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Shiva (Hebrew: שִׁבְעָה , romanized: šīvʿā, lit. 'seven') is the week-long mourning period in Judaism for first-degree relatives. The ritual is referred to as "sitting shiva" in English. The shiva period lasts for seven days following the burial.
Shiva, as it relates to Jewish mourning, is the seven-day mourning period for the immediate family of the deceased which consists of spouse, child, parent or sibling.
During shiva, a mourner traditionally stays at home or at the home of the deceased or the home of other mourners, wears torn clothing or a torn black ribbon pinned to one’s clothes (a practice known as kriah)and doesn’t go to work or school. Find more details about kriah and other mourning practices.
What is the meaning of shiva? Shiva is a Hebrew word meaning “seven” and refers to a seven-day period of formalized mourning by the immediate family of the deceased. When did shiva originate? The Talmud (Sanhedrin 108b) holds that the practice originated prior to the Flood, which is described in the story of Noah in Genesis.
The Mourning Pattern (Sitting Shiva) Judaism, with its long history of dealing with the soul of man, its intimate knowledge of man's achievements and foibles, his grandeur and his weakness, has wisely devised graduated periods during which the mourner may express his grief, and release with calculated regularity the built-up tensions caused by ...
Shiva, in Hebrew, means "seven." In our context it refers to the first seven days of mourning that are observed following the burial of one's father, mother, spouse, son, daughter, brother [including half-brother], and sister [including half-sister]. An adopted child may choose to sit Shiva, but is not obligated.
A major component of shiva is the prayer service, during which the mourners recite the kaddish memorial prayer for the deceased. Read what to expect (and how to act) at a shiva call. How Long Is Shiva?
