Aninut on Shabbat and Yom Tov: The Complete Halachic Guide

If a relative passes away on Shabbat, when burial is forbidden, the relatives do not have the status of an onen on Shabbat. They remain obligated in all mitzvot, prayers, Kiddush, and the three Shabbat meals, and they are permitted to eat meat and drink wine. However, marital relations remain forbidden. Once Shabbat ends and burial becomes possible, the relatives immediately assume the status of onenim.

Likewise, if the death occurs shortly before Shabbat and there is no possibility of burial before Shabbat begins, the relatives do not enter aninut even on Friday afternoon. They should pray Mincha as usual on Friday, and only after Shabbat do the laws of aninut begin.

An onen on Shabbat may recite Kaddish even if the deceased has not yet been transferred to the chevra kadisha.

The Seven Judgments of the Soul

The Zohar explains that after a person leaves this world, the soul undergoes seven stages of judgment:

1. The departure of the soul from the body

2. One’s deeds and words going before him and proclaiming who he was

3. Entering the grave

4. Chibut hakever (the “beating of the grave”)

5. Worms consuming the body

6. Gehinnom

7. The soul wandering without rest until all spiritual blemishes are purified

For this reason, it is proper to say Kaddish even before burial, because “a son brings merit to his father” at every stage.

Maariv and Havdalah Before Shabbat Ends

Someone who will become an onen immediately after Shabbat should ideally pray Maariv early, beginning from plag hamincha (approximately an hour and a quarter before nightfall), and say “Ata Chonantanu” even though it is still technically Shabbat. He should also recite Havdalah over wine before Shabbat ends, but without spices or the candle blessing.

Of course, he must still avoid performing any melacha until actual nightfall.

Normally, Jews delay Maariv slightly after Shabbat to extend the holiness of Shabbat, but in this case — since he will soon be exempt from mitzvot — he should make every effort not to lose the opportunity to pray and recite Havdalah.

Why No Besamim or Candle?

The spices are omitted because they are normally recited to comfort the soul after the departure of the extra Shabbat soul (neshama yeteira). But before Shabbat has ended, the extra soul is still present.

The candle blessing is also omitted because it commemorates the creation of fire by Adam after the first Shabbat. Before Shabbat ends, that symbolism does not yet apply.

If He Did Not Pray or Recite Havdalah Early

If he did not pray Maariv or make Havdalah before Shabbat ended, he may not do so afterward until after the burial. In the meantime, he may eat and drink without Havdalah.

If burial does not occur until morning, then after burial he should pray Shacharit — but without a makeup prayer for Maariv, since he had been exempt from praying at night. He should then recite Havdalah over wine without spices or candle. Havdalah may still be recited throughout Sunday and even the following night.

Why May an Onen Eat Before Havdalah?

The Sages speak very strongly against eating before Havdalah. Yet an onen is permitted to do so. Why?

Because the prohibition against eating before Havdalah exists only because of the mitzvah of Havdalah itself. Since the onen is exempt from the mitzvah, he is likewise exempt from the restriction connected to it.

This is similar to women who are exempt from specific prayer obligations and may therefore eat before those prayers.

If an Onen Heard Havdalah From Someone Else

If an onen heard Havdalah from another person and intended to fulfill the obligation, or if he mistakenly recited Havdalah himself, he has fulfilled the obligation and does not repeat Havdalah after burial.

Aninut After Yom Tov or Yom Kippur

Someone who becomes an onen after Yom Tov or Yom Kippur follows the same laws as after Shabbat. If Havdalah was forgotten, it may still be recited throughout the next day and night.

Morning Blessings During Aninut

If someone was an onen in the morning and could not recite the morning blessings (Birchot Hashachar) or blessings over Torah study, he should recite them after burial, since their time extends throughout the day.

Even if burial occurs after nightfall, many authorities still permit reciting the blessings.

If burial was delayed past midnight, however, the morning blessings for the previous day are lost, though the blessings over Torah study may still be recited.

Shacharit After Burial

If someone was exempt from Shacharit due to aninut but the burial took place before halachic midday, he should still pray Shacharit afterward.

If the time for the blessings before Shema has already passed, he should still continue the prayer order, but recite those blessings without mentioning God’s Name.

If time is very short before midday, he may shorten parts of the prayer service so long as the Amidah begins before halachic noon.

Makeup Prayers

If a person was already an onen when the time for a prayer began, and the burial did not occur until after the prayer time passed, he does not recite a makeup prayer later, because he was exempt at the time of obligation.

However, if he only became an onen after the prayer obligation had already begun, then he must later recite a makeup prayer.

This applies equally to Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv.

Brit Milah

An onen whose son must undergo a brit milah should ideally arrange the burial first so that he can then become obligated in mitzvot and perform the brit properly.

However, if delaying the brit would cause it to miss its proper time, he may transfer burial responsibilities to the chevra kadisha and attend the brit himself, reciting the appropriate blessings including “Lehachniso Bivrito Shel Avraham Avinu” and “Shehecheyanu.”

Sandak During Aninut

An onen may not serve as sandak at a brit milah because he is exempt from mitzvot and may not voluntarily assume them. Additionally, being sandak is considered a joyous honor.

However, during the mourning period after burial, an avel may serve as sandak.

Pidyon Haben

An onen whose son requires a pidyon haben should first arrange the burial and only afterward perform the redemption ceremony.