On Shabbos, when there is little one can do in preparation for the burial, the halachos of onen are mostly suspended.228

More specifically, once it is too close to Shabbos to still be involved in the burial preparations, the onen becomes obligated in mitzvos. Toward the end of the day, he should daven Minchah,229 dress in Shabbos clothes230 and light Shabbos candles.231 He may not bathe,232 take a haircut, or cut his nails before Shabbos.

There are, however, some matters which an onen can do on Shabbos in preparation for the burial. One who involves himself in these matters will regain the status of onen and will be exempt from mitzvos.233 Examples given in halachah include waiting at the edge of the techum for nightfall to travel to arrange burial needs,234 as well as negotiating with the cemetery caretakers for a burial spot.235 Contemporary Poskim state that included in this allowance, if necessary, is coordinating burial arrangements, hespedim, and funeral announcements.236 While the onen is involved in these matters, he is exempt from mitzvos.

If the onen is not involved in burial matters, he is obligated in all mitzvos and berachos. He may go to shul237 and be counted towards a minyan.238 He should not serve as chazzan unless there is no one else available to lead the davening.239

While an aveil must change his seat in shul, an onen does not.240 If the onen is a Kohen, it is best for him to leave shul before the Kohanim are called up for Birkas Kohanim.241 If he remains in shul, the Poskim debate as to whether he may duchen.242

The restrictions of an onen are also mostly removed on Shabbos. If the onen so chooses, he may eat meat and drink wine.243 However, private matters of aninus remain. Therefore, it remains forbidden to engage in marital relations,244 nor can he wash any part of his body with hot water.245

An onen is permitted to cry on Shabbos if this will bring him some relief.246

The Acharonim dispute whether an onen may study Torah.247 As there is no clear decision on this matter,248 it is best to be stringent249 and only study matters that an aveil may learn, such as Hilchos Aveilus.250 He may also review the weekly parashah to fulfill the mitzvah of Shnayim Mikra V’eched Targum.251

An onen should not receive an aliyah.252

The onen should recite Kerias Shema toward the end of Shabbos before nightfall, but he should not daven Ma’ariv.253

After Shabbos, the onen does not recite havdalah, yet he is permitted to eat.254 He recites havdalah after the burial, as long as it is before Tuesday evening.255

It is questionable whether the onen may perform melachah without havdalah.256 Therefore, it is best for him to say Baruch Hamavdil Bein Kodesh Lechol.257

228 Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 71:2.

229 Sha’arei Teshuvah 71:6; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 196:12.

230 Based on Mishnah Berurah 548:15.

231 Nachamu Ami 9:16, cited in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64, note 107. On erev Shabbos Chanukah he may also light Chanukah candles.

232 Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64:22.

233 Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 71:2.

234 Or to wait at a bus station to board a bus immediately after Shabbos (Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64:32).

235 Mishnah Berurah 71:9

236 R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach cited in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64, note 91.

237 Mishnah Berurah 71:8.

238 Based on Mishnah Berurah 55:24.

239 Sha’arei Teshuvah 71:6.

240 Mishnah Berurah 548:15.

241 Based on Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 128:43.

242 Mishnah Berurah 128:158.

243 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 341:1, with Hagahos R’ Akiva Eiger.

244 Shulchan Aruch ibid.

245 Mishnah Berurah 548:16.

246 Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64:17, based on Mishnah Berurah 288:4.

247 See Magen Avraham 548:8 and Dagul Mervavah there. See also Hagahos R’ Akiva Eiger, Yoreh Deah 341:1, s.v. Vechayav.

248 Mishnah Berurah in 548:21 cites both opinions, and in 71:8 cites only the stringent opinion.

249 See Halachic Discussions on Hilchos Shabbos (Ohr Olam) Chapter 11 (p. 554).

250 Aruch Hashulchan, Yoreh Deah 341:16.

251 Ibid.

252 Mishnah Berurah 548:21, in accordance with the stringent opinion regarding study of Torah.

253 Mishnah Berurah 71:10.

254 Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 341:2. The onen should also not listen to someone else’s havdalah with intent to thereby fulfill his own mitzvah of havdalah. If he did recite havdalah, or listen to someone else’s havdalah, the Poskim debate whether this fulfills his obligation and exempts him from reciting havdalah after the burial (see Pischei Teshuvah 341:19, citing Panim Meiros; Birkei Yosef, Yoreh Deah 341:19). In such a case, one should not recite havdalah after the burial (Gesher Hachaim 18:2:9; Shevet Halevi 3:167:2).

255 Mishnah Berurah ibid.

256 See Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah 64, note 130, for the reasons behind this debate.

257 Da’as Torah 341:2; R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, cited in Shemiras Shabbos Kehilchasah ibid.