Traditional Jewish Ritual and Mourning Practices (2024)

FAQs

What are the Jewish mourning rituals? ›

Shiva is the first seven days of mourning after the burial. Some Jews (particularly Orthodox Jews) do not leave the house during this period of mourning. Instead, others visit them and create a minyan for communal worship in the home. If someone has lost a parent, they will mourn for a whole year.

The five stages are: 1) Aninut, pre-burial mourning. 2-3) Shivah, a seven-day period following the burial; within the Shivah, the first three days are characterized by a more intense degree of mourning. 4) Shloshim, the 30-day mourning period. 5) The First Year (observed only by the children of the deceased).

Kriah (rending of the garments): Before the funeral begins, many follow a Jewish tradition called kriah, which consists of the rabbi (or other officiant) making a tear in the clothing of the family of the deceased. This is meant as an outward symbol of grief.

The Jewish mourning period

During this period of mourning, the deceased's family will stay at home and receive guests; together they will recite the Mourner's Kaddish and reflect upon their loss. Throughout shiva, personal grooming is not allowed, and couples must refrain from intimacy.

Baruch dayan emet— “Blessed is the true judge.” or Min haShamayim Tenuhamu – “May you be consoled (or comforted) from Heaven.” While no words can fully ease the pain of a grieving parent, this message might remind someone with a strong Jewish faith, that a higher power has a plan, even if they cannot see it now.

Women are no longer restricted to solely dresses and skirts. Instead, it's acceptable to opt for a trouser suit (although, it has to be said that dresses remain more popular). Lighter colors are also worn, although plain as opposed to patterned continues to be more usual.

Judaism does not embalm and does not have an open casket or wake. In other religions, an open casket or viewing of the body may be important to give a sense of closure to the mourners. In Judaism it is considered to violate the modesty of the deceased. “We can look but they cannot look back.”

Shiva is derived from the word sheva, which means seven, signifying the seven days of mourning. It is a time referred to as – “sitting shiva” and its primary purpose is to provide a time for spiritual and emotional healing, where mourners join together. A person sits shiva for a parent, spouse, sibling or child.

Jewish law mandates that human remains be buried after death, and this has been dominant Jewish practice for millennia. through the later rabbinic authorities attest to this requirement, and there is a powerful taboo against cremation reinforced by the millions of Jews burned in Nazi crematoria during the Holocaust.

It is not the Jewish custom to send or bring flowers to a funeral or cemetery, for flowers are associated with joyous celebrations. For the same reason, music is not played or sung. It is also forbidden to hold an "open casket" viewing. This is considered extremely disrespectful to the deceased.

How long do Jews have to mourn? ›

Shiva – seven days, from the Hebrew word for "seven". Begins with day of burial. Shloshim – 30 days, starting from the day of burial. Shneim asar chodesh – mourning period of twelve months for a deceased parent.

The benefits for the deceased. The reason that the funeral procedure occurs so soon after death is because, in the Jewish faith, it's believed that the body is simply a vessel that's inhabited by the spirit.

The Nine Days of Av are a time of commemoration and spiritual observance in Judaism during the first nine days of the Jewish month of Av (corresponding to July/August). The Nine Days begin on Rosh Chodesh Av ("First of Av") and culminates on the public fast day of Tisha B'Av ("Ninth of Av").

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.

Traditionally a Jewish burial is supposed to take place within 24 hours of death. This is done in accordance with the Torah, sacred Jewish scripture, which says, "You shall bury him the same day.... His body should not remain all night." Today, outside of Orthodox communities, funerals rarely occur this quickly.

Suggested items for a Shiva basket are: baked goods and desserts, fresh fruit, dried fruit and nuts or chocolates. A Shiva platter usually contains cooked meats, fish and/or specialty salads. If the mourners keep a Kosher home, it is imperative to choose Kosher food to send.