This is a guest post by Sharon Rosen, founder of ShivaConnect.com.

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 and traditions for sitting shiva and find resources needed to respectfully honor the deceased. Articles about preparing your home for shiva, making a shiva call, kaddish, yahrzeit and more can be found on sites such as Chabad.org, MyJewishlearning.com and ShivaConnect.com. 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.

(more…)