Q. One who is seating shiva is prohibited in learning Torah, but is allowed to learn the sad parts of the Torah and the laws of avelut. What happens when even learning those, grants one great joy? Is he allowed to learn the Halachot of mourning, which he needs?
A. Shulchan Aruch (Y.D. 384: 1 – 4) rules that one who is in mourning should demonstrate sadness, and abstain from learning Torah, since it grants joy and happiness to the one who learns it.
However, since one has to learn the Halachos of mourning in order to keep them, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that he is permitted to do so.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a.