Q. My aunt passed away last week and there is no one to say kaddish for her. Due to the covid minyan restrictions, I find it very difficult to say kaddish. I heard that the Rov recommends in such a case learning mishnayos daily instead. Is that correct? How long do I have to do that? Is thirty days enough, or the whole year?
What happens if things go back to normal, do I go back to saying kaddish instead?
A. Remah (Y.D. 376: 4) rules that when there are no surviving sons, the minhag is that other relatives recite kaddish. Beis Yosef (Y.D. 403) maintains that when that is not a possibility, someone else should be hired to recite kaddish. (See Magen Avrohom 132: 2, Kaf Hachaim: 30 and others).
On a similar question (2601) we wrote: "Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that at this (covid) time (3/24/20), one should not attend a minyan outside of his home, even in someone's backyard.
For the purpose of reciting kaddish. It is better on these severe circumstances to learn Torah on the niftar’s name."
The Rov recommends that the mishnayos should be learned properly for the year. When iy"H the pandemic situation changes. one should recite kaddish in shul.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a
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