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Tearing Keriah While Living In Jerusalem

The Daily Halacha Moment - Person Living in Jerusalem And Tearing Keriah


״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

Does one who live in Yerushalayim tear keriah when seeing the kotel?


Answer:

One who lives in Yerushalayim is not required to tear his garment when visiting the Kotel, even if thirty days have passed since his last visit [1]. Similarly, someone who was born in Yerushalayim and has never left is exempt from keriah at the Kotel, even upon reaching bar mitzvah [2]. A blind person is also exempt from tearing his clothing when visiting the Kotel, since the obligation is connected to seeing the Makom HaMikdash [3]. In addition, a chatan or kallah during the seven days of their wedding celebrations are not obligated to perform keriah when they visit the Kotel [4].


Sources:

[1]. According to the Radvaz (siman 646), as well as Igrot Moshe (O.C. 5:37:3) and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv (Ashrei HaIsh 3:73, fn. 305; Maadanei Shlomo, p. 48 fn. 21), even residents of Yerushalayim are obligated to perform keriah. However, the Birkei Yosef (§2) rules that the custom is not to tear, even after thirty days, a view also followed by Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Maadanei Shlomo, p. 58; Halichot Shlomo, Tefillah 33:116; Minchat Shlomo 1:73, p. 437), who explained that one living in Yerushalayim yet not visiting the Kotel regularly is clearly not emotionally moved by the Churban in the same way. Chazon Ovadia (Avelut 1:266) adds that one who is nevertheless stringent to tear is praiseworthy (see also Mishneh Halachot 6:110; Divrei Yatziv O.C. 89:9; Teshuvot VeHanhagot 5:165).

As for which parts of Yerushalayim qualify for this exemption, some poskim (Yaskil Avdi 8:25:8; Ashrei HaIsh O.C. 3:73:12; Teshuvot VeHanhagot 4:131; 5:165) limit it to residents of the Old City, while Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach holds that nearby neighborhoods such as Har Nof, Bayit Vegan, and Ramot are also included (Halichot Shlomo, Tefillah 23:116). In any case, all agree it is proper for one living in Yerushalayim to make an effort to visit the Kotel at least once every thirty days.

[2]. Mishnah Berurah 561:17.

[3]. Igrot Moshe, O.C. 3:85; Tzitz Eliezer 16:39; Ashrei HaIsh, O.C., vol 3, 73:24; Chazon Ovadia, Arba Taaniyot, p. 440; ibid., Avelut, vol. 1, p. 268.

[4]. Ashrei HaIsh, vol. 3, p. 498, 19; Nitei Gavriel, Ben HaMetzarim, vol. 2, p. 586.


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