How To Sit Shiva
- February 4, 2008
- 1,634 Views
In Hebrew, shiva means the number seven. It also denotes the seven-day mourning period after the burial of a close relative: spouse, parent, child, or sibling.
You Will Need
- Interior of a home such as a living room
- Chairs and other seating options
- At least one photograph of the deceased
- A black outfit or suit
- Non-leather shoes
- Non-transparent fabric or paper
- A tall shiva candle
- Signs to post (optional) (optional)
Step 1: Pick a spot
Pick a location to house the shiva. This is usually the home of the closest relative to the deceased who can accommodate a large number of people.
Step 2: Set hours
Set your own hours of visitation and let people know through word of mouth and/or by posting signs.
The deceased are buried as soon as possible, generally within 24 hours, but no mourning or burials are to occur on the Jewish Sabbath, or Shabbat.
Step 3: Pray
Pray for the deceased every day with the mourner’s kaddish. Normally, an elder or someone held in high esteem is asked to lead the prayer.
Step 4: Focus
Focus on the loved one who has passed. Place a photograph of the deceased in a visible spot; look at other photos and share memories with those who come to pay shiva calls.
Step 5: Accept aid
Accept assistance from family and friends for meals, errands, and so forth.
Relatives and friends of the mourners prepare food on the first day of shiva. This meal is called seudat havra’ah and typically includes bread, eggs, and lentils.
Step 6: Change your appearance
To mark this mourning period, don black clothing, wear non-leather shoes, and don’t apply makeup or shave.
Step 7: Cover mirrors
To avoid paying attention to appearance, some Jews cover mirrors throughout the home with fabric or paper.
Step 8: Light a candle
Light a tall candle, or specifically a shiva candle from a funeral home, that will last through the entire seven days of mourning.
Step 9: Visit the grave
Visit the loved one’s grave on the seventh day.
If a Jewish festival occurs after the first day of mourning, the shiva ends early, and if a burial takes place during a holiday, the shiva begins when the holiday ends.
Something wrong? Report this How-To
How To Attend a Jewish Funeral
- 6,380 views
- Rosemarie_Lennon
How to Affix a Mezuzah
- 44 views
- jmpman7
How To Keep Kosher
- 2,310 views
- KeithMcKellar
Comments (0)
When I was asked to write/research this guide it wasn't meant to offend but rather inform about this practice. It also isn't meant to make a blanket statement about how the entire population practices it either. As for the clothing, there are people who don black apparel forgo make-up, shaving, whatever the case may be, to change their appearance and really their way of life for this time period. This was meant to be as one interpretation, and with the edit option one can add information they deem necessary.
over 4 years ago by sarashereen
First of all, I think it's a little offensive to find this sort of guide here. A Shiva is NOT a ";how-to"; joke butt. Secondly, any practicing Jew will tell you that Jews do not wear black as a sign of mourning - it's a ";goy"; phenomenon originating in Gentile practices. As a mark of grief following death, Jews actually tear the cloth of what they are wearing.
Oh, and there is something you forgot in the ";You Will Need"; section of this farce of a guide - a deceased loved one.
over 4 years ago by GreenloveDesign
Sign in or create an account to post a comment. Or, sign in using your Facebook to comment
and share your activity with your friends