The importance of reciting the Kaddish is that it’s performed standing up at public prayer. Those who did not know the deceased as well should hold off until the first three days have passed.

Next is sitting shiva, which begins immediately after burial. The concern now must focus on the mourners, whose sense of anguish at the loss of a loved one does not cease as the last shovel of earth is thrown over the grave. It is more important to listen than to speak, and it is even customary not to say hello or good-bye, since the mourner is forbidden to extend greetings and salutations. Until now I thought Shiva was the Hindu god of destruction.

If a major festival (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavuot, or Sukkot) falls during shiva, then shiva comes to an abrupt end. Other practices are observed in memory of the departed. Upon returning from the cemetery, the first meal served to the mourners is known as Jewish tradition holds that visiting the house of mourning is a mitzvah during the Abstaining from shaving, haircuts and the use of cosmetics is for the same reason we cover mirrors in the home, which emphasizes the belief that personal appearance is simply not important during a time of grief. Laughter broke across the table for the first time in many days. The following is a list of some of these interdictions and observances. Commonly known as the mourner’s prayer, remember Kaddish is really a prayer of praise to God and has nothing to do with death or mourning. When a death occurs on a major holiday, everything is delayed, including the burial, until the holiday is over.Shiva ends on the afternoon of the seventh day following a burial. A popular explanation states that in the desert environment of ancient Israel, mourners piled stones and rocks to prevent the sandy soil from blowing away and exposing the corpse.

This burning light of the Yahrzeit candle is symbolic of the immortal soul.Jewish law requires a tombstone to mark the grave of the deceased so that the departed one will not be forgotten and the grave will not be desecrated. Mirrors are covered to remind us that shiva is not about ourselves, but a time for us to concentrate on the deceased. Traditionally, a Shiva lasts for seven (shiva, in Hebrew) days, though some people choose to mourn for fewer days. Fill out the form below to learn more.

This excursion indicates that the mourners are ready to return to the external world from which they had withdrawn. I just read Nick Malik's link.
Mourners should:Some people tear their garments as an act of mourning for a parent, child, sibling, or spouse. The tradition of Shiva is meant to give attention to the grieving family, who stay home in mourning for a set period of days immediately following the burial. Others tear their clothes in mourning for their parents but wear a black ribbon for all other relatives.A wooden casket (frequently pine) is used in Jewish burials, perhaps because wood decomposes at about the same rate as the body.
He loses everything, including all his sons and daughters and much of his great lands - and even his certainty about God’s goodness. The first three days of shiva are generally reserved for visits from family and close friends. Sitting Shiva.

Suddenly, someone said, "why use a schmata when you can use a shiva shade??" In recognition of mourners’ feelings, and in order to pay proper deference to the memory of the departed one, Judaism has specific procedures in place for the period of mourning.beyond funeral and burial services, there are other practices that relate specifically to mourning.

By taking the week off, we indicate that it’s not “business as usual.” We’ve lost a near and dear one and so we ‘stop the world’ for a while to mark this most significant event in our lives. However, if a person will not be able to visit later, it is better to visit during the first three days than not at all.

Those gathered at the grave then say the Kaddish, a From that point on, when the deceased has been given due respect and the body properly buried, the person who passed away is no longer the focus of attention.

While the custom is of uncertain origin, its practice is appropriate to the pattern of avelut.

Jewish mourning customs serve two purposes: to demonstrate respect for the deceased and to provide solace for the mourners. By Karen Zinn. At that time, it is customary for the mourners to leave the shiva house and take a walk, accompanied by friends and family. Sitting Shiva. Lows Stools & Covering of Mirrors. 1) Out of respect for our loved one. Through this public exaltation of God, the mourner demonstrates a reaffirmation of faith even after the death of a loved one.At specific times of the year (Yom Kippur, Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot), mourners also need to recite the Yizkor prayer. At this time, in addition to reciting the Kaddish, a twenty-four-hour candle is lit in the home and, often, in the synagogue in memory of the departed person. In Israel, caskets are not used, the body is buried wrapped in a prayer shawl.It is a mitzvah to comfort a mourner, so making a shiva call is encouraged. Naturally, if shiva is observed for only three days, any time during that period is appropriate.Because the mourners say their prayers and the Kaddish (prayer of mourning) at the shiva house, they must rely upon guests to make up the minyan. There are four distinct stages of mourning. While the tombstone can be erected anytime after shloshim, in many communities it is customary either to refrain from setting up the tombstone or to keep it veiled until the end of the twelve-month mourning period.Some time before the end of the year of mourning (usually around eleven months), the mourners hold a ceremony to dedicate the grave marker.

However, the mourners should otherwise make it a point to begin their return to a normal life.

As part of the shiva observance, there are two traditional practices which are the covering of mirrors and the sitting on boxes, low stools or low chairs by the immediate mourners.