What Does Sitting Shiva Mean?
Q. A Jewish friend’s uncle died, and I think he told me the family had to sit and shiver for seven days. What’s that all about? I was too nervous to ask. A. Fear not. Your friend was in no danger of catching pneumonia. What you heard as the word “shiver” refers to the Jewish practice of shiva, a period of seven days during which the closest family members–spouse, children, parents, siblings–mourn at home. Those who “sit shiva” do not ordinarily shiver–at least that’s not the religious intent. Shiva is, logically enough, a variant of the Hebrew word “seven.” It begins right after the deceased has been buried. Only the immediate family takes part in the observance, but it is done openly so other mourners may call on them. A special seven-day candle is often lit, and the family recites Kaddish, the traditional prayer of mourning. The benefits of this practice are beyond measure in the view of many, many Jews. While the body is normally disposed of within 24 hours, as specified in Jewis
