowed; only the normal kind is not
19. StatementA mourner who arrives late: when he counts with the family
20. Statementרבי יוחנן's condition: the head of the household must be home
21. QuestionA new question is raised