Counseling is offered for couples, families, on a one-on-one basis, and for youth.
Grief recovery is enhanced when you reach out to others who have experienced loss. These groups look at the psychological, emotional, spiritual, social, and religious aspects of the grieving process from a Jewish perspective.
Following the death of a family member, Jewish families observe strict Jewish mourning traditions. The purpose of these traditions is to allow for a full expression of grief. The Jewish mourning customs take place in several stages that slowly discourage the excess of grief and allow the mourner to return back to their daily life.
The first period of mourning is known as Aninut and lasts from when the mourner first learns of the death until the burial occurs. When the mourner first hears the news, the traditional response is to tear one’s clothing. If the deceased was a parent the tear is made on the left side over the heart. If the deceased was a relative the tear is made over the right side of the chest.
Until the burial takes place, the mourner's sole responsibility is to care for the deceased. Preparations for the funeral take first priority and the mourner is exempt other religious duties. Because Judaism requires a prompt burial, this first period only lasts a day or two.
The second period is known as Shiva (seven) and lasts for seven days following the burial. This period is observed by the parents, children, spouses, and siblings of the deceased. During this time, the family must stay at home for seven days (it is preferred they gather in the home of the deceased). This is when the mourners receive guests looking to offer condolences and participate in daily religious services.
The third period is Sheloshim (thirty) and lasts until thirty days after the burial. This is the period when mourners are allowed to begin to get back to their normal life. There are still restrictions during this period though such as refraining from attending celebrations like weddings or parties. At the end of the thirty days, it marks the end of the formal Jewish mourning period for most people.
However, if the deceased was a parent, the children must observe a final mourning period known as Avelut. This period extends the restrictions of Sheloshim for an entire year. The son of the deceased is also responsible for reciting the mourner’s Kaddish prayer every day during this period.
The “year of mourning”, actually the twelve Hebrew months following the day of death, the mourning period for a parent.
Each year on the anniversary of the death, the family must acknowledge it. This is called Yahrzeit and is commemorated by the lighting of a candle. The candle burns for twenty-four hours and the Kaddish prayer is recited. To learn more, see our Yahrzeit calculator.