First Seven Days of Mourning

Sephardic Customs During Shiva

A number of Sephardic shiva customs involve individual and communal study.

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

Because a shiva call requires total sensitivity to the needs of the mourner, the tradition mandates appropriate behaviors for the visitor.

Shiva is observed in the home as an intensive mourning period for close relatives.