Sitting Shiva

The worst things to say to someone who is grieving.

Getting up and walking around the block marks the end of a week of mourning.

The ritual meal after a Jewish funeral.

An overview of Jewish death and mourning practices.

The daily prayer services in the mourner's home offer community and connection to those facing devastating loss.

The actions required of mourners following the death of close relatives help them to confront the reality of the death, to work through feelings of ambivalence, and to express grief and anger.

During this Jewish mourning custom, the entire physical environment of the mourner is transformed to acknowledge the immediacy of death.