General Discussion

LAS14

(13,783 posts) Tue Feb 11, 2020, 03:05 PM Feb 2020

What does one do when visiting a home that is sitting Shiva?

The husband of a friend has died, and we in the building got an announcement that they would be "sitting Shiva" from 3 to 7 for 3 days. We were all invited. Is it like the visiting hours at a funeral home? You just express your condolences and leave? Or are you expected to stay for a while? I didn't know the deceased and only knew the wife casually. I'd appreciate any advice.

tia
las

8 replies

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Highlight:

What does one do when visiting a home that is sitting Shiva? (Original Post) LAS14 Feb 2020 OP

You stay for a little while, like a social visit. Beakybird Feb 2020 #1

Just ask them. greymattermom Feb 2020 #2

Bring a cake or cookies or Mossfern Feb 2020 #3

Or stay... jberryhill Feb 2020 #8

Visit for a while and bring a simple food,like muffins or a banana bread. virgogal Feb 2020 #4

Link Mosby Feb 2020 #5

I found an excellent article on this subject Glorfindel Feb 2020 #6

If they're sitting minyan, it could well be a kosher home The Blue Flower Feb 2020 #7

Beakybird

(3,333 posts)

1. You stay for a little while, like a social visit.

Reply to LAS14 (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2020, 03:08 PM

Feb 2020

Don't bring flowers. You can bring kosher food or if there's a suggested charity at the funeral website, you can make a small contribution in memory of the deceased.

greymattermom

(5,754 posts)

2. Just ask them.

Reply to LAS14 (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2020, 03:08 PM

Feb 2020

They will be glad you stopped by. Visitors probably have to eat something

Mossfern

(2,513 posts)

3. Bring a cake or cookies or

Reply to LAS14 (Original post)

Tue Feb 11, 2020, 03:09 PM

Feb 2020

any snack. Just walk in, don't knock, express your condolences and stay for a chat. Find out when they're having a "minyan" and work around that so you don't get caught up in a strange (to you) prayer service. It's usually very informal in feel.