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Condolence and Shiva
Shiva is the Hebrew word for the number seven, and refers to the seven-day mourning period following burial. The day of burial is counted as the first day even though it is not a full day. Shiva ends seven days later after the morning prayer service.
Calls During Shiva
It’s a mitzvah, or great deed, to make a condolence call. The purpose of the condolence call is to help relieve the mourner of his feeling of loneliness. Yet, at the same time, the visitor waits for the mourner to initiate the conversation. It is up to the mourner to dictate what he wants to talk about and express.
The last thing a visitor says to the mourner before leaving is: "May G-d comfort you among the other mourners of Zion and Jerusalem", or in Hebrew, "Ha-Makom y'nachem et'chem b'toch sha'ar aveilei Tzion v'Yerushalayim."
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