Questions and Answers About Laws Concerning Mourning

In a house where a shiva is taking place, all mirrors, pictures with portraits, and television screens that reflect images of people standing in front of them are covered. The reason is that man was created in the image of God, and for his sin – the sin of the first man, the punishment of "dust you are, and to dust you shall return" was imposed on him. Because of man's sins, the image of the Creator in whose image man was created was overturned. In order to avoid this idea being materialized in the mourner's home, it is customary to cover the mirrors and screens from which images are reflected. Another reason is that if the mourners look in a mirror, it appears as if they want to adorn themselves, which is certainly not in the spirit of the shiva.

A condolence meal consists of bagels, lentils, and hardboiled eggs – foods with a round shape symbolizing the cycle of death and life in the world – a revolving carousel going up and down – to emphasize that the current grief and sorrow will pass and be replaced by joy and happiness.