Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 561

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 561 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 11. The rule if one sees the Cities of Judah, Jerusalem, and the Mikdash (Temple) in their destruction, and in it is 5 paragraphs. One who sees the Cities of Judah in their destruction says "Your Holy Cities have become a desert" (Isaiah 64:9) and rends (one's clothes like in the laws of mourning). Parentheses (Rema): And one is not obligated to tear except when one reaches near to them like from Tzofim to Jerusalem [Bais Yosef]
2. 22. One who sees Jerusalem in her destruction, says "Tzion is a desert, a desolation" (Isaiah 64:9) and rends (one's garments). And when one see the Beit HaMikdash says "Our holy Temple, our pride, Where our fathers praised You, Has been consumed by fire: And all that was dear to us is ruined." (Isaiah 64:10). And from where is one obligated to rend - from HaTzofim. And afterwards when he sees the the Mikdash, he rends another tearing. And all rendings are a tefach (handbreath). If one comes from the way of the desert that then he sees the Mikdash first. He rends on the Mikdash a tefach, and afterwards when he sees Jerusalem, he adds to the first rending a little bit.
3. 33. If one rends on seeing one from the Cities of Judah, he does not go back and rend when seeing other Cities of Judah except Jerusalem, that he does go back and rend on it. On it, he does another rending by itself. And if he rends on Jerusalem first, it is not necessary to rend on the other Cities of Judah.
4. 44. All these rendings are with his hand and standing. And he rends all the clothes he has on until it reveals his heart. And he does not (properly) connect these rendings forever but it is permissible to baste (loose stitching), to hem, to gather, or to sew like chain-stitches.
5. 55. If one is going and coming to Jerusalem, going and coming, so if within 30 days, he does not rend another tearing. If after 30 days, he does back and rends. Parentheses (Rema): So is the law with the Cities of Judah and the Mikdash.

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