Shiva is the Jewish period of mourning observed the first week after the funeral of a parent, spouse, sibling, or child. It is a time of reflection, meditation, contemplation and spiritual connection.

Mourners experience intense sadness as friends and loved ones give love and attention to their needs. Judaism teaches us that when a member of our community feels the heart-wrenching pain of grief, we should be there to comfort and console, performing a mitzvah (act of kindness.)

The internet enables unaffiliated Jews and non-Jews to learn about the customs for sitting shiva and find resources needed to respectfully honor the deceased. Articles about Jewish funerals, Jewish bereavement traditions, preparing your home for shiva, making a shiva call,prayers, poems, kaddish, unveiling, yahrzeit and more can be found on a comprehensive website- http://ShivaConnect.com- a free resource providing information and assistance to families at a time of loss.

Todays’ younger generation and those who have never been exposed to traditional Jewish customs, may appreciate their ability to interact with others and access information in a more comfortable, familiar manner… by connecting to Judaism online.

Modern technology and social media are now being used to quickly notify people near and far about the loss of a loved one. Mourners are sending emails to friends, posting on Yahoo Groups or Facebook. http://www.ShivaConnect.com was launched to provide a means of communication that is both quick and convenient, for people to use at a time when information needs to be shared in a timely fashion. The website features a unique new technology to help- a “ShivaRegistry” system, an online Jewish obituary and so much more. A mourner, family member or friend posts information that includes: funeral and shiva details- place, time, phone, who to call with questions, mourner contact information, synagogue affiliation and charitable donation requests. All fields can be completed in about five minutes and a Shiva Registry can be added to or edited, at any time. A link to the personal \”Shiva Registry\” is sent back to the person who created it, so they can email it to family and friends, tweet or post it on Facebook and other social media sites.

This makes it easy for well-wishers to learn about shiva, make memorial donations, view, send and post food provided for each day of shiva, find local delicatessens to deliver food to the shiva house and identify helpful resources for a time of loss. Posting a \”Shiva Registry\” helps mourners by minimizing unnecessary phone calls, confusion and wasted food.

Funeral Directors are providing this additional \”Shiva Registry\” service to appreciative Jewish families who are realizing its many benefits. Synagogues are enhancing the support they provide to their members by posting Shiva Registries for those who suffer a loss. Their Rabbis, Caring Communities and Sisterhoods are gathering the information to create a Shiva Registry and then send it to congregants as well.

Combining the reach of social media and the ease of sending an online charitable contribution, gift or message of sympathy is having a meaningful impact for the bereaved. As greater numbers of people are informed of a loss in a timely manner, there is increased support for mourners at a time when it is needed most.

Sharon Rosen is the founder of ShivaConnect.com – a free resource to help Jewish mourners, their families and those wishing to express their condolences . A Shiva Registry is used to notify and coordinate arrangements for the funeral and shiva period.

Sharon Rosen is the founder of http://www.ShivaConnect.com- a free resource to help Jewish mourners, their families and those wishing to express their condolences . A Shiva Registry is used to notify and coordinate arrangements for the funeral and shiva period.

Author Bio: Sharon Rosen is the founder of ShivaConnect.com – a free resource to help Jewish mourners, their families and those wishing to express their condolences . A Shiva Registry is used to notify and coordinate arrangements for the funeral and shiva period.

Category: Internet
Keywords: sitting shiva, shiva house, shiva call, shiva food, Jewish mourner, shiva connect, shiva registry