Commentary for Moed Katan 53:25

בראשונה היו מוציאין עשירים בדרגש ועניים

in a house of mourning; but do not bring perfumes<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Spices to be burnt on 'coals' in fumigation pans.');">²⁹</span> or spices into a house of mourning. But this is not [correct]? For Bar Kappara taught: One should not say a benediction for [enjoying the scent of] perfumery or spices in a house of mourning, which implies that while we do not say a benediction, they may yet be taken into the house? - That presents no difficulty: the former ruling is for the house of mourning,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' While the corpse is still in the house; it suggests that the dead is objectionable. Cf. Baraitha on the next MISHNAH:');">³⁰</span> while the latter ruling is for the house of comforters.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., after the burial, when comforters come in to visit and condole with the mourner.');">³¹</span> <big><b>MISHNAH: </b></big>[PROVISIONS]<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' 'The mourners fare'.');">³²</span> SHOULD NOT BE CONVEYED TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING ON AN [ORNAMENTAL] TRAY,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Tabella or tabula.');">³³</span> SALVER,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Scutella.');">³⁴</span> OR FRUIT-BASKET,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Calathus.');">³⁵</span> BUT IN [PLAIN] BASKETS. AND THE MOURNERS BENEDICTION [IN GRACE AFTER MEALS] IS NOT SAID DURING THE FESTIVAL [WEEK]. BUT COMFORTERS MAY STAND IN A ROW AND COMFORT [THEM].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' On the cemetery after the burial, during the festival week.');">³⁶</span> AND THE MOURNERS GIVE LEAVE OF DEPARTURE TO THE MANY [COMFORTERS]. THE BIER IS NOT SET DOWN IN THE BROADWAY [DURING THE FESTIVAL WEEK] SO AS NOT TO ENCOURAGE THE [FUNERARY] LAMENT; AND THE BIER OF WOMEN IS NEVER [SET DOWN IN THE BROAD WAY] FOR THE SAKE OF PROPRIETY. <big><b>GEMARA: </b></big>Our Rabbis taught: Formerly they were wont to convey [victuals] to the house of mourning, the rich in silver and gold baskets and the poor in osier baskets of peeled willow twigs, and the poor felt shamed: they therefore instituted that all should convey [victuals] in osier baskets of peeled willow twigs out of deference to the poor. Our Rabbis taught: Formerly, they were wont to serve drinks in a house of mourning, the rich in white glass vessels and the poor in coloured glass, and the poor felt shamed: they instituted therefore that all should serve drinks in coloured glass,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Tosef. Nd. IX, 17 has: 'Then they reverted to bringing (drink) in coloured or white (glass vessels) '.');">³⁷</span> out of deference to the poor.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' MS.M. inserts: Our Rabbis taught. adrs vsucf vyn');">³⁸</span> Formerly they were wont to uncover the face of the rich and cover the face of the poor, because their faces turned livid in years of drought and th poor felt shamed; they therefore instituted that everybody's face should be covered, out of deference for the poor.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' MS.M. inserts: Our Rabbis taught. adrs vsucf vyn');">³⁸</span> Formerly. they were wont to bring out the rich [for burial] on a dargesh<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' a tall state bed, ornamented and covered with rich coverlets. V. Targum and Kimhi on Ezek. XXIII, 41 . In Lewin, Otz. ,jcuan vyn vcuaj vyn Hag. No. 208 it is explained by and SBH explains it by . Cf. Persius, Sat. III, 103, 'tandemque beatulus alto Compositus lecto...,' and at last our blessed (dead) little friend being laid out on a tall bier'. Cf. also Jos., Ant. XVII, 8, 3 (197) and War, XXXIII, 9');">³⁹</span> aid the poor

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