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Mourning for fiancée
Question
Hello Rabbis,
My fiance passed away several month ago and I am looking to find how long is the mourning period for me. Thank you much in advance.
Answer
Shalom,
Thank you for your question. First allow me to send you condolences on your loss. I can only imagine the pain you must feel at loosing your fiancee – the pain of loosing someone so close to your heart, added to the pain of feeling such an unfulfilled partnership, of all your dreams and plans. May you be comforted amongst the mourners of Zion.
As to the laws of mourning - according to Jewish law one only strictly mourns for one of the seven close relatives. They are one's parents (mother and father), siblings (brother and sister), children (son and daughter) and spouse. This being so, there is no set mourning, or mourning practices, for a fiancee, or any close friend.
Beyond the laws of mourning though, you may want to take upon yourself some mitzvah in the memory and merit of your fiancee. Traditionally people learn Torah (especially Mishna, such as the Ethics of the Fathers), do charitable acts, or recite Psalms. These are especially powerful during the first year after death – and then on the anniversary (Yarhzeit) every year.
Again – our blessings.

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