Jewish mourning

Jewish mourning rituals provide structured ways to honor and remember the deceased while supporting the living. They typically begin with shiva, a seven-day period of intense mourning at home, where family receives visitors, reflecting communal support and reflection. Following shiva are the months of shloshim and the first year, during which mourners gradually re-engage with daily life. Practices include prayer, reciting Kaddish (a memorial prayer), and refraining from celebrations. These rituals foster connection, expression of grief, and remembrance, helping mourners process loss within a community framework rooted in tradition and spiritual reflection.