(Mishnah): Only close relatives of the dead must tear their garments, take off their shirts from their shoulders and eat the Seudas Havra'ah (the first meal after the burial)

They are only given their Seudas Havra'ah on straightened-up beds.

One should not take the following to a house of mourning - A Tavla, a Akutla or Kanim (various types of important utensils). However, one may take baskets.

One does not recite the blessing for mourners on Chol Hamoed, but they stand in a line and comfort and by doing so, they exempt the public from doing so.

(Gemara) R. Yirmiyah: As long as they are close enough relatives that they are suitable to mourn (they may tear their garments on Chol Hamoed).

It is like the following Beraisa - If a Chacham died, everyone is considered his close relative, even relatives who are not suitable to mourn. (We learn from here that the opposite is true for a regular person.)

It is like the story of R. Avun who died during the festival and R. Mana did not eulogize or tear his garments. The Tziporeans were saying that it was because R. Mana so much disagreed with R. Avun that he disliked R. Avun even after his death. After the festival, R. Mana eulogized him. They saw that R. Mana did not dislike R. Avun. R. Mana explained his earlier behavior - the above Beraisa (f) refers only to those who are present when he dies.

If one tears from a Malal (if a garment had a tear and he folded it over and sewed it) or a Shalal (wide seam) or a Radid (he held together the whole tear and made 2 or 3 stitches), it is not considered tearing; but if he tears an Ichui (tear that was sewn properly) it is considered tearing.

Question: What is Ichui? R. Acha said - When the tear is not visible.

Ten tears may not be sewn up properly - One who tears over his father, his mother, his Rav who taught him wisdom, the Nasi, the Head of the Beis Din, bad tidings, cursing Hash-m, burning of a Torah scroll, Yerushalayim and the Temple.

What is the source for the cases of tearing over his father, his mother and his Rav? The Pasuk states (about Eliyahu the Prophet ascending to heaven) (Melachim 2, 2, 12), "Elisha saw and cried out 'My father! My father! (this teaches us to tear over one's father and mother) Yisrael's chariot and riders! (this teaches us to tear over one's Rav)".

Question (R. Masun to R. Yochanan): Can we learn this Torah law from Elisha? (His act of tearing over his teacher Eliyahu was not a Torah requirement since Eliyahu did not actually die.)

R. Yochanan replies: Do not view this as a difficulty. Just as one tears his garments when a person dies because he will not see him again, so Elisha was required to tear over Eliyahu since he would not see him again.

Just as one tears over Sages, so one tears over their students.

Question: Who is considered a Torah Sage?

Answer #1 (Chizkiyah): Whoever learned Halachos and is fluent in Torah.

R. Yosi to Chizkiyah: That was is the past, but nowadays, he is considered a Sage even if just learned Halachos.

Answer #2 (R. Abahu quoting R. Yochanan): Whoever limits his work in order learn Torah.

Answer #3 (Beraisa): Whoever is asked questions and is able to answer.

R. Hoshiya: An example would be us, that we ask valid questions that must then be addressed by our teachers.

Answer #4 (R. Ba bar Mamal): Whoever knows how to explain Mishnayos. In our generation, even the elders are not able to do this.

Beraisa (question): Who is considered one's Rav?

Answer #1 (R. Eliezer): His first teacher.

Answer #2 (R. Yehuda): The teacher who taught him most of his wisdom.

Answer #3 (R. Yudi): Whoever enlightened his eyes in learning, even if it was only one teaching.

R. Abahu quoting R. Yochanan: The Halachah follows the opinion who said that it is the teacher who taught him most of his wisdom.

Question: Why did R. Abahu not just say that the Halachah follows R. Yehudah?

Answer: Some teach the Beraisa with the opinions (of R. Yosi and R. Yehudah) switched.

R. Elazar tore for his first teacher. Shmuel took off his shirt from his shoulder for his teacher that enlightened his eyes in learning.

Question: What is an example of 'enlightening one's eyes in learning'?

Answer (R. Yosi bei R. Bun): (The Mishnah in Maseches Tamid teaches that the one who enters in the morning to open the door of the Heichal holds two keys for the two locks on the door - one internal, i.e. deep inside the door, and one external). With one key, he reaches to the 'Amas Hashechi' and with the other key he opens the external lock.

Question: What is the 'Amas Hashechi'? (The 'enlightening' answer is...) He would reach deep into the door until his armpit in order to open it.

Question: What is the source for tearing over the Nasi, the Head of the Beis Din and over bad tidings? The Pasuk states (Shmuel 2, 1, 12), "David grabbed his clothes and tore them etc. And they eulogized, cried and fasted over Shaul until the evening.

Question: What is the source for tearing upon hearing a person curse Hash-m? The Pasuk states (Melachim 2, 19, 1), "And it was, when King Chizkiyah heard the words of Ravshakah, and he tore his garments."

Question: Does one tear over the curse of an idolater? According to the opinion that Ravshakah was an idolater, one does tear. According to the opinion that he was a Jew, one does not tear (for an idolater's curse).

Beraisa (R. Hoshiyah): Whether one heard a Jew or an idolater curse Hash-m, he is obligated to tear.

What is the source for this? The Pasuk states (Yirmiyah 32, 27), "Behold, I am Hash-m, G-d of all flesh, is anything beyond me?"

Question: Does one tear nowadays upon hearing a person curse Hash-m? R. Yosi/ R. Yirmiyah quoting R. Yochanan - When the number of people cursing increased, the people stopped tearing.

Question: Does one tear upon hearing a person curse using a 'nickname' of Hash-m (e.g. the Graceful One, the Merciful One etc.)?

Answer: R. Shimon ben Lakish was walking in Istera. A Kusi came and cursed (Hash-m using a nickname) and R"SBL tore his clothing. This happened a second time. R'SBL got off his donkey and hit the Kusi on his heart.

R"SBL: Evil one! Does your mother have enough clothing to tear over you?!

This shows that we tear for nicknames and we tear nowadays.