Afraid to Attend a Shiva? It's Okay.

One of the most wonderful things you can do for a person is comfort her in a time of loss. It's also one of the hardest things to do—especially if you don't know what you’re doing. In Judaism, after a funeral there are usually several chances to attend a shiva service. These are usually short and less formal, in someone's home. People bring food, then someone tells them to eat all of the food because people brought too much food.

If you've never been to a shiva, I can understand why you might shy away from the idea of attending one. So Rabbi Leah Doberne-Schor and I are writing a Shiva FAQ.

Give us your questions! We'll do our best to answer them.