The Mishnah taught: [It is prohibited for him] to read from the Torah.

R. Yochanan: The Pasuk states (Iyov 2, 13), "...No one said a word to him''; even a word of Torah.

R. Shimon ben Lakish to R''Y: If the deceased would have learned he would have been protected (from death; if so, certainly learning Torah will protect the mourner).

Question: If so, how does R''SBL use the Pasuk? He follows R. Yudah bar Pazi quoting Rav Yochanan, that the Pasuk referred to when Iyov's friends did not know what to say in order to comfort him - whether to discuss his physical ailments, his monetary loss or the death of his sons and daughters.

A student of Rav Chisda became sick. Rav Chisda sent two students to learn Torah with him, because as long as they would learn, the Angel on Death would not have power. When they stopped learning, the student died.

A student of Bar Padayah became sick. Bar Padayah sent two students to learn with him. The Angel of Death appeared in the form of a snake in front of them. They were shocked and stopped learning and the student died.

Beraisa: A mourner may study an area of Torah in which he is not familiar. R. Yasa once became a mourner. R. Yochanan sent him two students to sit with him - either because R. Yochanan permits a mourner to learn, or because he sent them to learn with him an area of Torah in which he was not familiar.

Question: Was R. Yasa unfamiliar with any area of Torah? Rather, they posed questions that require contemplation - therefore, it was as if he had not learned that area before.

R. Yosi bar Pitras was the first father-in-law of R. Yehoshua ben Levi (who had two wives). He became a mourner and Bar Kafra sent two students to learn with him. It was unclear whether Bar Kafra permits it or because R. Yosi B''P so much desired to learn, that Bar Kafra permitted him.

Support (Beraisa): If the mourner greatly desires to learn, it is permitted. For any relative for whom the Torah permits a Kohen to become impure, a Yisrael mourns. The Sages added - a half brother or sister through the mother, a married sister - one must mourn and one has the status of an Onen for them, but a Kohen cannot become impure for them. For a person's wife who he merely betrothed, he does not mourn nor become a Onen, nor can the husband become impure if he is a Kohen.

Beraisa: Any relative for whom a person mourns, the mourner's relatives mourn with him. (For example, if a father is mourning the loss of his son, his father i.e. the grandfather mourns as well.)

Rav's sister passed away and he instructed his son Chiya and said, "When you visit me, remove your shoes.'' (However, when you are not in my presence, you may wear them, as you need not mourn.)

The children of R. Mana's brother R. Chaninah passed away. They asked R. Yosi whether R. Mana must turn over his bed and R. Yosi replied that he did not need to do so.

They then asked him whether R. Mana should actually sleep on an overturned bed and R. Yosi replied that he did not need to do so.

They then asked him - Should R. Mana recited Krias Shema and pray? He replied - let us learn it from the following - If a person was burying a body and the time of Krias Shema arrived, he should move away from the grave(s), don his Tefilin and recite Krias Shema and pray. (So too, R. Mana should recite Krias Shema and pray when he is not in the vicinity of the body.)

Question: When must they overturn the beds (i.e. when does the mourning period begin)? R. Eliezer said - When the body leaves the entrance of the courtyard.

R. Yehoshua: When they close the grave.

When Rabban Gamliel died, after they removed his body from the entrance of the courtyard, R. Eliezer said to his students, "Turn over the beds''.

And when the grave was closed, R. Yehoshua said to the students, "Turn over the beds''.

Chachamim to R. Yehoshua: They have already overturned them, according to the ruling of the Sage (i.e. R. Eliezer).

Before Shabbos, he lifts up his beds and after Shabbos he overturns them (again).

Beraisa: A couch is left upright and is not overturned.

R. Yosa quoting R. Yehoshua ben Levi: The Halachah follows R. Shimon ben Elazar.

R. Yaakov bar Acha quoting R. Yasa: If a bed has poles that extend upwards (at the head and the foot of the bed in order to be able to spread a canopy on top), it is considered 'turning over the bed' by merely removing the poles (as this law is fulfilled by changing the bed in a way that makes it no longer usable in its regular fashion).

Question: What is considered a bed and what is considered a couch?

R. Yirmiyah: A bed is made with the straps running over it (rather than through holes); a couch has its straps running through holes.

Question (Mishnah in Maseches Keilim): 'The completion of a bed or couch is achieved by smoothing the surface with the skin of a fish.' If the straps run over a bed (rather than through holes), there is no need to smooth the wood (as it is covered with straps)?!

Answer (R. Elazar): This Mishnah refers specifically to Kisarian beds where the straps run through holes.