The question was recently asked concerning a man who passed away and whose family decided to honor his memory through the dedication of a Sefer Torah. A festive celebration with catered food and live music was planned, but, unfortunately, the widow’s father passed away that year, and thus the event was taking place within the twelve-month mourning period for her father. Would it be permissible for her to attend the Hachnasat Sefer Torah celebration and enjoy and music and festive meal, or would this be forbidden?
Rav Shemuel Pinhasi (contemporary), in Haim Va’hesed (p. 263; listen to audio recording for precise citation), writes that a mourner is allowed to participate in a celebration of a new Sefer Torah, even if the celebration is held with live music, and he or she may also participate in the festive meal. He writes (in note 25) that such a celebration is comparable to a Siyum – a celebration for the completion of the study of a Masechet – in which a mourner is allowed to participate, and there may in fact be even more reason for leniency in the case of a Hachnasat Sefer Torah. Therefore, a person within twelve months of a parent’s passing, or thirty days of another family member’s passing, may fully participate in the festivities honoring the completion of a new Sefer Torah. Rav Pinhasi cites this ruling from Rabbi Abraham Palachi’s Hikekeh Leb, and from the work Nit’eh Gabriel (vol. 2, p. 230).
Summary: A mourner is allowed to fully participate in a Hachnasat Sefer Torah celebration, even if there is live music played and a festive, catered meal.
