פירוש על מועד קטן 3:7

אין קורעין – on the Festival (i.e., during Hol HaMoed/The Intermediate Days of the Festival), other than the relatives of the deceased – for his mother and his father and for his son and his daughter and for his brother and his sister and for his wife – for these seven deceased individuals that one is obliged to mourn over them. But on the rest of the relations that one is not obligated to mourn over them, one does not tear [clothing] over them during the Festival, and we don’t say this other than over someone who is not a Sage or a worthy person or an individual who was [filled] with good deeds. But a Sage that died, everyone is his relative, and everyone tears [their clothing] upon him even during the Festival. And similarly regarding a person who is known for his worthiness and piety. And all who stand at the time of the departure of the soul of every person from the Jews is obligated to tear [his clothing] even during the Festival. And the tearing on [hearing of the passing of] one’s father and mother is with his entire garment until he reveals his heart, and he tears with his hand and separates the upper border of the garment, and he tears from the outside, for he does not bring his hand inside underneath his garment while he is tearing it, and stitches it after thirty days, and he does not mend the garment torn in mourning ever. And similarly, regarding his Rabbi who taught him Torah. But on all the rest of he relatives, you tear a handbreadth only from the upper part of the garment, and one tears it with a utensil if one desires, and one does not have to separate the border, and he has to bring in his hand under his garment when he is tearing it and he can re-stitch it after seven [days], and sew together the the tear after thirty [days]. And tearing of the clothing is done only while standing.

They do not rend [their clothes] or bare [their shoulders], or provide a meal [for the mourners] except for the relatives of the dead.
And they do not provide a meal except on an upright couch.
They do not bring [food] to the house of mourning on an [ornamental] tray, platter, or flat basket, but in plain baskets.
And they do not say the mourners’ blessing during the festival.
But they may stand in a row and comfort [the mourners] and [the mourners] may formally dismiss the community. Section one: When one heard that a close relative had died, one would rend whatever clothes they were wearing. Baring the shoulder was also a sign of mourning. The mourner was provided by the community with the first meal after the funeral. On Hol Hamoed only a close relative would perform these practices. Others would not. I should note that today only close relatives do these actions in any case. The circle of mourners was bigger in the Talmudic period. Section two: It was customary to overturn the bed during mourning and then sit on the bed as a sign of mourning. But one does not overturn the bed during Hol Hamoed. This practice fell into disuse sometime after the Talmudic period. Section three: This halakhah is true in all cases. When bringing food to the mourner, they should bring it in plain baskets. A source in the Talmud relates that originally people would use fancy silver and gold vessels, but poor people would be embarrassed that they could not afford such fancy funerals and mourning homes. As a response the rabbis decreed that everyone must bring in a simple vessel. The mourning home is not a place where one should be showing off one’s wealth. Section four: The mourners’ blessing was stated on return from burial. They would stand in a line and comfort the mourner with this blessing. It may have also been recited at other points as well. But it is a public sign of mourning and should not be done on Hol Hamoed. Section five: While the blessing is not recited on Hol Hamoed, burial is. Along with the burial, they may have the formal line of comforters that would accompany the mourners on their way home. The same goes true for the official words that the mourner seems to have said to the comforters, to allow them to go home without accompanying the mourner all the way home.
Today’s Mishnah discusses mourning practices not observed during Hol Hamoed. It is interesting to note that this Mishnah is one of the main sources of the laws of mourning. It seems, at least to me, that the Mishnah did not feel it was necessary to teach people how to mourn. People just knew what to do. The only reason they are mentioned is to let people know when not to observe these practices.

ולא חולצין במועד – the untying of the shoulder where their arms and shoulders are revealed.

ולא מברין – the first meal, for a mourner is prohibited to eat of his own and it is customary to provide the meal to him in the street of the city, but on the Festival we don’t provide the meal of consolation other than his relatives inside his house.

ואין מברין אלא על מטות זקופות – and even within the house we don’t provide him with the meal of consolation on mattresses on or near the floor, for it is customary in he rest of the days of the year for all of his relatives and he whose heart is haughty to eat with him while his mattress is on or near the ground, and during the Festivals, we do not serve the meal of consolation other than on raised beds.

ואין מוליכין – the meal to the house of the mourner.

לא בטבלא – the manner of honor.

ולא באסקוטלא – flipping a small table of silver or of gold or of glass. But I heard a bowl of silver, for in the foreign tongue, they call the bowl “Shekudila.”

אלא בסלין – of peeled willow twigs, in order not to embarrass the poor that come to serve a condolence meal and lack a collection of bells or a small table.

ופוטרין את הרבים – give them the permission to go immediately.