Shiva
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Life What to bring to a shiva call
After a Jewish funeral, families typically commemorate the deceased loved one by sitting shiva for seven days, during which they stay at home and welcome guests to mourn with them and share memories. It can be daunting to make a shiva call, or visit a family in mourning. But the most helpful thing you can…
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Life How to light a Yahrzeit Candle
Judaism provides several rituals to guide families through the difficult days and months after a loved one’s death. During shiva, the first seven days after a funeral, mourners gather in their homes with friends and family. For the next thirty days, a period known as sheloshim, they avoid parties and public entertainment. Even after these…
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Fast Forward Biden Fundraising Letter Features Rabbi’s Story About Senator Making Shiva Call
WASHINGTON (JTA) — A Delaware rabbi wrote a fundraising endorsement for Joe Biden’s presidential campaign citing his appearance at the shiva for a constituent of modest means. Rabbi Michael Beals was leading a minyan in 2006 for Sylvia Greenhouse, who lived in a senior living facility in Claymont, a town at the northern tip of…
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The Schmooze Dead On: 10 Times Movies Got Jewish Funerals And Shivas Right
From dust we came, and to dust we shall return. And in between, a little popcorn maybe? Jewish death traditions are their own kind of immersive theater — a powerful group performance that calls for a set, props, costumes, special effects, and a grueling schedule. That high drama is no doubt why filmmakers and TV…
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Life The Forward Guide To Sitting Shiva
Not to be confused with Shiva, one of main Hindu deities, Shiva in Judaism is the week of mourning following the death of a family member. It is colloquially referred to as “sitting shiva,” in reference to the low stools that mourners are required to sit on in observance of the mourning period. In Judaism,…
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Life An Etiquette Guide To Paying A Shiva Call
Exploring what the Shiva customs in Judaism are
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Life Top Four Myths Around Jewish Mourning
Death is often the elephant in the room, but luckily, Judaism gives us many guidelines for how to manage it when it happens, whether it’s been coming a long time, or surprises those closest out of the blue. Following those rules and keeping to Jewish law and practice can bring many people comfort in the…
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Life Jewish Death And Mourning? There’s An App For That
It’s no one’s favorite topic, but facing death is inevitable. While hundreds of books and articles have been written to help families deal with the emotional repercussions of a loss, many fewer resources exist to advise them on how to deal with the logistics. In our complex society, most people have assets and accounts strewn…
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