[Avodah] Speaking in a Beis Avel

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 11:55:52AM -0500, Prof. Levine wrote to Areivim:
> Is it not the minhag that one does not say anything to the person  
> sitting Shiva unless s/he speaks to you first?

YD 376 is named "Minhag haMenachanim veDin Meis sheEin Lo Menachamim". It
opens, "Ein hamenachamim resha'im liftoach, ad sheyiftach ha'avel
techilah."

So, is this one rule minhag? Is the whole concept of nichum aveilim
"only" minhag? And if either, why does se'if 4 begin "achshav nohagim"
if the prior 3 se'ifim are also minhag?

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
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