Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 5, 6 The mourner must avoid activities that will bring him joy during the shiva week. The Sages instituted various laws to protect the poor from being embarrassed when their loved ones died, and that’s …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 5 Tearing clothing, kriah, for the death of a relative is as old as Scripture. From which Biblical figures do we learn it? How do we perform this ritual, and what other calamities trigger it? …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4, 5 How do we mourn when a Torah Scholar passes away? If we hear a Torah matter stated wrongly during a eulogy, do we blurt out an objection? Do we ever tear multiple garments …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4 Continuing the laws of mourning. How long must a widower wait before remarrying? What about a widow? Which aspects of mourning apply on Shabbos? What is an acute mourner? When does the mourner return …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4 Very emotional class, as we learn the laws of a traveling mourner on the day my friend traveled home from a tragic accident to bury his wife – the mother of five young children. …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4 Why must the mourner tear his garment while standing? Which practices are prohibited while in mourning? May the mourner teach Torah? What was the role of the “disseminator?” What are the rules regarding greetings …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 4 From do we derive the 30 days of shloshim for a mourner? From where do we derive the seen days of shiva for a mourner? For which relatives do we sit shiva? What if …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1, 2, 3, 4 May a mourner cut his nails during shiva? Why must we be so careful in disposing of nail trimmings? May we do laundry on chol hamoed, the intermediate days of festivals? …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 1 The colorful story of an anonymous Torah scholar who was ostracized by Rav Yehuda in Bavel for certain unnamed sins, and traveled to the Holy Land to have the decree annulled. And that’s just …