Q&A: A Question Regarding Mourning
A Question Regarding Mourning
Question
Hello.
1) Is a mourner (during the first year) permitted to participate in a Memorial Day ceremony?
2) Is a mourner permitted to watch the Independence Day ceremony and the flag performance on television (this includes songs)?
Answer
On Memorial Day there is no problem at all. Even the songs are mourning songs, and there is no need to be stringent about this.
The law for a mourner on Independence Day is the same as on any other day. Listening to music is forbidden.
Discussion on Answer
It seems to me that this falls under the category of a social gathering of friends, which is forbidden during the year of mourning (even without the music).
And what about swimming at a beach where there is music? Is there a clear boundary?
I don’t think there is a problem with swimming when there is music. In general, if you didn’t go to the place for the music but for some other purpose, then the fact that there is music doesn’t matter. This is a case of “it is unavoidable and not intended” (see Babylonian Talmud, Pesachim 25).
Is a mourner during the first year permitted to go sit with friends in the park on the Sabbath (talking, eating, etc.) if there are also songs playing in the background?