In Judaism, shivah refers to which practice?

• A. A weekly prayer service
• B. The first week of mourning after a death
• C. A period of purification after ritual impurity
• D. A festival celebrating harvest

Answer: (B)

Shivah is the seven-day mourning period observed by close family after someone dies, starting after the burial. During this time mourners usually stay at home, sit on low chairs as a sign of humility, receive visitors offering condolences, and recite the Kaddish prayer. The practice centers on honoring the deceased and supporting the grieving, marking a transition from loss toward acceptance with communal support. This differs from a weekly prayer service, which is a regular ritual not tied to a death; from a purification ritual after impurity (mikveh); and from a harvest festival, which is a festive occasion.