Mourning and Fasting on Chanukah and Purim: Difference between revisions

# One is allowed to fast or do a eulogy the day before or after [[Chanukah]]. Some say that ideally one should be strict not to fast the day before [[Chanukah]].<Ref> Shulchan Aruch O.C. 686:1 based on Tosfot (Tanit 18) and Rosh (Megilah Perek Kama). However, Mishna Brurah 686:1 brings Bach and Pri [[Chadash]] that say one isn’t allowed to fast the day before [[Chanukah]]. Mishna Brurah 686:1 says that since it’s permitted to fast the day before and after [[Chanukah]] (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 686:1) one is allowed to do a eulogy because a eulogy is more lenient than a fast (Shaar Tzion 686:1). See further, Sh”t Har HaKarmel O”C 10, and Sh”t Divrei Moshe 1:37 </ref>   

# If one did fast on [[Chanukah]] one should make it up by fasting again after [[Chanukah]].<Ref> Shulchan Aruch O.C. 568:5 </ref>

# One shouldn’t go to visit cemeteries during [[Chanukah]] (and especially [[Chol HaMoed]]) because it causes a person to grieve and eulogize the deceased. One has what to rely on to visit the graves of Tzadikkim during [[Chanukah]] and [[Chol HaMoed]].<Ref>Ben Ish Chai (Vayeshev n. 22) and Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 192) based on Bet Yosef (Y”D 344) who forbids going to cemeteries on [[Rosh Chodesh]]. Ben Ish Chai (Vayeshev n. 22) allows going to the graves of tzaddikim on chanuka (or even [[Chol HaMoed]]) and Moed LeChol Chai argues that one shouldn’t go to the cemetery at all on chanuka. Gesher HaChaim 29:6 (cited by Piskei Teshuvot 670:1) writes that the minhag today is to go to the cemetery even for the grave of a relative on chanuka. Or Letzion 4:41:3 in fnt seems to permit following the Gesher Hachaim here.</Ref>

# Some have the Minhag not to say [[Kaddish]] for their parents on [[Chanukah]], however it’s a wrong Minhag and one should continue saying [[Kaddish]] even on [[Chanukah]].<Ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg 193. </ref>