The Tosefta on Reciting the Blessing for Mourners

14. We do not observe the custom of “standing up” and “sitting down” in the presence of fewer than ten, and the “standing up” and “sitting down” rites are performed no fewer than seven times. We do not recite the mourners’ blessing in the presence of fewer than ten, and the mourners are not included in the count. We do not recite the bridegrooms’ blessing in the presence of fewer than ten, and the bridegrooms are included in the count. We recite the bridegrooms’ blessing both at a betrothal feast and at a marriage feast, both on a weekday and on a Sabbath. R. Judah says: If new faces arrived, we recite the bridegrooms’ blessing, but if not, we do not recite the bridegrooms’ blessing.

15. When do we light torches for the month? On the eve of its additional day. How so? If it was on a Sabbath eve and a Sabbath, we light for it upon the conclusion of the Sabbath.¹ R. Eliezer son of R. Zadok said: This was how the pious groups in Jerusalem would conduct themselves: some would go to a wedding feast, others to a house of mourning, others to a betrothal feast, others to a marriage feast, others to a circumcision, and others to a gathering of bones. If there is a circumcision and a gathering of bones, the circumcision takes precedence over the gathering of bones; a wedding feast and a house of mourning, the wedding feast takes precedence over the house of mourning. R. Ishmael would give the house of mourning precedence over all of them, as it is stated: It is better to go to the house of mourning [than to go to the house of feasting] (Ecclesiastes 7:2).

16. R. Meir said in the name of R. Akiva: What is the meaning of the verse: and the living will lay it to his heart (ibid.)? Do it, so that others will do it for you; accompany the dead, so that others will accompany you; eulogize, so that others will eulogize you; bury, so that others will bury you.