Brachos 18- What do the Dead Know After Death, Honor to the Dead, Lashon Hara about the Dead - a podcast by Eran Netkin

1. Exemption from mitzvos even when not in front of the deceased
The Mishnah on 17b states that someone who is required to bury his dead relative, who is
right now in front of him, is exempt from mitzvos.
According to Rav Ashi, he is exempt from all mitzvos, even when not in the presence of the
deceased.
Rav Ashi learns this from Avraham and the burial of Sarah. The pasuk says, And Avraham
arose from the presence of his dead, followed by the next verse after Avraham had walked
away, … that I may bury my dead from before me.
2. Mocking the dead
One is not permitted to wear tefillin, learn from a sefer or wear his tzitzis out in a cemetery.
Doing so is considered mocking the dead (לרש לעג ,(because they can’t do mitzvos anymore.
3. Are the dead aware of worldly events?
In discussing the question of whether the dead are aware of wordly events, the Gemara
relates the story of a chasid who successfully planted his crops each year based on forecasts
he overheard from two spirits talking in a cemetery.
בן י'ח לחופה – Chuppah – Siman
Two spirits standing under a chuppah in a cemetery discuss next year’s weather forecast and
are overheard by a rich farmer with tucked-in tzitzis, who is about to bury his mother.

Further episodes of Daf Highlights

Further podcasts by Eran Netkin

Website of Eran Netkin