Questions and Answers About Laws Concerning Mourning

During kriah, mourners recite "Blessed be the True Judge" even during aninut, because this is a blessing upon hearing bad news, and constitutes affirmation of the justice of God's judgment. An onan is exempt from the commandments, but must nevertheless accept the justice of the judgment at this difficult time. The mourner does not recite "Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded the kriah," because an onan is exempt for the commandments. An onan does, however, recite any blessing containing praise and confession that does not include "Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us. Jewish law states that if a person is told that his father died and he is his father's heir, he recites "Blessed be the True Judge" for the bad news, and the Shehecheyanu blessing for his inheritance if he is the sole heir and "Who is good and does good" if others inherit together with him.