Q. We are not allowed to say sad news on Shabbos.
This past Shabbos, would it be permissible to tell a gabbai making a mishabayrach for Rav Dovid (Feinstein) zatzal not to do so? (The Posek Hador was niftar an hour before Shabbos and not everyone was aware of this.) Was it permissible for a Rav to mention in his drasha something about the petira, or should one avoid discussing it at all and distressing people who may not have heard of it?
Is there a chiluk if the people already know about the petira, or if it's news?
A. Taz (O.H. 307: 14) quotes Sefer Chasidim who prohibits reminding someone of a friend that perished. The reason is that one should not cause grief during Shabbos.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that it is best to avoid mentioning the sad news, even to stop an erroneous Mi Sheberach, as in our case.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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