- Family and Society
- The Shloshim
Shloshim
Question
Hi! Someone asked me this:
The shloshim for his father ends on shabbos. Motzei shabbos is his son’s 13th Hebrew birthday. As far as shaving and cutting hair is concerned, he would want to do that for the bar mitzvah birthday but it’s motzei shabbos. Is it better to do that on erev shabbos even though it’s still the shloshim period or is it better to wait and do that on motzei shabbos?
Thanks!
Answer
Shalom,
Thank you for your question. When the shloshim falls out on Shabbat, some of the restrictions of the shloshim are permitted already in Friday, but some have to wait until after Shabbat. Those that relate to things that are technically permitted, but we are acustemed to be strict for the 30, are allowed on Friday – this includes bathing and returning to their normal seat in shule (See the Rema Yoreh Deah 400,2). On the other hands, those things that are forbidden by the letter of the law during the shloshim, must wait until after Shabbat – this includes haircuts and the like (Degul MeRevavah ibid).
Blessings.

Shloshim
Rabbi David Sperling | Tevet 10, 5781

Hair and Aveilut
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 10, 5778

Rabbi David Sperling

Jewish Status
Nisan 23, 5771

Reheating Food in an oven on Shabbat
Adar II 24, 5771

Pesach - leaving home before Pesach
Adar II 22, 5771

Doing Things After Shkiah
Iyyar 6, 5771

Listening to Secular Music
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 5, 5773

WASHING CUP
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 9, 5782
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

WASHING CUP
Rabbi David Sperling | Nisan 9, 5782

Tying knots on Shabbos
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Iyyar 24, 5783
